Whenever Kathryn Holland calls the vet to make an appointment for her son’s cat, there’s inevitably a long pause if the receptionist doesn’t know the cat.
“Don’t worry, Flesh Ripper is a sweetheart,” Kathryn reassures. “He’s just ironically named.”
Flesh Ripper was an unnamed black kitten, 4 months old, when Kathryn’s 6-year-old son picked him from a litter of kittens at a shelter near where they lived. Their beloved cat, Pickles, had died earlier that day, and the boy was distraught.
Through his tears, Bean Bressem watched the kittens as they interacted and played. But the one who caught his attention was a timid kitten, smaller than the rest, hiding in a corner.
“I knew he wouldn’t be adopted right away,” says Bean, now 18. “So I chose him.”
“Bean’s got a rescuer’s heart, he always has,” Kathryn says.
He also has a sense of humor and a mile-wide creative streak. He did back then, too, even with his heart heavy.
When Kathryn asked if he had any ideas for a name for the runt of the litter, she knew better than to expected something like Shadow or Simba. But she didn’t expect what Bean came up with.
“I’ve always wanted to name a cat Flesh Ripper,” the little boy said.
“Oh! OK!” Kathryn laughed, looking at the scared little kitten and wondering if such a name would make him a little bolder and more confident. “Welcome to the family, Flesh Ripper!”
***
Early on, Flesh Ripper (aka Fleshie), had a respiratory infection. They needed to give him medicine but he had disappeared. It looked like their new kitten was gone. Kathryn tore apart the house looking for him. She was trying not to get frantic that her son’s new best feline friend had somehow escaped. She thought of one more place to check. It was a longshot, but she had to try.
She reached under the couched and spidered her fingers upward to feel the lining. And there, partway along her hand’s exploration, was a warm bump hanging down. She exhaled and ripped the lining that was cradling the kitten from the bottom of the couch.
The scared kitten was not living up to his name, but Kathryn had turned into Couch Ripper.
***
The years sped by, as they tend to do. It’s more than a decade later. The boy is a young man, the kitten is now a senior cat, with a few grays attesting to the passage of time, and a prescription kidney-friendly diet to ease some issues he’d been having.
The boy and the kitten have retained the essence of who they were when they met. Bean is the funny, kind, creative soul he was back then. Flesh Ripper is still on the shy side, and adores his boy. And he’s learned to be vocal to get the snuggles he adores.
When Flesh Ripper wants to cuddle, usually on an old recliner, he “yells” at Bean until he sits down. Once a Flesh Ripper sees he has created a lap, he’ll jump up and stay as long as Bean stays.
The senior cat also enjoys playing video games. He loves being on Bean’s lap while Bean plays a game, typically an NHL game. Sometimes Fleshie takes to yelling during the excitement of the game.
More than once, he has bumped Bean’s hand and the hockey puck has gone to Bean’s dad, who usually plays this game with him.
But other than the occasional slip of paw, Flesh Ripper is there for Bean. Since their early days together, whenever Bean is sick, his cat lies in bed with him, snuggling by his side, making him feel better just by being there.
“He’s my bud. He’s the best.”
If Flesh Ripper could talk, he’d surely say the same about Bean.
Flesh Ripper is FAAS's Cat Pet Star for this year's After the Ball, our signature fundraising event, on October 18, 2024. Tickets are on sale now!
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