I'll start this by saying what happened is not a tragedy, and am aware that others have lost something or someone they loved and my story might seem trivial compared. But, it happend and life will continue for me, but yesterday and today I can't help but think of our family cat who died last night. You may also feel free to ridicule me anyway you see fit, it won't bother me.
After getiing home from work I decided to write something, it made my loss easier. Never being a writer,(or a cat lover) it seemed weird seeing my thoughts in words, and I thougth I would share:
I lost a friend It is kind of funny, that when I think of the word friend it really never occurred to me that it could be something other than a human. But this month, I realized just how wrong i was.To put insight into this, I will start at the beginning.
Once I moved into a house, my son who was five at the time starting bugging me about a pet. Though I entertained the idea, I would just shudder at the thought of it being alone all day to do whatever it wanted to the furniture and go wherever it pleased. Despite my reasoning, my son persisted, and about a couple of years later an opportunity arose. A friend starting seeing a cat hanging out at her place a little more often, and always thinking I would get a dog rather than a cat, I kind of laughed when she suggested I come look.
Well, after looking in ads, and around the neighborhood utility poles,as well as putting a collar on with a note, no owner stepped forward to claim this cat. It seemed harmless enough, it was neutered, and there were no front claws and my son liked it and begged me to take it. So I did, and thus began a ten year ordeal that I can only describe as a life changer.
Once back at the house, the task of giving it a name was given to my son. After all, it was going to be his cat to take care of so he might as well name it. The first thing out of my sons mouth was Tangerine, and since it was an orange tabby, I thought this name was perfect. We went a little further and shortened it down to Tangy(tan-gee), and it stuck from there on out. The first night it was in the house, I was going to show it who the alpha was. Not wanting a cat, and since I couldn't let it out because of no front claws, I stuck him in the basement for the night. So i thought.
After listening to it cry, I am talking heart breaking cries, as well as banging on the door(to this day I am not sure if he used his paws or head when knocking on doors, maybe both), I relented and let him out of the basement. Tangy 1, alpha male 0. But I was determined that he would never be allowed in the bedroom. Night two rolled around, and my mother was visiting. She could no longer stand the heart breaking cries, and the door banging, came out of her room and let the cat into my room. Tangy 2, sleep deprived home owner 0. But that was it, I drew the line in the sand, and vowed he was not allowed on any furniture as well as my bed. Night three rolled around, and I could tell a creature had ventured on to my bed. Being to tired to get up and run it off, subservient homeowner 0, Alpha Tangy and new king of the house 3.
We settled into our new rolls, and when I would pull in the driveway after work, there he was. Perched high on his new chair, and after seeing me, jumping down to come and great me at the garage door. One night I awoke after feeling something on my arm to find him with his front paws wrapped around my arm, and his head nestled in it. He was purring, sleeping, and had what seemed to be a huge smile. I can only imagine that after being homeless, he felt safe and at ease to sleep with no worries. It made me smile, and after that I was okay with liking a cat, he liked me it seemed. Why not? It was a bit out of the norm for my rough construction guy attitude, but slowly him and the kids were making me a wimp. It was way more enjoyable than going out drinking and looking for fights.
Not long after getting the cat, a new job loomed and a new city came into the picture. There was also a kitty that shook up Tangy's world. Tangy was laid back, and the kitten just wanted to play. Not a good mix. Once in the new city, both cats were introduced to the new house at the same time, and they just sensed that it was better to co exist rather than fight. Unfortunately, after a year, the other cat Scooter, developed cancer and passed away.
We went about our lives, and developed a routine, and for the past nine years it has been about the same. I always up first, would be greeted by the cat, looking for water and a bit to eat. He would sit and have coffee and watch the news with me until it was time for work. The other members of the house would rise, also to be greeted by the cat and then off to their days. Then the past few weeks things changed.
Tangy would sleep through the alarm. Kind of odd, but he was getting older i thought. Then he would hang in the basement a little more often. Okay, he was looking for a change. Then two weeks ago he looked haggard, and after picking him up I realized he was loosing weight. I took him to the vet, and after getting blood work done,Tangy had developed an infection that was also damaging his liver. We tried a couple of things, it seemed to be working, but he could just not fight it off.
Last night after watching him suffer the last few days, I had enough. The vet was called, family came over and together we fought tears as we comforted him and said our goodbyes. My son, who is seventeen now, came to the vet with me, and bravely decided to stay through out the ordeal. I didn't want to but couldn't leave my son alone.
We spent the last breath of our beloved pet Tangy, together.We told our favorite Tangy stories to pass time. Me a construction guy my whole life, my son a rugged high school hockey player wept as Tangy passed on peacefully. Well Tangy, that makes it a sweep, 4 to 0 in our series. But i didn't really loose. I won. I won an appreciation for a species I never understood, I won on how to be a little kinder, not just to you but to others in general. And I won all the way around, as ten years with you has given me good memories and stories to tell. Thanks Tangy, goodbye my friend.
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