Groovymarlin.com

My cat Bootie died tonight, some time around 11pm or so, we’re not really sure. She was lying on the hearth, enjoying the fire, and left us peacefully. She was almost 19 years old, and had been going downhill, albeit slowly for the past year or so – losing a lot of weight, slowing down. But she was still doing pretty well until a few days ago. Then she started moving really slowly, and often seemed disoriented. But she continued to eat (a little), drink, and use her litterbox. Today she started staggering, and could only take a few steps before needing to lie down wherever she was and rest. It was heartbreaking, and I had made up my mind to taker to the Animal Hospital tomorrow and have her euthanised. Instead, she died tonight at home, and I’m glad.

So here’s to Bootie, she was an interesting cat. I had her for 18 years. She was with me through two boyfriends, two husbands, one divorce, five apartments, two houses, four jobs, and everything that happened in between. In personality, she veered between clingy and affectionate (to us in the family) to hateful and hissing (to everyone and everything else). I’m sad to see her go, but relieved that she didn’t suffer, and happy she died in a place where everything was familiar. The hubz has promised to bury her in the back yard tomorrow morning; in some quiet, unmarked corner. That may be illegal where we live – I’m not sure, but I don’t really care.

No more pets for a while, I think. Maybe someday. Rest in peace, little grandma, rest in peace.