Nearly two weeks age we had to make the hard decision to put our cat Sparky down. He was about 17 and until a few months ago he was doing great. But when we came back from a camping trip in June, and had someone feeding the cats, we noticed that he suddenly lost a lot of weight.
We got Sparky when he was about 6-7 years old and a friend needed to find a home for him. It was supposed to be temporary but 9 years later he was still with us.
Sparky was the perfect cat for kids. He was big and slow and loved the attention that kids gave him. They could lay on him and cuddle him and he would just soak it up. If he got annoyed, he would get up, walk two step and plop right back down. He would hang out in the backyard when we were out there but never went far out of the yard and would spend the summer on the deck of the pool sleeping in the sun.
With Xavier
Making Friends with Nala
With Wilhelmina…
Sleeping on the deck…
So over the last couple of months he lost more weight, was eating less and the starting having trouble walking. Then I saw that he was in pain and decided that it was time.
I brought him to the vet and very gently he left, with his head resting in my hands, the way he loved to be pet.
The kids were upset but we had time to prepare them and say goodbye. So though they were sad, they took the transition well. Xavier did want another cat but I explained that Nala could get all of the love and if ever the timing was right we would bring another cat in the house.
Then the unthinkable happened.
Two days ago, on Sunday, I was out with my friend (same friend who gave us Sparky) and then I was working at the elections. I got a call from Simon. He and the kids were outside raking and Xavier noticed something in the pool. It was Nala.. oh how my heart breaks while writing this. I had cuddled her that morning and Simon had seen her around lunch time but she was gone when I got the call around 3. I can’t imagine what it was like for Simon and the kids seeing her like that. My heart aches thinking about it. Simon asked me if I wanted to see her, but I could not bear it. So he and the kids buried her in the back yard, and said their goodbyes.
Nala was only 4 1/2 years old…
She was born in an old outhouse near my FIL’s cabin. We got her just around the time that she weaned from her mom.
She loved the kids, she was friendly and cuddly, mischievous and relaxed and just an all around cool cat.
Sleeping with Khéna
Something did not belong in the Christmas tree…
Looking in from outside…
Her space on the couch…
She was always there…
I can’t stop crying, and I know that Simon is still haunted by the image of seeing her. The kids are heartbroken and there is a lot of healing to be done. Though it is very soon after this tragedy, we decided that having another feline presence in the house would do us some good. It could never replace our lost kitties but we have a lot of love to give and there are kitties in need. I looked on the local Facebook page for lost and found animals and two little kittens were there, in the country about 15 min away, living under a balcony. Though it feel a bit too soon, it also felt right to give them a home… so yesterday evening I picked them up… it is bittersweet.
We will always love you and we will miss you Sparky…
We will always cherish you and always remember you Nala…
Oh, so sad. I’m so sorry for your losses.
We just had to have our kitty, Pooh, put to sleep too. So sad.
What a beautiful post as much as it is sad. Your cats were very lucky to have a family as loving as yours 🙂 I bet they loved you as much as you loved them.
I love my cats, they make me smile every day and I talk to them like they are just another member of the family – which they are!
I hope your two new little kitties settle in quickly and bring smiles to your broken hearts.
Mc xo