We think of “life saving” as being like a dog that drags her master out of a river or a cat that wakes up her owner when there’s a house fire, but there are other ways.

I’m bipolar II and was undiagnosed until last year, when I had a very bad mixed state, complete with terrifying panic attacks, insomnia, and, for the first time ever, strong suicidal ideation. Worst thing I’ve ever had to live through, and I almost didn’t live through it.

Tazendra took care of me. Human contact was often too much to bear, but she was always there, never demanding more than I could give. When the insomnia got really bad, she would urge me to bed; I kept getting up, though, because I couldn’t sleep for worry. She started laying on top of me and falling asleep ON me. I didn’t have the heart to move her, so I’d lay there, too, and eventually also fall asleep. Then she would leave me once I was asleep, and if I woke in the night and went back to bed, she would come lay beside me, ready to take up her position on me if I became restless.

This is not something she had ever done before, not in 12 years, and I don’t know if it was deliberate or not, I don’t know if that was calculated or accidental. Whatever it was, it saved my life.

It sounds silly saying that my cat tucking me into bed at night was responsible for saving me, but insomnia and the instability that comes with it is one of the most dangerous triggers when one is suicidal, and had she not hit upon the one damn thing that would keep me in bed, I might have missed the wrong two nights of sleep and attempted to harm myself.

I am doing way better now, with good drugs and good therapy, and I will be okay. I definitely consider Tazendra one of my best doctors!

Another cat of mine always comes in when I am crying and lays with me or kisses my fingers or butts me with her head. Sometimes if it’s very bad, and I am almost totally convinced this is on purpose, she will try to make me laugh. It always works, too.

My husband’s cat would not leave his side when he was sick with the ‘flu except to eat and tend to her own needs and occasionally check on me, too.

Cats are incredibly perceptive beings, and they return our love in very visible and meaningful ways, if we just stop and think about what we are seeing.

I’m so glad you have Mr. Bond, and glad you’re feeling better.