I picked up Chris’s ashes from the vet today. I wanted to show you, so I took everything out and set it on a cat perch to take pictures.
Frankie jumped onto the perch, so I quickly put everything back in the bag before he knocked it on the floor. He was surprisingly curious about what was in the bag. It was almost as if he could smell Chris or somehow sense it was him. I don’t know.
This is the first time we have ever received the ashes from one of our pets. I plan on bringing him to our house in West Virginia when we go there in the spring. We have a fairly large backyard. I think that would be a good place to spread his ashes.
As most of you know, we lost Chris Saturday afternoon. We knew his time with us was limited but we still hoped for at least another year. I at least thought he would see his fifteenth Gotch Day in November.
I am grateful to the many people who reached out and offered prayers when they learned Chris was not doing well, and condolences after he passed. As most of you know, losing a beloved pet is very difficult but knowing there are people who really care about you softens the blow.
I would like to thank Ann from Zoolatry for first creating this graphic when she learned Chris wasn’t doing well.
A few hours later she made this beautiful memorial for Chris.
I thought this would be a good time to take a stroll down memory lane, starting with the first two known photos of Chris taken October 3, 2009, when I talked my wife into coming into the shelter where I volunteered to meet Chris.
Chris meets RoseChris at adoption center with Rose.
We didn’t adopt him then. We had a cruise coming up in October and then Rose had to go to a managers meeting. In the meantime, Chris was adopted by someone else. He annoyed his first adoptive parents so much that they returned him the next day. The fact that a five to six-month-old kitten could not get adopted was unusual and lucky for us as well as Chris, because I don’t know many people who could have put up with him in those early years.
Here is a video of him when we brought him home. We didn’t do what we should have done and introduce him to our cats slowly. Instead, we let him loose and he immediately took over. As you can see, Chris was not a shy cat.
I believe this is the first photo I have of him in our new home.
Chris on adoption day, 2009.
Three hours later he cozied up to Rose on the sofa.
Early picture of Chris and Rose
He quickly became friendly with our other cats. Our black cat, Flash, is not in this picture, nor do I have a photo of him with Chris. It’s too bad because he died the following April.
Chris would often insert himself where he wasn’t invited.
Chris disturbs Abbey’s nap.
While he could be highly annoying to both cats and people, he was also funny and entertaining.
Now it’s my turn!Abbey annoyed with Chris.
He could also be very cute.
What stood out the most about Chris was his affectionate nature. He was always a very touchy-feely cat. He was the only cat I ever knew that liked to be hugged.
This is Chris on my shoulders, doing what he has done since the day we met.
Of course, there were plenty of things he did to earn the name Bad Cat Chris.
Bad Cat Chris tries to catch birdChris on kitchen babinetDid I mention the closet?
Chris was with us for almost fifteen years. There is way too much to remember in one post. I will post part two soon.
I didn’t have many new photos this week so I thought I would find an old one (or three) taken on this day. I found a folder from April 26, 2011. It was labeled “Camera Test.” I don’t know what camera I was testing but I think it was a film camera. It looks like I took pictures of whatever, and whoever, I could find.
Here is Chris in our spare bedroom looking out the window. I think that was his favorite place in the condo. The photo is not great, probably due to poor lighting and no flash, but it is a good memory of Chris.
The next is Tigger. He was probably on the same bed as Chris but because I wasn’t pointing the camera at a bright window, the picture is much better.
Here is Abby looking out the window in the master bedroom. It’s another bad photo but a good memory.
I did a bad thing yesterday. My wife says I shouldn’t share this story because it makes me look bad but I’m going to share anyway.
I have a memory problem. It’s not what you think. I can remember past events just fine. I haven’t developed dementia just yet, although if I did I probably wouldn’t know it. I have trouble remembering the future. Specifically, I have trouble remembering what I have to do at exactly the time I need to do it.
Some would call that absent-mindedness. Others call it “ADD.” Essentially it means I have trouble keeping a thought in my head. When a new thought enters, the old thought exits. For example, the other day I went out to the shed to grab a bottle of water. When I got out there I realized I needed to put clothes in the dryer. When I finished, I went back in the house without the water. It has been a problem ever since I can remember, and I can remember my forgetfulness just fine. I function pretty well with my problem, mostly because I develop habits, but sometimes I scare myself.
Yesterday morning Rose left to visit her mother. As she drove away she noticed a mobile detailer two doors down and called to ask if I could find out what they would charge to wax her car. I said “sure” and walked out the front door. When I did, Frankie slipped out the door before I could close it. He lingered for a while until I tried to catch him and then he bolted.
This picture is from a different escape.
I decided to get the price from the detailers and then catch Frankie. I spoke with them for a minute and then went home, forgetting that Frankie was outside. Not only did I forget about him, he didn’t enter my mind as being missing until three hours later when I opened the back door to check on laundry and there he was. He gave me a stern meow and then walked inside. Wow!
My wife is going to be gone next week so I’m going to have to be very careful. She told me I can’t use the stove while she is away.
I want to start by wishing everyone a happy and prosperous new year. I hope you all have a great 2014.
About five years ago Rose and I were at a benefit for a local shelter called The Suncoast Animal League (Where I later volunteered briefly). They had cat beds for sale and since it was for a good cause we bought one that looked a little like Abbey. She took to it right away and it became her bed, even though other cats would sometimes lie in it.
Abbey and Tigger in Abbey’s cat bed.
Abbey’s bed could sometimes get over crowed.
Tigger had his own bed too but he was not as attached to it as Abbey was.
After we lost Abbey, her bed remained behind.
Today we put away all our Christmas decorations. I don’t know how but it seemed like we had less room than we did when I took the decorations out so I needed to make room. That is when I noticed Abbey and Tigger’s beds on the shelf. Since we moved, Chris and Puck don’t use them anymore so they ended up in the closet. Rose said I should throw them out, so I put them in a garbage bag and, as I closed the bag, the little cat face seemed to look back at me. I felt bad putting it in the trash, but I knew there was no room to store it for sentimental reasons.
“They say you die twice, one time when you stop breathing and a second time, a bit later on, when somebody says your name for the last time.” This quote is attributed to Bransky and It makes me feel like my memory of Abbey and Tigger keeps them alive and nothing else is needed.
Bad Cat Chris 