Silver, My Four-Legged Shadow

This is what happens when you raise a Silver Bengal cat like he’s your own son. He grows up believing it’s his job to supervise every single thing you do.

Breezie and I have had Silver since he was a tiny kitten. He’s an F1 Silver Bengal, and from the day we brought him home, we raised him like our own boy. And believe me, he knows it.

Silver has exactly one rule in life: wherever Dad is, that’s where Silver needs to be. He has to be sitting on me, touching me, lying next to me, or staring at me. Those are his four options. Apparently, I am not allowed out of his sight. Ever.

Take a look at that first picture. We’re rolling down the highway in Ace Ventura, and there’s Silver, stretched out across my lap like he owns the place. The steering wheel is practically resting on his back, and does he care? Not one bit. He’s as comfortable as a cat can be.

Meanwhile, I’m trying to steer a 31-foot motorhome with a red Jeep in tow, and with a furry little supervisor who has never once heard of personal space.

So eventually, I move him off my lap. And that’s when the real show begins.

Silver climbs up onto the corner of the dashboard, turns around, and stares at me. Not out the windshield at the beautiful scenery. Not at the big trucks rolling by. Nope. He’s watching Dad.

I’m telling you, this cat could win the world championship of staring contests. He can sit there looking straight at me for what feels like hours without blinking. Sometimes I glance over and wonder what in the world is going on inside that little head. Maybe he’s wondering why

I moved him. Maybe he’s waiting for his chance to sneak back onto my lap. Or maybe he’s just making sure I don’t slip off somewhere without him.

Whatever the reason, that’s our Silver.

People ask us what it’s like traveling the country with a Bengal cat. Well, these two pictures pretty much tell the whole story. We thought we were raising a kitten. Turns out we were raising a little boy who has no plans of ever leaving his dad’s side.

And you know something? I wouldn’t trade that for anything in the world. I really believe the Creator puts certain souls in our lives on purpose, and sometimes they show up with whiskers and four paws.

That kind of love doesn’t ask for anything. It just wants to be near you.
Life sure is beautiful when you’ve got someone who loves you so much they can’t stand to let you out of their sight. Even if that someone has four paws, whiskers, and absolutely no respect for your personal space.

Have you got a furry little shadow at home who follows you everywhere you go? Tell me about them in the comments. I’d love to meet them.