Contributed by: Kim Pita
While Haze Hendrix came into my life quite unexpectedly last May, he has brought me more laughter and peace than I could have imagined, especially during this time when we have been confined to our homes.
On a whim one day, I asked my boyfriend Matt to swing by the Connecticut Humane Society in Newington. We had been in the yard on a warm spring afternoon pulling out weeds from the flowerbeds and trimming hedges. Rather than take a left down the Berlin Turnpike to pick up the red mulch to fill in the gardens, I suggested we take a right.
I had often driven by the Humane Society but have never ventured inside. On this day, I was feeling rather curious. While I had grown up with cats my entire life, after I left for college my allergies redeveloped and I knew, sadly, cats were not in my future.
Double-stacked individual glass cages were lined up under florescent lights in the cat room. Of the dozen or so kittens and cats, a one-year-old white and gray shorthair with striking blue eyes caught our attention and we asked to meet him in a private room. The sign on the cage said he was born around May 10, 2018, which was perfect as I already had two May babies – my son Jordan on May 7 and my daughter Alexandra on May 17.
While the cat spent most of our time together hiding under the bench, I desperately wanted to hold him in my arms. I could see he was scared and I wanted to help calm him. He immediately settled into the fold of my arm and reached out, stretching his gray and white paw around my neck. As I looked over at Matt, I knew the cat would be coming home with us. I was hopeful my asthma and allergies would be under control because of the medications I was taking.
Once home, we decided to call him Haze Hendrix. Hendrix is in honor of Jimmy Hendrix, one of my late-sister Kelly’s most favorite musicians. Haze after the song Purple Haze and to depict the rich gray, charcoal, coffee and taupe colors in his thick coat.
Haze is a rare breed, a snowshoe cat, which is a Siamese and shorthair mix. His black heart-shaped nose with a patch of gray on the right side is charmingly kissable. His long and thick white whiskers frame his face right down to his gray chin and taupe-colored beard. Patches of deep gray mark both his front and back legs holding up his thick and muscular white frame. His pointy ears and long tail are the color of charcoal.
For nearly a year now, Haze has immersed well into my lifestyle, giving me unconditional love and attention daily. I never imagined how much he could impact my mental health. He has taught me to takes pauses during my busy days and spend time with him. He encourages me to be playful, funny and focused. Haze has most definitely become my constant companion.
Most recently, he discovered the top bunk bed facing an open window to the world. I watched in amazement as he climbed up and down the ladder for the first time. He perches himself up onto the bed’s sideboard to get a better view of the squirrels, rabbits, cats, dogs, joggers and walkers passing through our neighborhood.
Haze’s favorite toy is a gray mouse with blinking green eyes on a stick that he carries from room to room, hoping to get someone to play with him. His latest trick is throwing an orange straw from Dunkin’ into the air to try and catch it with his mouth. He is also quite sneaky, often hiding under tables and chairs playfully attacking our legs.
While Haze is definitely not a lap cat (he likes his space), sometimes he will settle down near my legs. I still scoop him up several times a day to cuddle. Each time he tolerates it for just a little longer until he whips his body around to be released.
Last week, he sat in my arms outside in the sunshine for five minutes without a fuss. I could feel him settle into me as he looked up at the 100-year-old tree above us…the green buds beginning to bloom on the branches, intently listening to the birds from all directions. In this COVID-19 world, it was most definitely a highlight for me — taking the time to pause and breathe in the air, with my cat. 🙂
Whatever animal you may have in your life, I am sure you can relate to the happiness Haze Hendrix has brought to mine in such a short time. I will forever be grateful we took a right instead of left on that May day last year. Happy 2nd birthday Hazy.
Kim Pita, Board Chair of Mental Health Connecticut, is the author of the memoir, Split Endz: A Tale of 2 Crazy Sisters, and serves as the executive director of New England FIRST, a robotics organization that delivers programs, events and competitions to K-12 students across six states.
Kim’s story is just one of many that prove the mental health benefits of animal companions. Check out Mental Health America’s website for today’s #ThrowBackThursday as we revisit this important topic shared in 2019 for #31DaysofWellness – www.mhanational.org/4mind4body-animal-companionship
