Chessie Cat
Our dear cat Chessie, who we named after the railroad cat because we found her by the tracks, died July 30th. She had been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and her kidneys were not in great shape- she was an older kitty. The medication didn’t seem to improve her health any- I wonder if it may have caused other problems, and she continued to lose weight. Then her breathing became labored, and despite the vet’s efforts, she worsened overnight. We couldn’t let her suffer, and had her put to sleep. It all seemed to happen so suddenly, I didn’t have much time to get used to the idea of losing her, or time to say good-bye.
Chessie was a sweet natured cat, happiest on my lap in the evenings. She sometimes bossed or mothered the other cats. It was amusing to see this smaller stature cat fling her arm over the shoulder of a much larger cat and vigorously wash his face. If the other cat tried to back away, Chessie might give him a quick cuff or nip to let him know who’s boss. One of her favorite spots was in the kitchen sink, drinking from the faucet, or sitting in the window above the sink where she could survey both the kitchen and the bird feeder outside.
Loss is never easy, be it a cat or a dog, or a person. I know Chessie isn’t suffering any longer, and her body rests in the flower garden. I know she had a pretty good life with us and she was loved. But the raw truth is that I miss her, and feel some guilt that I couldn’t save her. In time this will heal, and the other kitties are a comfort. I do have a small painting I did of Chessie when she was healthy, snoozing on a sunny window seat- I think I’ll find a special place for it to remind me of better days.
Add comment August 2nd, 2010
