We had to say goodbye to one of our cats, Linus, early this morning, after almost sixteen and a half years. Our little guy was always stubborn, even as a kitten. He decided early on he didn't like other animals, even his own sister, but loved people, although he still remained the most passive-aggressive cat I've ever known, too. We had to work out an elaborate system of keeping him and his sister Lucy apart for most of the day. They only had a chance to interact for a couple hours a day, and even then, we tried to keep a lid on any aggression, but it didn't always succeed. Right before it was time for his evening pills, dinner, and bedtime, he went after his sister, and broke his leg, possibly on the stairs, but we'll never know. Even with that, by the time we got to them, he had her cornered, and didn't show us any signs he'd hurt himself yet. After I gave him his pills and set him down, we noticed he could barely walk. We took him to the emergency vet (it was after 10 PM at this point), but they were backed up. They checked his vitals and they were steady, so they couldn't bump him up the priority list yet, so we took him home and waited a few hours for them to call us to bring him back in. We got him there, and the break was bad enough they couldn't put it in a cast, he'd need surgery. With all of his problems, even just anesthesia would be dangerous for him. We decided it was time to let go, and I held him while eastsideWife gave him head scratches. We both cried like mad, and I'm tearing up again typing this.
Ever since I started working from home years ago, he spent as much time as possible by my side, in his chair next to my work desk. eastsideWife said I was his "default person", and she was right. While he was happy to hang out with either of us, if both of us were available, nine times out of ten, he'd pick me. He loved being a lap cat, and really loved head rubs, almost as much as he loved food.
This little guy has been through so much, constant food allergies from a young age, heart problems starting around age 4, and a kidney deficiency starting about 3.5 years ago. My understanding is he made it more than twice as long as most cats do with kidney problems. Until it really got to him, he ate like a Labrador retriever. We went through so many slow-eating bowls that he figured the trick to eating out of quickly, and had to divide his food into up to five different meals a day just to keep him from eating too fast. I think a couple GRMers have seen him in action and could vouch for his appetite. Between his ghost stripes, and his extremely passive attitude with strangers, he was also very popular with vets and vet techs, who saw him a lot over the years.
I want to thank everyone involved in taking care of animals, and everyone whose medical research has helped our furry friends. Without it, I am sure Linus would not have had anywhere near as full or long of a life as he managed.
This isn't the first time I've lost a pet, but I think it's hit me harder than any others. Anyone out there who has lost a pet, you have my sympathies. Everyone out there who has one, please give them a pet or a scritch for me.
One last picture. He was giving himself a bath, and I started petting him. I think his brain froze for a second and he wasn't sure what he was supposed to do with his tongue.
