(no subject)

[xiphias]

More than one person on my friends list has recently had a cat die, or has been dealing with cats that are getting old.

Our kitty is fourteen, and is starting to have arthritis, but it doesn't seem too bad, and I certainly hope that we have the Boopsie pestering us and waking us up at all hours for another six years at least.

One of my friends -- actually, one of the people who helped raise me -- just had a cat die today. Which means that, as of now, I think she's cat-less for maybe about the first time in my life. I used to go to her house to play with her cats growing up, and she ALWAYS had cats -- usually, many of them. Growing up, she had like seven. All well-cared for and well-loved, living to eighteen or twenty years. She was down to two a few months back, then one, and now, none.

I'm going to miss that cat, a big orange tabby. He's been very sick for a very long time, but not in much pain from it, still enjoying life. I guess that changed very rapidly, very recently.

Mostly, I'm worried for my friend -- who can read this, but likes to keep a low profile, so I'm not naming her. I mean, I know she'll be fine: it's not like she hasn't been preparing for this for quite some time. And it's not like she hasn't lost many other cats over the years.

But, still: just so you know, friend, and I'm saying this where everyone can see -- if you find yourself needing kitty-snuggles, we've got a Boopsie who loves you and would love it if you came to visit her. And us.

Comments

[lietya.livejournal.com]

My sympathies to your friend. It's always terribly hard to lose one.

[cellio]

I'm sorry for your friend's loss. It's not easy to lose a family member.

[aethelflaed2.livejournal.com]

Maggie sends a most heartfelt meowr.

kitty luv in FL

[(Anonymous)]

There are always kitty snuggles in FL!!! You can come visit us down here :)

~Leila

[felis-sidus.livejournal.com]

Thank, you Ian, and thank you also for your e-mail. Both this post and your message brought healing tears to my eyes. It helps a great deal to feel such understanding and support, both from those I know and love and from those I don't yet know, but who responded so kindly to your post.

A couple of things are making this passing more than usually hard. One is that Titu's last day was difficult. Another is that he was the last of my feline companions, so the house is very empty, and family needs dictate that it remain so. Today was better than yesterday, and tomorrow will be better still. I'm a bit tender now, but I'll take you up on the Boopsie-snuggle offer soon. For the moment, I think Florida kitty-hugs will need to remain virtual, but it's a wonderful option to have. As a confirmed cat woman, I'm going to be relying on my pet-owned friends for vicarious fuzziness!

Remembering your visits to play with my cats (and sneeze) makes me smile. Leila, too. I think you missed Leila's first encounter with Koska, a day or two after Koska came to live with me. Leila was very young, maybe a year or so old. She ran right over to Koska, cooing "Kitty!" and promptly lifted her into the air by her hind legs, so she could get a good hug going. Koska, bless her child-loving heart, didn't even struggle. She just gave me a long-suffering look, as if to say, "Could you do something about the child, please?" Titu was much more timid. I'm grateful to you and your Dad for helping him get over his fear of men. Your gentleness and innate sense of his comfort levels made his long life a much happier and more peaceful one.