Okay, Pooter is a dumb name but I think it fit my cat very well. She was originally named Pepper when she was owned by a friend who gave her to me when we moved out of an apartment we had been sharing back in 2000. At that point I’d been living with her for four years.
Ten years later and at over 17 years of age, she had stopped eating a few days ago. She had a host of ailments like many older cats — thyroid problems, kidney issues and other more minor things — but she was still as feisty as ever and retained every last bit of her wonderfully skittish personality. Even as she faded in these last couple of days there was still that same spark, however diminished. She gave the vet hell as he examined her this afternoon but it was clear that she was unlikely to really improve and the cost of diagnosing and treating her — both monetary and emotional — was too high.
I made the immensely difficult decision to have her euthanized. She is now resting in the backyard, not far from where Diz was buried back in 2001. I thank Tim for helping and doing a fine job on that part.
I am of course expecting her to come out of the bedroom and demand to be fed or to start meowing loudly at my feet when I’m on the phone because I am obviously not paying attention to her, but now there is just silence.
Every night she would snuggle up against me when I went to bed, right up near my shoulder. She would stay there until I turned out the light and then, convinced that I was safe and comfortable, she’d move off to her preferred spot on the bed. She allowed me to sleep until it was breakfast time. No sleeping in for that.
I cleaned up her food dish and rinsed it out a few minutes ago. Instead of topping up her water dish, it now sits in the sink, waiting to be washed and stored away. I threw the can of food in the fridge out. I cleaned her litterbox but don’t have it in me to actually empty it and set it aside. It will take awhile to adjust. She was my companion and friend for 14 years and I already miss her terribly.
Rest in peace, Pooter. I hope I treated you well.
