Sometime last night, my old cat friend at my folks' place died at the age of thirteen. I grew up with that grey tabby. I knew him since he was a tiny, fuzzy kitten. Out of the half-dozen different pets I've had in my life, Tiger (yes, soooo original, but hey, my little brother was in kindergarten then and we had to agree on a name!) was the best pet I've ever had.
He had good energy, loved to play, had a wonderfully therapeutic purr, knew when I needed company and when I wanted to be alone, fit perfectly on my lap when I sat on the couch, taught me about people more than a lot of people taught me about people, never talked back, listened to everything I said (though I doubt he understood any of it), preferred me over the rest of the family, tolerated the dog (she came later in my teen years), always came home, and kept me company when no other company would do. I spent super bowl Sunday (two days ago) at my parents' house and enjoyed Tiger's company, thinking it was probably the last time I was going to see him alive due to him loosing the ability and desire to eat the entire previous week (my mother tells me). He lay in the sunlight until it got dark and then climbed up into my lap, purring happily (apparently for the last time, he spent all of yesterday vomiting) and enjoyed my company once more.
As I'm typing this, the house cat of the place I'm living in is falling asleep on my lap, as if she knows that I miss my old friend. (Or maybe she was just bored with the other residents. I don't know.) And I marvel over just how different each and every cat is from another. They are completely fascinating creatures, with unique voices and behaviors. And for me personally, my favorite animal. So much character radiates out from a cat. They are so alien in form and yet it is strangely beautiful. They are fun creatures to photograph and, as I said, something about a cat's purr is just so therapeutic. But back to my friend Tiger. Some people just never know what good things (or people) they have in their lives until it's too late. I'm thankful I got to appreciate my cat until the end. And now he's not sick and in pain anymore. Yes I miss him, but I will remember him fondly.
In loving memory of Tiger.
The best friend in an animal a girl could wish for.
Rest in peace.
He had good energy, loved to play, had a wonderfully therapeutic purr, knew when I needed company and when I wanted to be alone, fit perfectly on my lap when I sat on the couch, taught me about people more than a lot of people taught me about people, never talked back, listened to everything I said (though I doubt he understood any of it), preferred me over the rest of the family, tolerated the dog (she came later in my teen years), always came home, and kept me company when no other company would do. I spent super bowl Sunday (two days ago) at my parents' house and enjoyed Tiger's company, thinking it was probably the last time I was going to see him alive due to him loosing the ability and desire to eat the entire previous week (my mother tells me). He lay in the sunlight until it got dark and then climbed up into my lap, purring happily (apparently for the last time, he spent all of yesterday vomiting) and enjoyed my company once more.
As I'm typing this, the house cat of the place I'm living in is falling asleep on my lap, as if she knows that I miss my old friend. (Or maybe she was just bored with the other residents. I don't know.) And I marvel over just how different each and every cat is from another. They are completely fascinating creatures, with unique voices and behaviors. And for me personally, my favorite animal. So much character radiates out from a cat. They are so alien in form and yet it is strangely beautiful. They are fun creatures to photograph and, as I said, something about a cat's purr is just so therapeutic. But back to my friend Tiger. Some people just never know what good things (or people) they have in their lives until it's too late. I'm thankful I got to appreciate my cat until the end. And now he's not sick and in pain anymore. Yes I miss him, but I will remember him fondly.
In loving memory of Tiger.
The best friend in an animal a girl could wish for.
Rest in peace.