Heather.
Today marks a day in the Rhodes-Bowen house of 448. Today's the day we put our little Heathercat down. Now our little friend was doing pretty well for a 16 year old kitty up until a few months ago. We're not sure if she had a stroke or if her arthritis was just too much to hide anymore or if something else happened. But all of a sudden she wasn't eating and moving became much more difficult. She went from being a healthy 10 lb cat running around the house, jumping incredible heights, and eating mice to a 4.8 lb cat wobbling around the house, falling down with the slightest head shake, and sleeping. I loved this cat. She loved me back. She was the best little buddy a person moving to a new town could ask for. Sunday afternoon she got outside, Chris went out to look for her, she crawled in to his arms and she gave up. She just went limp and was gone. Still a little breathing body, but no more Heather.
My favourite memories of Heather are not limited to but include:
1) the way she would stare at Chris and I having sex intently, purring loudly as if to say "I'm so happy we're all hanging out"
2) playing hide and seek on a sunny afternoon, her scaring the living shits out of me as she charged me from a hiding spot.
3) the way she would sleep at the end of the bed closest to the door as if to protect us
4) when she would chase Bella up the stairs, only to sit half way down them staring at her, as if to say "My territory ya little bitch"
5) the way she insisted on sitting on my lap no matter what else was in it or how awkward of a position I was in, she just needed to be in my lap
6) the way she would put up with my incessant cuddling, helping me get to sleep or calm my nerves or soothing my loneliness
7) her purring so hard she drooled, leaving big drooly puddles on your pants or shirt or wherever else she happened to have her head
8) her sometimes forgetting to put her tongue back in her mouth and having this deranged look on her face while staring at you with her tongue out, just a little.
Love you little kitty. Thank you.