N a p a l m H e a l t h S p a : R e p o r t 2 0 1 2

MARGE PIERCY

The radioactive cat

Sugar Ray has hyperthyroid disease,

common now: some shit they are

adding to catfood. He has an old

soul. When I was bleeding

from having my gall bladder yanked

he examined my wound and then

stood guard every night, not

letting any other cats near.

He sleeps against my side,

cuddled with his cousin. He

will not kill anything, bugs,

moths, mice. He is a paci-

pussy. He fights with no

one. First night here from

the shelter Xena looked

at him and lay down safely

purring against his brown side.

But he will not take medicine.

Nothing enters me I don’t

choose, he says. I feel

the same. So he is off for

iodine radiation to cure him.

He will be radioactive for two

weeks. His shit must be

buried in the woods. He will

lie in his cage silent, wonder-

ing what he did wrong. I

won’t sleep till he returns.