And Now...

[porphyry]

...just to add the icing to this illness-brother hospitalization-illness-ice storm-illness-snowstorm-disrupted classes due to cancellations-icestorm-illness-car wreck-injured child-injured mother-snowstorm-four plagiarist students this term cake--

... my cat died.

I suppose I should take the long, philosophical view. He was sixteen-years-old, almost seventeen, so he'd had a long, happy life. Three or four days ago, I noticed he'd stopped eating and drinking, never good in a cat (or dog, either). He would be tempted by nothing, and nothing is more pitiful than to watch an animal try to take a drink--want to take a drink, badly--and be unable to. He didn't appear to be in pain, but I couldn't take watching him like this anymore. Today he went to the veterinarian and we learned his kidneys were shutting down. We let him go.

He was a sweet cat--more like a dog than a cat, actually; friendly, affectionate, faithful even. We will miss him very much.

Comments

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

It was a hard decision, but years ago, the best vet we ever had (who himself has passed away), told us: "You do this because you love them, not because you don't." But still, it is hard; I know you can understand how I feel because you've been through it, too. Your sympathy means a lot, and I do appreciate it.

I miss my little Billy Bear, though; as hectic as our lives are, it's so odd not have him following me around, coming to me because he just wanted to picked up and pet... the house seems empty without him.