This morning, I had to watch the death of the being who has stood by me through everything for the last 17 1/2 years. Peekers was a wedding present from my first husband when she was only a kitten. She has had a wonderful long life and I couldn't have asked for a more perfect friend. If I was crying, she would comfort me; if I was happy, she joined in the play. A little over a year ago, she was diagnosed with kidney failure and later the vet said he didn't expect her to last more than 2 weeks. Thanks to some miracle drugs, she had a whole extra year with us. This last week was a tough one because we realized the end was near. She stopped eating and seemed to be constantly in discomfort. We did everything we could. We saw it in her eyes; she was ready. We knew very well how much she loved us by the way she always wanted to be close. Even in the bathroom. Particularly in the bathroom. We knew we had to offer her the final act of love and let her go. I've never had such a spiritual bond with anyone before as those last few moments in the vet's office. We held her through the sedative and the pentobarbitol. I kept a lock of her beautiful fur to remember her. I know many of you have been through similar loss so I am sorry if this brings up difficult memories. She was absolutely perfect in every way and I just wanted to honor her friendship with a memorial.
She was a romantic--a hand-holder.
She loved her some catnip; either a pile of fresh.....
Or her special little baggie of dried that I made.
She was not a fan of headbands. At all.
But boy, did she love her some grass!
I will always have very happy memories of the time I had with this very special creature and I thank her with all my heart and soul for the love she gave to me.
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Comments
fingerlakes - Cumin is a beautiful name! Thank you.
My stomach kind of dropped when I saw what this post was about...I can barely stand anything sad about animals, but I glad you shared Peekers' story.
bluesurly - and you justify my decision. I know we're not all here to make friends but damn it, I've discovered some wonderful ones.
Mrs. Michaels - I know exactly what you mean. And that poem I sent you has kind of an opposite meaning now. Now I am here and the apartment is empty.
Here is the thing about loving a beloved pet. It is PAINFUL!! We get very attached, as we should be. Why have a pet that you're not emotionally attached with. Don't get me wrong. I have an aquarium. It's not the same.
I have two cats now and would hate to lose either of them. I cried like a baby when I lost Booger. He was my first cat as an adult. I didn't even think I liked cats, but he changed my mind forever. I can't imagine my live without a cat in it now.
I'm so glad you got the chance to own your Peekers. Although all cat owners know that Peekers really owned you.
R.I.P. Peekers.
Peekers was a pretty girl. My Hoobie was a tortie, they are great cats!
Sorry for your loss, Katina.
Beth - one can only handle so much. If I got something like this, I don't think I could read it.
Michael - hell yeah she owned me. My husband also thought he didn't like cats but she was just as special to him. side note - I love OSers who are so mortified by a typo that they automatically fix it. Makes me smile.
Catamite - you deserve a special place...wherever you want to be....for the caring, patience, and love you've shown.
Ric - She was indeed my baby. Better than family in some ways.
About two years ago we lost three cats inside of one year. That was a gut wrenching year for us. One was 19 years old and was a gift from me to Sue when we got married. The other was 18 and the third was around 15 but we never knew exactly as he showed up at the door beaten and sick. He got bowel cancer about 12 years after we got him. When each died or was put down both Sue and I both were broken to the core.
Unless someone has loved and lost a pet they have no idea what a member of the family they become, every bit as much as another family member, and nicer and much more loving than most.
We now have adopted three stray kittens who are all over a year old now, from two different litters of a feral mother that we finally caught and had spayed because we knew that we could not refuse to adopt any additional kittens she had.
So, very sorry for your loss, and I truly know how hard it is.
Monte
So sorry you lost your sweet gal. And Lucky You to have had her for so long!
Lovely tribute.
Monte - I can't imagine so much loss at once. I know I will have another animal soon because my life feels so empty right now but just the thought of going through this again is more than I can bear right now.
OE - Thank you. She certainly had a good life from the day I got her. So did I.
Juli - I know that to many the idea of a memorial to a cat might seem silly but she just deserved it.
Procopius - I grew the most amazing bunch of catnip for her right outside the bedroom window. Whenever I had to cut it back, she got a huge pile to roll in for a while. I think that was happiness in it's purest form.
Seattle - Thank you so much. They do indeed leave an imprint.
sandra - Those last moments confirmed my feeling that all living creatures have souls.
annette - give them all an extra pat for me.
To all who read this - if I can figure out how to do it, I'm shutting down comments now because I simply can't bear to read anymore. Thank you all for your support and kindness and love to all your lost friends.