We lost her yesterday. She was a good cat. She was a very good cat. She was 14 years and 7 months old, and lived with us for 12 years and 6 months. She only had one working kidney for 9 years and 7 months out of that 14+ years. She lasted longer than anyone thought she would when she was in kidney failure in 2008.
She's chased mice (and left dead mice for me multiple times. Once I thought it was a toy and thought didn't think we had toy mice that size, only it wasn't a toy.), watched birds outside windows, batted at fish in a tank, slept in cabinets and bookshelves and cardboard boxes and on top of every tall place in the house. She's lounged in sunbeams on a summer's day and curled up in front a fireplace and a wood stove on a winter's night.
She slept on my pillow every night, even when I tried to chase her off. She also snuggled under my blanket, even though that meant waking me up 3 or 4 times a night.
She had the sweetest (and sometimes most annoying) meow.
She purred. A lot. A little rumbling motor.
She also had 5 medical crisis, one every 12-36 months since May of 2008, and we stopped counting the vet bills she racked up. I think it's in the low 5 digits at this point. And it was worth it, every penny.
She was everything a cat should be, and we love her very very much.
She was very sick at the end. It was a fast decline, in the span of a week. It was clear it was the end, so we took her to the vet yesterday to give her an easy trip out.
I miss her a whole lot right now. There's a Cailynn-shaped hole in my life and my daily routine. We haven't stopped crying yet, and I don't think we will for a little while.
Bye Caily-cat. See you next life.
I am so sorry for your loss! I´ve been there, too, and know how painfully large the void is those little ones leave in our life when we lose them. (I have lost two feline family members - one somewhat more than a year ago and the other almost two and a half years ago and I still miss them like hell). Those are adorable pictures and it´s obvious in them that Cailynn was a very happy cat and was both lucky and happy to be with you.
ReplyDeleteSending you virtual hugs and comfort from across the pond. A couple of the cats who adopted me are getting on a bit in years now and I'm dreading the days when they'll go.
ReplyDeleteYou've written a beautiful memorial. I have a big lump in my throat after reading it, not to meantion leaky eyes.
Hold tight to those memories.
Annie
Manchester, England
So sorry for the loss of your cat, Cailynn. She's beautiful and her sweet love comes through in your photos.
ReplyDeleteI am so so sorry. It is never easy losing a furry family member.
ReplyDelete