Yesterday was a miserable day, as days go they don't get much worse. I had to make the decision to take our dear old cat to the vet for her last time.
We had been struggling with the decision for some time now as she had slowly become more feeble and her health problems were getting to be more debilitating. It was so hard to decide when her quality of life was such that she needed to go. It was made all the harder by the fact that she could still purr and interact with us in her usual loving way.
Roxi came to our house 20 years ago as a kitten. She was our daughter's cat and introduced to our household when our daughter was 12 and adjusting to a new school, new friends, and the little cat seemed to know that she was special. We went and saw the litter when they were tiny and had just opened their eyes and S picked her then. We returned a few weeks later to bring her home. That was 20 years ago last month.
After all our children had left home Roxi missed them terribly, husband and I were not deemed to be interesting or lively company, good for providing food but that was all. So she began her wandering circuit of the neighbours.
She adopted the family across our drive who had three teenage daughters and made herself at home there during the day. She also adopted the people in the other house down our drive, an IHC home, and likewise they made her welcome.
When the family with teenagers shifted, another family with two teenagers arrived so she just switched her attention to them. Her nose was temporarily out of joint when they got a dog but the dog didn't stay for long and she was soon back enjoying the attention and parked in front of their fire in the winter. She would arrive at the same time each day, and like clockwork jump up and leave at the same time to return home.
Unfortunately we had to introduce another cat to the household which upset her a little in the last few years, However she mostly coped with this with her usual good humour
Inbetween her wanderings she still knew that this was her home and called by several times a day for food and attention. Until the last few months, although now stone deaf, she was healthy and fit.
Little Roxi, all you ever did in your life was dispense love and good humour to others, you will be missed sorely and remembered with love by the many humans whose lives you touched.
Today we are going to bury her in the garden in one of her sunny spots she liked to sleep.
14 comments:
our tom won't live as long as your old cat...all we do is spend our time doing is fixing him up after fights, and he goes out and does the same...oh weelll jaspher bell there is always someone around to followq up after your crap
Oh, Mrinz, I am sorry. I do know how terribly difficult making that decision is, and have loved several Very Important Cats during my life.
Thinking of you.
xoxo CGF
... oh, the heartbreak of having to say Good Bye to cat. Even that they largely ignore us - or at best acknowledge our position as providers of food - they occupy large room in our hearts.
I'm so sorry ... it's so hard to lose a beloved pet.
Oh, Mrinz!! This post had me in tears!!! I'm so sorry! We're actually in a similar situation at the moment, so I know how terribly difficult a time this is for you. My youngest brother's cat (given to him for similar reasons as your daughter getting her Roxi) is at that age where she is suffering from ailments many cats her age suffer from.
What a difficult position it is.
Thank you everyone for your kind comments. Making the decision to take her off to the vet was the hardest decision of all, but we are sure that in doing so we saved her from further pain and distress.
Meanwhile the other two cats are revelling in the extra attention!
Hi Mrinz - I just returned from a 10-day vacation away from my computer to read the sad story about Roxi. No matter how "prepared" we think we are, when that day finally comes (whether by your decision or that of the Great Cat Spirit) it's really hard. My heart goes out to you all!
-Veronica
So sorry about your cat Merinz and that I didn't come and read your blog when it happened.
It's awful losing your pets. It's that having to decide thing isn't it?
But what a wonderful life she had!
Hope you are ok.
great blog!
www.markosenex.blogspot.com
I am just finding this post now, and let me belatedly send my condolences. Clearly she was the light of your life and now that bright beacon is gone....and after all those years it is even more painful. My thoughts are with you.
So sorry to hear about Roxi - it is always hard to lose them.
Arrived safely in Rotorua - it is a lovely part of the world - enjoyed flying over it all today.
xx
Just popping by to say hello. Thinking of you today. Had a picnic lunch by the water with Hubby and the baby. Hubby says thank you for the Father's Day wishes :)
Hi Mrinz, wondering how you're doing - long time no post. Hope all is well!
-Veronica
Just a quick note.
Thankyou everyone for all your comments. I have been offline now for over two weeks - we are having major internet access problems with our home computer and I have to go elsewhere if I want to connect to the net. Which is a major nuisance!
Hope to catch up with everyone soon.
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