Mr. Cat

Mister Cat has been in my life ever since I care to remember. I imagine it was forever. I do not know how or when he came to me it was some time in the nineteen nineties, the years I began my decent into obliteration. He snuck into my life as a stray kitten when I was living in some dumpy apartment complex in Sacramento California, and he became a permanent part of my life.
Today Mr. Cat died. I do not know the circumstances of his death, I found him later in the day in the back yard.
What I feel most is regret. I did not pay attention to him as much as I should have, or that I could have done better in loving him, giving him attention, petting him more and on and on with all the things I could have done more of for him.
And I feel how much I will miss him, his presence in my life. No more will he wake me at four am to add some food to his empty bowl. No more will he meow at the top of his lungs to get me to pet his head. no more will he scratch his cat tree or snuggle on my bed with me as I softly stroked his back.
Some say love is only a human emotion. I was homeless for a time, living in my car with Mr. Cat and my dog Coco. Parked near some strange Laundromat in hopes of getting some sleep Mr. Cat went off into the bushes to do his business. The police telling me to move on, I called for Mr. Cat but he did not return. I drove around the block a few times but on Cat. I drove off in frustration, that dam cat can fend for himself, a half hour later I drove back and there he was on the sidewalk where an hour ago I had parked to rest. I opened the door he meowed and jumped in. Numerous events similar to this happened throughout the month and a half I was living in my car.