Everyone in the apartment complex I lived
in knew who Ugly was.
Ugly was the resident tomcat. Ugly loved
three things in this world:
fighting, eating garbage, and, shall we say,
love. The combination of these things
combined with a life spent outside had their
effect on Ugly.



To start with, he had only one eye and where
the other should have been was a hole. He was
also missing his ear on the same side, his left
foot appeared to have been badly broken at
one time, and had healed at an unnatural angle,
making him look like he was always
 turning the corner



Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby,
striped type, except for the sores covering his 
head, neck, and even his shoulders. His had 
lost his tail a long time ago, leaving only the 
smallest stub, which he would constantly jerk 
and twitch. Every time someone saw Ugly 
there was the same reaction. 
"That's one UGLY cat!".



All the children were warned not to touch him, 
the adults threw rocks at him, hosed him 
down, squirted him when he tried to come in 
their homes, or shut his paws in the door 
when he would not leave.



Ugly always had the same reaction. If you 
turned the hose on him, he would stand there, 
getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If 
you threw things at him, he would curl his 
lanky body around your feet in forgiveness. 



Whenever he spied children, he would come 
running, meowing frantically and bump his 
head against their hands, begging for their 
love. If you ever picked him up he would 
immediately begin suckling on your shirt, 
earrings, whatever he could find. 



One day Ugly shared his love with the 
neighbor's dogs. They did not respond kindly, 
and Ugly was badly mauled. I tried to rush to 
his aid. By the time I got to where he was 
laying, it was apparent Ugly's sad life was 
almost at an end.



Ugly lay in a wet circle, his back legs and lower 
back was grossly out of shape, a gaping tear in 
the white strip of fur that ran down his front. As 
I picked him up and tried to carry him home, I 
could hear him wheezing and gasping, and 
could feel him struggling. It must be hurting 
him terribly, I thought.


Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking sensation 
on my ear. Ugly, in so much pain, suffering and 
obviously dying, was trying to suckle my ear. I 
pulled him closer to me and he bumped the palm 
of my hand with his head, then he turned his one 
golden eye towards me, and I could hear the 
distinct sound of him purring.




Even in the greatest pain, that ugly battled 
scarred cat was asking only for a little affection, 
perhaps some compassion.



At that moment I thought Ugly was the most 
beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen.
Never once did he try to bite or scratch me, try 
to get away from me, or struggle in anyway. 
Ugly just looked up at me, completely trusting 
in me to relieve his terrible pain.



Ugly died in my arms before I could get inside,
but I sat and held him for a long time 
afterwards, thinking about how one scarred, 
deformed little stray could so alter my opinion 
about what it means to have true pureness of 
spirit, to love so totally and truly. 



Ugly taught me more about giving and 
compassion than a thousand books, lectures, 
or talk show specials ever could, and for that I 
will always be thankful. He had been scarred 
on the outside, but I was scarred on the 
inside, and it was time for me to move on and 
learn to love truly and deeply. To give my 
total to those I cared for.



Many people want to be richer , 
more successful, well liked, beautiful, but for 
me... I will always try to be Ugly.

By Judy Michaels

Please note, that we picked the picture above as it portrays
a poor cat that has had more than its fair share of accidents.
We do not believe that any cat is ugly no matter
what its ailments are.

The original picture titled "Catastrophe"

Midi playing "Born Free"