06/11/2025
Remembering Salem đž
Salem was more than just a great cat â he was truly part of our family. We adopted him on Halloween 2019 from the Wichita County Animal Shelter. The moment my wife saw his picture on their website, she knew he was meant to be ours. He was our âHalloween kittyâ you could say.
Little did we know, Salem wasnât much of a âstay inside and napâ kind of cat. He loved the outdoors â actually, really loved it. He quickly became a 95% outside, 5% inside cat, only coming in for the important stuff: his treats and to be harassed by our munchkin cat Binx.
During the snowstorms of 2021, we kept him inside for a full week because of the freezing temperatures. Letâs just say⌠he was not thrilled about it. But once he discovered the warm fireplace, he decided maybe being inside wasnât so bad after all.
Over the years, Salem carved out a very special place in our family â and he did it with plenty of attitude. You could always tell what he was thinking. If you tried to dress him up or make him do something he didnât approve of, that unimpressed expression said it all. But when he was happy to see you, you knew that too â he had a look that just melted your heart.
Salem loved truck rides (as long as they didnât end at the vet), hanging out in the backyard while we gardened or played sports, and especially his daily routine at the John Tower Elementary drop-off line. Almost every morning, heâd hop over our six-foot backyard fence and head over to greet the kids, soaking up every bit of attention before school started. In the afternoons, if he wasnât lounging on our back porch couch, he was right there again, waiting to welcome the kids exiting the school after a long day.
He became a bit of a local celebrity â the friendly âneighborhood catâ of McSally Drive. Salem would stroll the sidewalks like he owned the place, stopping for pets from anyone willing to give them (as long as they werenât walking a dog, of course).
Salem wasnât just our cat; he was loved by so many â kids, neighbors, and friends alike. Whether he was rolling in the dirt, lounging in the sun, or getting honked at mid-crossing, Salem had a way of making people smile.
We will forever miss you, Salem. You were one of a kind. â¤ď¸đž
