My Beloved Old Cat: A Treasured Memory of a Devoted Feline

I’m telling the truth. Believe it or not, I don’t care.

I’ve always wanted to write an article about the Old Cat. I’m drunk today, so let me write it.

The Old Cat was a black – and – grey Chinese rural cat raised by my grandpa. It didn’t have a proper name, but since it was older than me, the elders told me to call it the Old Cat.

So, I’ve always called it the Old Cat. Even though it’s long gone, and the little kid back then has grown into a man, it’s still my Old Cat.

I was born in my hometown. As far back as I can remember, the Old Cat was already by my grandpa’s side. It was older than me.

I realized how extraordinary the Old Cat was after I grew up and raised cats myself.

When I raised cats after growing up, I had a lot of scars left by cats.

However, when I was in kindergarten or even younger, I had no idea that cats could bite or scratch people. In my memory, the Old Cat would just obediently let me, a young child, play with it.

But the Old Cat was much fiercer than modern cats. It was an expert at catching mice. In my grandpa’s house, it wasn’t just a pet; it was a truly contributing member of the family. With it around, no mouse dared to invade the house. Its food was leftovers, and if it wanted something meaty, it had to catch mice on its own. I saw it drag a mouse back home once with my own eyes. Maybe it happened more than once, but that particular time was deeply engraved in my memory because I saw the blood on the floor.

Yet, the sharp teeth and claws of the Old Cat left no impression in my memory.

I also didn’t know anything about cat litter because the Old Cat would bury its feces in our vegetable field.

I always thought that cats were creatures like this: they wouldn’t harm people, they could handle their feces on their own, they ate leftovers, and they worked hard to catch mice to keep the family safe. When I played with it, it would squint its eyes and purr. The ideas of sharp teeth, claws, and parasites didn’t exist in my mind.

After growing up, I realized how naive I was and understood how the Old Cat, as a member of the family, worked so hard without complaint.

That’s why I’ve always loved Chinese rural tabby cats. They’re like my elders. They’re not just cute pets for showing off; they contribute to the family and tolerate the young ones.