Saturday, December 17, 2011

R.I.P Missy

I've never know a cat like her or even a dog for that matter. She was unique. A little hellion when we first got her. Tuxedo cat on the outside but in bright sun you could just make out brown tabby stripes underneath. rumor had it that her momma cat didn't treat her too nice as she was the runt of the litter. That may have explained her sometimes feral nature. She kind of grew out of that as she got older but had her times when she didn't want bothered you knew better than even touch her. I don't recall ever hearing of a cat who would wait for you at the front door when you came home from work but there she'd be with a friendly meow greeting. She really attached herself to me as I studied and learned cat behavior. She'd curl up at my feet at bed time and always let you know when it was time for the litter box in the middle of the night. She'd also let you know when it was chow time in early morning and evening. She was like an atomic clock in that regard.
She had her dreams in life just like the rest of us I guess. Hers' was to get out and roam free which she did on several occasions. It was always requirement to check behind you when opening the front door or she'd bolt out and down the steps headed for her favorite hiding place a drainage pipe by the street. She got out a couple of times once for three days. But the last time would indeed be her last. No she didn't get hit or attacked but after four days of feline party I was able to trick her back with a bowl of food. After a warm bath and kitty feast she'd curl up in one of her many favorite spots. I know I should have gotten her fixed but never got around to it. About a week after her latest escapade she started to bloat up. Thinking we'd be having new additions to the household I though nothing of it. I should have known something was wrong when no delivery happened and no miscarry. Yesterday she lay there on the floor with barely a quiet meow like a limp rag. I could see in her eyes that this was nearing the end but didn't want to face the truth. I picked her up packed her in her carrier and raced to the vets. Upon examination he said there was nothing to be done that she wouldn't make it the weekend. And it was then that I had to make that difficult decision. Yes doctor you can put her down rather than have her face any more suffering.

Some would say "it's just a cat" but when you get so attached it's hard to let go. I guess goodbyes are never easy especially when there was the urgency to try and save a life even of a small creature. She only made it about seven years which makes it all the harder. I will miss her.

7 comments:

MRMacrum said...

It is never easy to lose a friend, companion, family member. Be grateful she chose to share her life with yours.

Randal Graves said...

Man. "It's just a cat" doesn't exist.

Tom Harper said...

Sorry for your loss. Losing a family member is always agonizing. And yes, dogs and cats are family members; I don't care what anybody says.

jmsjoin said...

Man I'm sorry! What the hell happened? Old age is expected but that's terrible.I'm sorry for your loss.

BBC said...

Some pets become special and it's hard when you lose them. I didn't even know you had a cat.

There's always so many cats coming and going here that cats are just a fact of life and if one boinks off that is also a fact of life.

I don't have a particular attachment to any of them so that is good.

S.W. Anderson said...

I know how it is from sad experience. It's like losing a child, and you feel so responsible because, in their way, they're very dependent and very trusting.

Take comfort in the fact she had love, food and a good, safe home for the time you had her. That's so much more than so many cats ever have. Stats on the number euthanized every year are awful.

Regarding that, once you've had a chance to get past your loss, pleas see if you can make room in your home and heart for another kitty. Shelters always have plenty, and in my town, they have special "promotions" periodically, where adoption fees are reduced or waived, and sometimes you get a break on immunizations as well. I'll bet it's similar or the same in your town.

Phil said...

Dude, they are just like your children, like SW said.
They trust you to take care of them and give you love and hell in return.

I lost my cat for two months once and I will tell you, I drove by where she bailed out of my truck for two weeks looking for her.

Then one day, I got a call on my cell phone, asked me if it was Phil and said, we have your cat.

I had had her fixed and the vets phone number was on her collar, they called the vet, got my number and I raced over to the same damn house she had run to when she bailed.


So sorry to hear of your loss man, but please do, when you feel like a new companion, go get another one. I got mine before her eyes changed from grey to yellow and she slept in the palm of my hand.