Goodbye, Lovely Cat

[taste_is_sweet]

Today we had to put Hannah down because she had liver cancer. I'm incredibly sad but Javier is devastated. When he was four he decided that Hannah was 'his' and today he lost his beloved pet.

Of course Hannah was mine long before that. I got her early in 1998 from a local cat rescue group in Toronto. I'd already adopted a cat from them so they had my number (literally and figuratively), so when one of the members was handed a skinny grey cat with five kittens and all of the other members' houses were full I got Shanghaied into looking after her and the babies.

Initially Hannah was scrawny and sickly looking, and so undernourished that one of her shoulders popped out of joint twice in the first year I had her. But she was devoted to her kittens. If either of the other two cats dared go near them, Hannah would chase them away with a wild-eyed ferocity that was more like her vicious great cat ancestors than a domestic long hair.

She was devoted to her kittens, but other than the protectiveness she was actually a terrible mother. I'd have to hold her down to get her to stay put long enough for her kittens to get a full meal, or occasionally stop her licking a kitten so enthusiastically that the poor thing couldn't get to her belly to eat.

When the kittens were weaned I found a home for them, but by then I already knew I'd be keeping their mama. Over the next year Hannah went from a scrawny former alley cat to a fat, sleekly fluffy matriarch who looked constantly pissed off but who was actually the sweetest, most even-tempered and laid back cat I've ever known.

That's why she became Javier's cat. Initially she just was too old and arthritic to run away from him when he began crawling after the cats. But when he got older she began sleeping on his bed with him and coming to him for cuddles. Of course she would still curl up next to Dom on the couch and sleep between us on the bed. Hannah was one of those awesome cats who loved (and put up with) everyone, and was always happy to be hoisted into a lap.

Jav and I loved her so much. Tonight he was crying because he wouldn't have a kitty to sit in his lap anymore. I promised him that we'd get him his very own kitty in a month or so. I'm sure he or she will be lovely, but Hannah was one of a kind.

Comments

[sgamadison.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. I have to deal with this all the time and it never gets easier--not in person or in reading about it. I am so sorry for your loss, and so sorry that your son is taking it so hard. I hope that you will be able to find a lap cat who will fit into your home when the right time comes, and that your son's loss will ease.

*hugs*

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I asked the vet's assistants how often they had to help a grieving pet owner and they said at least once a day! I'm amazed that you can handle that sadness so often, but I appreciate your sympathy and that you know exactly how it feels.

[chkc.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry for your loss. *hugs*

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[wpadmirer.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I know how hard it is to lose a beloved animal. I send you lots of hugs and a special prayer for Javier.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. <3

[tigertale7.livejournal.com]

My deepest condolences. It's always hard to lose an adored companion. That Hannah shaped space in your hearts will always remain full of memories.

::hugs::

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I know I'll miss her for a long time.

[ariadnes-string.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry! It is wrenching to lose a pet--

*hugs*

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you. ::returns hugs::

[gottalovev.livejournal.com]

I am so sorry for your loss... she sounds like she was awesome. *much hugs*

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you. She truly was.

[hoktauri]

Aw! Poor Javier. :'( This makes me incredibly sad for him. Hannah was a very dear pet and she sounds like she was one-of-a-kind. *many epic hugs*

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you. She really was wonderful.

[beadattitude.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry, hon. We 're having our own brush with feline mortality this week, so I can clearly imagine how devastating this is.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you. And I'm so sorry if you've lost a cat as well!

[caras-galadhon.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. My condolences to you and your family for your loss.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you. <3

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry, petal.

Our companion animals give so much, ask so little and leave such a big space behind them.

Just remember, she was lucky too. ♥

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I am very glad that I was able to give her a good life. But yes, she's left a huge space.

[trepkos.livejournal.com]

It's awful losing a friend like that.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Thank you.

[frith_in_thorns]

I'm so sorry. :(

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[hibernate.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry. :( *hugs*

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[debris_k.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry for your loss. *hugs you both*

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Hugs are always appreciated.

[mific.livejournal.com]

Ah, so sad. Hope you can find another nice pusscat to hug, very soon.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Me too. Javier is very excited about that. :)

[pyewacketsid.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm sorry, that is so hard. It sounds like she had a wonderful life with you. Hugs to your sweet boy -- mine love their kitties, too.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you. She seemed to have a good time. :) And thank you for the hugs too.

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

oh, sweetie, that's so awful. That picture just breaks my heart. She looks like such a sweet kitty. I'm so sorry for Javier, too. *hugs*

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you. She was a super sweet, and especially tolerant of an enthusiastic little boy. We were so lucky to have her. ::hugs you too::

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry for your (and Javier's) loss, sweetie. She was a beautiful cat. ::hugs you tight::

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. She was fantastic. ::hugs back::

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry luv.

She was lucky to have found you and your family and to have been loved so much for so long. They leave a massive hole when we have to say goodbye ♥ *big hugs*

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I am very glad we were able to give her a good, comfortable life. And she gave us so much happiness in return. ♥

[rinkafic.livejournal.com]

*Hugs*

It is always so hard to say goodbye to our fur children.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Fur children. I like that term. :) Yeah, it's super hard. Thank you. ::hugs back::

[danceswithgary]

*hug*

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

♥

[crashbarrier.livejournal.com]

It is so sad when a beloved pet passes away. My condolences to you and yours. But from her story I have to say that is sounds like Hannah had the best life she could have. I hope Javier is able to come to terms with it all.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you. She was certainly loved.

[darkmoore.livejournal.com]

I'm so very sorry. *hugs*

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[illariy.livejournal.com]

So sad to hear about your loss. What a beloved and lovely furred family member! My thoughts are with you and your family. *hugs*

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. She was truly wonderful.

[shinyslasher.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry about your loss *hugs*

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you.