I’m glad I had one more bag of this under my roof. Last night, I was chilled, numb, and exhausted from several nights of kitty cat deathbed watch (more in a minute). The rooibos base gives some substance to the lemon and ginger—much more satisfying than lighter herbal teas. Looks to be the end of an era—I’m not seeing it in current production.
Kat-rina. Born in 2005, the year of the hurricane. For an indoor cat, 16 is a remarkable old age. For an outdoor cat, it is phenomenal. For a small outside cat about the size of two cinnamon rolls in a semi-rural area, it is heroic. She decided a year or so ago to retire to a warmer climate and chose us as her elder care providers. Truthfully, I didn’t like her much. She was opinionated and cranky, as old ladies tend to be, and did not shed in wisps, but in chunks. However, she became my husband’s emotional support kitty and it broke my heart to see his heart break as she became frail and ill. Despite a spate of wicked weather, she spent her last afternoon in the yard soaking up a rogue sunbeam. We tucked her in a warm, fluffy bed that evening—nothing much left but fur and a heartbeat—and she went to sleep. Not a bad way to go.
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I’m sorry you and your husband lost Kat-rina. No matter how long a cat lives, (to me) it is never long enough. You were kind to make her last day so comfortable and she will be waiting for you both on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.
Thanks for the kind words. I grew up on a farm where pets were considered semi-disposable so, even this many years down the road, it’s new to me to let a fur critter dig its claws so deep into your heart.
My maternal grandmother grew up on a farm in Alsace-Loraine and she had the same attitude; in essence, cats were put on this Earth to catch rodents. Period. I have always preferred cats to people (still do). It seems that during the pandemic, any kind of loss, be it human or fur, hurts more and is felt more deeply.
Sorry for your loss gmathis. While it is sad — it lived a wonderful life, I am sure. I understand the emotional support for your husband, it is sometimes that loss! Not that fluffy ball, but the support it gives, although being cranky and opinionated as you wrote.
Every day, we woke up to what we called her “morning rant.” She meowed not in short sentences, but in entire paragraphs with plenty of throat grrrrs thrown in to punctuate.
Haha, same as our cat. It’s 6th year we have her (from kitty) and still not a super-friendly cat. But I will miss her so much one day.
It always breaks my heart to hear this kind of news. I live alone with an Emotional Support Cat and know full well the impact of a furry little love — even a cranky one. You have my heartfelt condolences.
I’m sorry to hear about your cat (and also, I love the name). It sounds like she had a long and good life.
Sorry to hear of your loss. I have been struggling with one too. I know you had an awesome friend there for sure.
You are such kind people. Thanks for the good words!
I am so sorry. Thank you for blessing her last moments. It is hard to lose them.
Hopefully you have many memories of Kat-rina that make you smile, and that it becomes easier to think of those memories in the coming days.
She was a character!
oh gmathis and your lovely way with words. I’m very sorry you and your husband lost your pal.
I’m sorry you and your husband lost Kat-rina. No matter how long a cat lives, (to me) it is never long enough. You were kind to make her last day so comfortable and she will be waiting for you both on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.
Thanks for the kind words. I grew up on a farm where pets were considered semi-disposable so, even this many years down the road, it’s new to me to let a fur critter dig its claws so deep into your heart.
My maternal grandmother grew up on a farm in Alsace-Loraine and she had the same attitude; in essence, cats were put on this Earth to catch rodents. Period. I have always preferred cats to people (still do). It seems that during the pandemic, any kind of loss, be it human or fur, hurts more and is felt more deeply.
Sorry for your loss gmathis. While it is sad — it lived a wonderful life, I am sure. I understand the emotional support for your husband, it is sometimes that loss! Not that fluffy ball, but the support it gives, although being cranky and opinionated as you wrote.
Every day, we woke up to what we called her “morning rant.” She meowed not in short sentences, but in entire paragraphs with plenty of throat grrrrs thrown in to punctuate.
Haha, same as our cat. It’s 6th year we have her (from kitty) and still not a super-friendly cat. But I will miss her so much one day.
It always breaks my heart to hear this kind of news. I live alone with an Emotional Support Cat and know full well the impact of a furry little love — even a cranky one. You have my heartfelt condolences.
I’m sorry to hear about your cat (and also, I love the name). It sounds like she had a long and good life.
Sorry to hear of your loss. I have been struggling with one too. I know you had an awesome friend there for sure.
You are such kind people. Thanks for the good words!
I am so sorry. Thank you for blessing her last moments. It is hard to lose them.
Hopefully you have many memories of Kat-rina that make you smile, and that it becomes easier to think of those memories in the coming days.
She was a character!
oh gmathis and your lovely way with words. I’m very sorry you and your husband lost your pal.