Salvador, The Lover Boy!
Salvador, the Lover Boy
Sal, short for Salvador, is under Dane’s desk in the kitchen, loving up Rupert.
When Sal first came to live here, he had a young friend with him, a little gray tabby we named Ivan. Even Dane, who is used to coming over and seeing new furry or feathered friends here, was shocked. “Two kittens?” he questioned, already smitten and down on the floor with them both.
“Yes, it’s a long story.” They always are, I thought.
The short version is that Finnegan, my rat terrier mix, and I participated in a pet fair at the Driftless Humane Society (DHS) and somehow adopted an adorable black-and-white kitty. As we were leaving, the organizers called out, “Two for one today,” so I turned around, went back, and got baby Ivan, who’d been snuggling with Sal.
Ivan was sickly from the get-go, and despite the best efforts of the DHS and the local vet, we eventually decided the best thing for him was to rest in peace. Without Ivan to nurture, Sal started caring for the two cats who were here before him and the two that came after. He’s a real lover boy!
This morning, as Sal intently licks every part of Rupert’s face, the crystals that hang in front of the windows behind him are casting rainbows on the wall. As I watch the rainbows dance, a beam of sunlight moves across the kitchen floor in front of Dane’s desk, like a spotlight, and if I listen carefully, I can hear the faint scratching sound of Sal’s rough pink tongue on Rupert’s thick orange fur.
I should be working, but I’m transfixed, one hand on my chest, a smile on my face.
When this loving bath is done, Sal jumps onto the kitchen counter, uses his white-tipped paws to straddle the sink, and licks any drops of water that may linger in the faucet. Rupert contentedly ambles to the front door, sits as close as he can get, and stretches up, reaching for the doorknob. If he had opposable thumbs, he’d already be outside.
Watching Sal love up Rupert was soul-lifting. However, Merlin, who was a replacement kitty from the DHS after Ivan left this world, has become Sal’s closest friend and confidant. It’s not unusual to see Sal first wash each of Merlin’s gunky eyes (yes, they have been vet-checked), then lick the inside of each of his ears, and, exhausted (it must be hard work), spoon against Merlin and fall asleep. I never tire of the contrast: Merlin, seventeen pounds of unkempt white fluff (daily brushing required), and eight pounds of sleek, soft and shiny Salvador, with his clear green eyes.
Leo, the youngest, jumped on the counter yesterday, and Sal immediately sauntered over, put his chin to his chest, leaned in, and rubbed his head on the side of Leo’s face. It was a gentle, almost romantic-looking motion. But Leo, who doesn’t have an issue with Sal rubbing or licking him, isn’t interested in taking a nap with him—not like good ol’ Merlin is!
Besides “lover boy,” we also refer to Sal as our “stowaway cat” for his habit of hiding under the bed or in another secluded corner when the rest of the cats go in and out. Sal’s preference is to stay inside and greet each cat as they come and go, with licks and an affectionate head rub. At bedtime, Sal emerges from his hiding place, hops up on the bed near my head, and rubs his soft fur on my cheek. Sal reminds me that love is love, no matter your species, size, or coloring.
Sal is the middle cat here, between two younger cats and two older ones. I told Dane that for all the loving Sal gives out, he doesn’t get much back. It’s not that we ignore him; it’s more that we end up staring in awe. His face washings and head rubs are something to behold. If you can stop what you’re doing, sit quietly, and watch while he’s loving on one of his friends, your heart rate and blood pressure will drop. And because he has this effect on us, we’re not jumping in to pet him. We’d rather not break up his loving routine.
I’m going to make sure Sal gets a special can of wet food tonight as a treat. Sal’s a real blessing to have living with us. We can learn a lot from his selfless actions. Tonight I got a foot rub from Dane, and tomorrow I’ll cut Dane’s hair. No licking required—but we might do the head rub!