Newman, the cat
Hello, Newman!
Newman was one of three kittens I adopted all at once back in 2009. A co-worker, the same person I had gotten my wonderful dog, Hobie, from, needed to give away three kittens and asked me if I wanted one.
I had been catless for the first time in my life, after my wonderful kitty, Maggie, died at the age of 20 or so.
Off I went to my colleague’s house to look at the three kittens, intending to adopt one. We all know that didn’t happen — I adopted all three!
Tux and Cali went home with me that day, but Newman had long hair and they were tackling a flea infestation with him. They didn’t want to give him to me until they had eradicated the fleas.
Since the kittens were very young, they couldn’t treat him with regular flea medications. So, they decided to shave him, and they gave him several baths.
A couple weeks after bringing Tux and Cali home, Newman was ready to come home.
That’s how he got his name. He was the new cat. The new man. Newman. I had never seen Seinfeld at the time (I know, I know!) and actor Paul Newman had died in 2008, but that’s not where the name came from. It was because he was the new cat!
His original family thought it would be cute to leave a tuft at the end of his tail when they shaved the cat. It looked like a ball or a pom-pom. A friend called the cat “Hairball,” and that nickname stuck!
Newman was a one-of-a-kind cat. He really acted like a dog and used to follow me and the dogs on daily dog walks across the dead-end dirt road to the lake. He sometimes would dip a paw in the water. He would lie in the sand on the beach beside the lake while the dogs swam. Then, he’d walk home with us. Cali would follow us too, but she always stayed away from the water, watching from a distance.
On my dog walks up and down the dead-end dirt road where we lived (no traffic) Newman would dart ahead of me, run up a tree, hang out on a branch for a while until I caught up, then jump down and run past us again and again. He would jump over fences and sit on top of cars.
At home, he would climb up on the roof, then to the dormer, and he’d peek into the window of my home office which was on the second floor. Cali would follow him and do the same.
Newman would hop up on the piano while I was practicing, and walk across the keys! He chose an empty ukulele case as his preferred bed. He would sit on a drum stool or piano bench and watch me practice music. He loved music!
Newman loved Hobie, Hector, Cooper and Petey. I suppose he and Charlie liked each other too, but I never caught them cuddling — but while searching for photos for this post, I found several pics of Newman and Charlie! Newman used to cuddle with all the dogs. As far as the cats, he and Cali were a pair, and usually stuck together. Tux was the loner, preferring to be with me, and occasionally Cali.
When I moved to SC, Newman was the only cat who tried to escape the house. Every time he snuck out a door, he let me catch him and bring him back inside.
Then, when I moved to my husband’s house with all six animals, Newman was able to go outside again because there we were once again on a dead-end dirt road in the woods! Life is funny that way. Newman followed us on our dog walks there, too. He knew enough to wait at the end of the driveway as we went out onto the busier road, but in doing so he would also meow as loudly as possible. This would make us laugh and turn around to be with him!
Newman was stunning. He was very photogenic and I took hundreds of photos of him.
He lived almost 14 years, which in my personal opinion is not long for a cat. Most of my cats have lived into their high teens, and a few even into their 20s. He became ill in 2023. I think he could have lived longer with less intense treatment by the vets here.
Newman left on his own terms. He was mobile up until the last minute. He even went and used the litter box all by himself, neatly, then walked back to Petey’s crate where he had chosen to spend his last days — without any input from us. Within a few hours he was gone. I had stayed up almost the whole night, and of course he passed during the one time I had dozed off!
I’m glad I have a ton of photos of Newman, and some video, too. He was very entertaining and gorgeous and it is nice to look back on those moments.
So, here’s to Newman a month after the anniversary of his passing (and a few weeks before his birthday!).
Newman April, 2009 - February 21, 2023
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They never really leave us, do they? Thank you for sharing your memories of Newman.