Saying goodbye to the Battle Cat
Today, I made the difficult decision to say goodbye to my cat, Caesar, aka "Lil Man" or "Battle Cat". Recently, his health was fading and a trip to the vet revealed that he had cancer.
I picked up Battle Cat back in February of 1993 when I was finishing up my time in the Army. One of my last calls as an MP was to retrieve an abandoned puppy and cat from a vacant military housing unit whose soldier had been kicked out of the service. The cat had apparently escaped out of the open window, leaving the puppy behind. I ended up taking that puppy home with me. I named her "Nikita" and she went everywhere with me, including riding around in the patrol car with me, and sleeping in the shotgun racks at the station when I worked as the Desk Sergeant.
When I moved out of the barracks and into an apartment, Nikita had severe anxiety issues when left alone. I decided that maybe getting a cat would help calm her down while I was away at work since there was a cat left behind with her when she was abandoned. I went to the SCPA shelter to check out the cats. There were several pretty ones there, but they weren't good with dogs. The shelter staff dragged Lil Man out of a bottom corner cage and plopped him in my arms. They went on and on about what a neat cat he was. Unfortunately, he was a stray alley cat and they didn't know how he'd be around dogs. I told them I'd keep looking around at other shelters. They put Lil Man back in his cage and I turned to leave. All of a sudden, I heard a frantic meowing coming from that corner. I looked back and saw that Lil Man was climbing his cage door and was meowing intently at me. I paid the adoption fee and took him home that day. He was the best 35 bucks I ever spent.
Over the next 18 years, that little furry critter has been a friend to me through thick and thin. He endured crazy room mates, crazier exes, several moves,and a homeless stint.
Its only been a few hours, and I already catch myself listening for his little "brzzzz" noise he would make when I'd walk by. Its going to be weird not having him follow me around the house.
Goodbye Lil Buddy. I miss you.
I picked up Battle Cat back in February of 1993 when I was finishing up my time in the Army. One of my last calls as an MP was to retrieve an abandoned puppy and cat from a vacant military housing unit whose soldier had been kicked out of the service. The cat had apparently escaped out of the open window, leaving the puppy behind. I ended up taking that puppy home with me. I named her "Nikita" and she went everywhere with me, including riding around in the patrol car with me, and sleeping in the shotgun racks at the station when I worked as the Desk Sergeant.
When I moved out of the barracks and into an apartment, Nikita had severe anxiety issues when left alone. I decided that maybe getting a cat would help calm her down while I was away at work since there was a cat left behind with her when she was abandoned. I went to the SCPA shelter to check out the cats. There were several pretty ones there, but they weren't good with dogs. The shelter staff dragged Lil Man out of a bottom corner cage and plopped him in my arms. They went on and on about what a neat cat he was. Unfortunately, he was a stray alley cat and they didn't know how he'd be around dogs. I told them I'd keep looking around at other shelters. They put Lil Man back in his cage and I turned to leave. All of a sudden, I heard a frantic meowing coming from that corner. I looked back and saw that Lil Man was climbing his cage door and was meowing intently at me. I paid the adoption fee and took him home that day. He was the best 35 bucks I ever spent.
Over the next 18 years, that little furry critter has been a friend to me through thick and thin. He endured crazy room mates, crazier exes, several moves,and a homeless stint.
Its only been a few hours, and I already catch myself listening for his little "brzzzz" noise he would make when I'd walk by. Its going to be weird not having him follow me around the house.
Goodbye Lil Buddy. I miss you.