Bandit
I got Bandit 13 years ago just after I moved out of home. He arrived with his sister Katie (who we discovered later was actually his brother) from a little country town, his parents being feral. He was so small that he would sit in the palm of my hand, my heart just melted when I saw him. He very quickly became my best friend and would not go to anyone for along time but me. Up until he was about 2 years of age he would often go for walks that would last up to 3 days, during which time I got very little sleep. I decided it was time to have him fixed. After this he became a very affectionate cat who thrived on having his tummy rubbed and having what I call a wrestle, he was like my child.
Over the years we moved many times but I never worried about him getting lost as he never went far from home. For four years we shared a home with friends and their 4 children, whom also grew to love him, mind you it took a long time for him to warm to them as he was not used to little people.
Everyday I would arrive home from work to find him waiting for me at the gate, many people said he was a dog trapped in a cats body. Every night we would curl up on the bed and I would watch TV while rubbing his tummy or while he chewed on my slippers.
On July 17th 2000 I let him out and left for work as usual, he was fine, he had his feed and was happily rolling in the grass as I left. I arrived home at 5:30pm and noticed he wasn't at the gate, I think I knew right away something was wrong....he didn't come home that night. I searched the streets looking for him. I never found him. I cried for weeks and my heart felt as though it had been ripped out, I had lost the one thing in life that meant more to me than life itself. It has been 8 months now and although it has gotten easier, I miss him terribly. So Bandit, wherever you are....I will love and miss you always my friend!!!