cat_asleep

This afternoon at 19:15 we had to put our dearest cat SOX to sleep.

She reached the respectable age of 17 years. That is a pretty impressive for a Holy Birman. We got her and her sister when they were only seven weeks old – a kitten so small, she could sit on one hand.

Two years back she was terribly ill and we thought we would lose her. But she fought back and survived her failing kidneys with a special diet, and lots of drinking. Unfortunately, her condition deteriorated rapidly while we were on holiday in Italy, and we drove back in a hurry, ending our holiday prematurely. She had us near her for 30 hours (and we were so glad we could see her alive). But we saw she was suffering and she tried to find remote spots in the house and garden just to lie down – something she never did in the past even when she was sick – and wait for the end. Her condition got much worse today and we could no longer bear to see her in pain.

She has given us an enormous amount of love – and received our love and affection in return. The grief I feel stings like hot needles. That small cat comforted me in difficult times and strange as it may sound, she kept me sane.

Sox, we will be missing you, you wonderful and sweet cat.