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Living the Life of André

André, our cat, lived a life of ease.
Colleen Crawford

André, our cat, lived a life of ease.



He ate when he wanted to eat, slept when he wanted to sleep, loved us when he felt like it, teased the dog when he was in the mood, played with the kids when the spirit moved him and sprawled out in a sunbeam whenever he found one.



There was no schedule to his day. He wandered the house at night if he so chose. He slept all day if there was nothing better to do. He loved when he found someone snuggled up with a blanket. Snoozing beside someone who was completely relaxed or sleeping was one of his favorite things to do.



He appeared to be just as happy on his own as he was with a house full of people. He was a social cat who knew how to appreciate his own company. He welcomed our guests by introducing himself and giving those less fortunate a chance to know him. He invited himself into others lives with ease.



André had an eternal case of spring fever. He would watch the weather network (by looking out the living room window) and sniffed at the temperature of the air every time the door opened. Whenever he deemed the conditions right, he would bolt out the door and come back on his own terms. André had an adventuresome soul. 



We did our best to keep our favourite cat confined to the safety of our home. Yet he had a wanderlust that always had him wanting more. Living the life of André wasn't all it was cracked up to be.



He made the best of what he had. I don't ever remember him pouting and stalking off angrily when we denied him the pleasure of sneaking outside. He never yelled at me for being a “mean mom.” He didn't withhold his love when he was upset with us for abandoning him for days on end. He longed for more, but he was content with what he had.



There is much to be learned by living the lessons our cat taught us.



• Make the most out of what you have got.

• Love and forgive easily.

• Invite people into your life.

• Make your own fun (but only tease dogs you know well).

• Yearn and go after more in life.

• When all else fails, stretch out in a sunbeam. There is nothing like sunlight to make things right in your world.

— In memory of our cat, André, who lost his battle with a respiratory illness June 11, 2015.