Reply #18: When ol Smudge knew her time had come, she snuggled down with me, like always

[havocmom]

then, got up in the night, laid an ancient cat paw on Louie Cat as he slept. Reminded me for all the world like Spock to McCoy in that Star Trek movie where Spock died. It was like ol Smudge was telling Louie "Remember" as he slept. She was seldom openly affectionate with Louie. She thought him rough around the edges and not a 'proper cat', but there was real tenderness in her gesture.

Then she made it down to the place in the corner where Havoc liked to sleep. She had known him since he was a tiny kitten. He ended up with us a few months after Smudge's dear pall and nephew cat Pete died too young. Havoc and been the spark that kept old Smudge going.

She just sat, looking at the big sleeping marmalade cat, then she carefully snuggled and laid her tiny head across his big butt. She purred and just stayed there. It was NOT a normal thing. I fell back asleep.

When I woke up at dawn, she was not in the bedroom with me and the other two cats. She had gone of to a quiet spot in the living room and was in the last stages.

She died, conveniently, on a day I had already scheduled off from work for a memorial service for best (human) friend's sister. She would do whatever she could to make my life easier, right up to the end. She was frail and failing for some time, but had stayed fairly happy and comfy. She hung on just long enough for me to meet Havocdad and get the feeling he was a very special person who would have a very big part in my life.

She raised Havoc, taught the shelter cat Louie how to be a cat and a part of a family. She taught me about love, caring and staying in the fight until your part was over.

Eight years ago, and I am sitting here crying all over again. She laid a paw on Louie, and I know she told him REMEMBER.

Louie and Havoc split up Smudge's duties. All the things she did to 'take care of mom' suddenly got done by the two big males. Gestures and efforts they had never made before, they started doing.

'Remember'

Havoc passed two years later. Louie, just three years ago. The dog, acquired just before Havoc died, well, he was lost without the last of his cat friends.

The big dog damned near turned cartwheels when he realized the little kitten that latched onto my hand at a friend's house was going home with us.

He loves his cat sister. She worships him. When they are not fighting like cats & dogs, or brothers and sisters.



Anybody who insists animals don't have feelings and that they only do instinctive things to survive, well they are just fools who don't pay attention.