Ash (AKA Ikkle One) 2002-2015
Ash (AKA Ikkle One, Compact Kitty)
2002-2015
In 2002, there was this friendly little gray kitty that hung out under a gazebo that was located between Camp Humphreys' old Commissary, PX, and food court. People used to buy cans or bags of food to feed him and his friends that lived there. This was OK while the weather was nice, but winter was coming and plans were in the works to tear down the the buildings and build new ones. It became obvious he needed a new home.
We brought him home on Thanksgiving Day, 2002. We already had three other kitties at the time, Lucy and Linus (the siblings), and Achilles. It became apparent Ash was more than just friendly with people, he also loved other cats, becoming friends with all, and also becoming the official greeter of any new kitties that entered the house. He purred at the slightest touch and even purred when he saw you petting kitties near him!
He really loved Flea and hung out with her a lot.
He also liked playing with Ginger.
He was a true diplomat and hung out with everyone.
As you can see, it's almost impossible to sleep in the bed, let alone make it. Ash also liked to see what we were doing.
He loved shoes.
He was a kitty full of life, love, and happiness.he never complained or put up a fuss, no matter what. We noticed he started losing weight a few weeeks ago. We took him to the vet, but she didn't find anything wrong, other than a little dehydration and some arthritis in his hips. She gave him some fluids and a vitamin shot and sent him home. Things didn't improve. His gait became unsteady, his appetite waned. His back and ribs became more pronounced. We took him back again, and after more tests, things still showed normal.
We know, however, that something was wrong. The other kitties took turns looking after him and comforting him, much as he did them when they were young. he had trouble walking, and was starting to find secluded places to hide. It was after he totally stopped eating or drinking that we knew he had decided it was his time. His last meal was his favorite. A freshly opened can of tuna that got him wobbling from where he was holed up into the kitchen where I was prepping it for him. he took a few laps of liquid, and stumbled off. I pureed the rest and located him. he lapped up about a quarter of that. It was the last thing he ate, despite my trying again last evening to get him to eat some more.
He disappeared for a couple of hours last night, and when we finally located him, he was limp and barely moving. but when brenda picked him up, he purred in his typical fashion. We placed him in the bed between us, and aside from an occasional tail twitch, he didn't move all night. he would purr when you touched him, and that was about it. This morning, we contacted the vet, and made arrangements. We spent a little more time giving him some love, and when the time came, tucked him inside Brenda's coat (just like when we brought him home on that day almost 13 years earlier), and brought him to the office. He put up no fuss, and I believe he was ready to go and looking forward in joining all his friends that had passed before.
Ash was a remarkable kitty and of a type I doubt will ever meet again. Give them a hug from us, Ikkle One.
