Niblet
I remember the day I got Niblet. Me and my roommate at the time, Nichole, went to the Arizona Humane Society downtown Phoenix because it was “feeless feline” the month of August. At AHS I was given a number, something like 8th out of a total of 9 people and we got to choose our kittens in that order. I spied Niblet curled up into a tiny ball in the corner of the kitty condo, with his nose hiding under his tail trying to make himself as small as possible. Person after person picked out different kittens, going for the more active ones. When it got to my number it was just Niblet and a tortoise shell female left and I went immediately for Niblet. Nichole told me to get the other one, because she was more playful, but I knew Niblet was mine. I knew it the minute I laid my eyes on him that day.
I had class that night after I got off work, and I was so upset that I had to send him home with Nichole. Class didn’t get out until 10pm, and the US 60 was under CRAZY CONSTRUCTION when I left school. So I got stuck in traffic for over an hour. I was so angry, because all I wanted to do was get home to him so we could bond. When I finally did get home he was under my bed (a place that remained his favorite his whole life) still curled up into a ball. I got him out and laid him on my chest and we looked into each others eyes. That was when he knew I was his, that we owned each other.
He has been with me through the past 10 years. Through 5 houses, 2 roommates, 5 jobs, 3 cars, the rise and fall of friendships, countless boyfriends and bad dates, heartbreaks, joys, my mom’s cancer, the death of my mother, my depression after death of my mother, my surgery, . . . All of it. It’s been me and Niblet against the world.
Sunday evening he lay on my chest and we looked into each others eyes, just like we did that August night all those years ago. He rubbed his head against my face and I scratched his belly. He purred and meowed. He was the sweetest, most gentle, loving cat I have ever known.
Yesterday morning he was Niblet as usual; demanding breakfast as soon as he heard the shower turn off, following me around and yelling at me to open the blinds so he could see the world. I called out “Bye Niblet!” when I ran out the door, late for work (as usual). I had no idea that when I got home he would be dead on my living room floor, his little paws around the heel of one of my shoes.
I was hysterical and inconsolable. My dad came over and wrapped him up in a towel for me so I could carry him to the car. We went to the vet and dropped him off. I get his ashes back next week. I’m going to scatter most of them, but some I’m going to keep and put with the ashes I saved after my mom died next to my bed. So they can both be near me.
There is apparently a heart condition common in Maine Coon male cats called HCM. It is possible Niblet had it his whole life and it caused him to have a heart attack while he was playing with my shoes (something he KNEW he wasn’t allowed to do). The vet called me last night once she had a chance to look at him, and she said she could see no obvious signs of what happened, and mentioned heart disease to me. It’s not something I could have ever known but I would have done ANYTHING for him if I had known he was sick.
He wasn’t just a cat; he was a huge part of my life. He was as much a part of my family as my mom was and I will grieve him for a very long time. The fact that he died on the 3-year anniversary of my mom’s death is something I will never understand. I am glad that their energies can be together now, wherever it is we go once we die. I entrust his care to my mom, at least until my energy joins them one day in the future.
Niblet
Nibs
Nibby Nu
Nibby Nuser
Noose
Fatty
Fatso Catso
I called him a lot of things. But mostly I called him my best friend. And I am devastated.
I had class that night after I got off work, and I was so upset that I had to send him home with Nichole. Class didn’t get out until 10pm, and the US 60 was under CRAZY CONSTRUCTION when I left school. So I got stuck in traffic for over an hour. I was so angry, because all I wanted to do was get home to him so we could bond. When I finally did get home he was under my bed (a place that remained his favorite his whole life) still curled up into a ball. I got him out and laid him on my chest and we looked into each others eyes. That was when he knew I was his, that we owned each other.
He has been with me through the past 10 years. Through 5 houses, 2 roommates, 5 jobs, 3 cars, the rise and fall of friendships, countless boyfriends and bad dates, heartbreaks, joys, my mom’s cancer, the death of my mother, my depression after death of my mother, my surgery, . . . All of it. It’s been me and Niblet against the world.
Sunday evening he lay on my chest and we looked into each others eyes, just like we did that August night all those years ago. He rubbed his head against my face and I scratched his belly. He purred and meowed. He was the sweetest, most gentle, loving cat I have ever known.
Yesterday morning he was Niblet as usual; demanding breakfast as soon as he heard the shower turn off, following me around and yelling at me to open the blinds so he could see the world. I called out “Bye Niblet!” when I ran out the door, late for work (as usual). I had no idea that when I got home he would be dead on my living room floor, his little paws around the heel of one of my shoes.
I was hysterical and inconsolable. My dad came over and wrapped him up in a towel for me so I could carry him to the car. We went to the vet and dropped him off. I get his ashes back next week. I’m going to scatter most of them, but some I’m going to keep and put with the ashes I saved after my mom died next to my bed. So they can both be near me.
There is apparently a heart condition common in Maine Coon male cats called HCM. It is possible Niblet had it his whole life and it caused him to have a heart attack while he was playing with my shoes (something he KNEW he wasn’t allowed to do). The vet called me last night once she had a chance to look at him, and she said she could see no obvious signs of what happened, and mentioned heart disease to me. It’s not something I could have ever known but I would have done ANYTHING for him if I had known he was sick.
He wasn’t just a cat; he was a huge part of my life. He was as much a part of my family as my mom was and I will grieve him for a very long time. The fact that he died on the 3-year anniversary of my mom’s death is something I will never understand. I am glad that their energies can be together now, wherever it is we go once we die. I entrust his care to my mom, at least until my energy joins them one day in the future.
Niblet
Nibs
Nibby Nu
Nibby Nuser
Noose
Fatty
Fatso Catso
I called him a lot of things. But mostly I called him my best friend. And I am devastated.