Saying Goodbye

My cat Tigger, who has been a member of our family for nearly 14 years, passed away yesterday morning.

I'm obviously devastated. He was the first pet of my adulthood, the first who was truly “mine.” When I adopted him from the shelter, we went in looking for a dog. Because my family had always been “dog people.” After Tigger, it turned out that I was also a cat person. Maybe more of a cat person. I love animals overall, and the relationship between a dog and their person is beautiful and adorable, but there's something about cats and their attitude that I can sorta relate to. They aren't as easily impressed. When they show you love and affection, it's almost certainly because you actually earned it. Tigger was no different. He even growled at the vet and her nurses all the way up until we were left to say our goodbyes... He was not easily swayed. But we loved him, and I want to believe that he loved us, too.

The weirdness right now is that I'm also a little bit relieved. Prior to moving out of our old house, he had some major health issues that we weren't sure how to treat. Especially since that house was practically falling apart around us and causing environmental safety concerns that probably contributed to his health issues. We did our big move in early 2023, however, and his health improved almost overnight. Naturally, I assumed we'd have plenty more years with him. Especially since I kept reading about cats who were living well into their thirties ! But the last couple of years, we could tell that his age was starting to catch up with him, too. He had painful joints we were treating with glucosamine. And the past couple of weeks, he started breathing pretty heavily. And this week, we knew it was finally time to see the vet again. Euthanasia was the best option for him, but also the most painful for us. But I'm taking comfort in knowing that he's not in pain now. He's free now from all the silly side effects of being mortal.

He's free now to run and play with all the beloved pets that went before him. I hope that, one day when it's my time to pass on, he'll be the first thing that I see come running toward me. Until then, I'm picturing him rolling around in the grass, under the warm, golden sun, and he's getting all the treats and belly rubs he could ever ask for. He's happy and content and full.

I'll miss you for the rest of my life, bubba. You weren't a good kitty... You were the best.❤️