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

[springwoof.livejournal.com]

So sorry for your loss, and Javvy's. Losing a beloved pet sucks. :(
{hugs} and condolences

[iadorespike]

Oh, honey...I'm so sorry for your loss. :( She sounds like she was a lovely, sweet girl, and you seem to have given a lot to each other. It's so hard to lose a member of the family.

*hugs you all*

[nakatas-cat.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's so sad. Losing a pet sucks (had it with several guinea pigs when I was a kid and the burial in our garden was always accompanied by lots and lots of crying.) I hope you and your boy will get over the worst quickly. *hugs*

[squeakyoflight.livejournal.com]

I remember when I brought her to Texas back in 2001. She was drugged to the gills in her cat carrier, drooling and meowing in this repetative, meaningless way. But she was so cute that all the security people passed me through with only the most cursory of checks as they fawned over cat, and this was only about a month after 9/11. I could have smuggled anything into the States that day, thanks to Hannah being so adorable.

Her constantly pissed-off expression was such a delightful contrast to her loving and sweet personality. She always seemed to be so patient and loving towards everyone. She was a very nice cat, all the way to her bones.

I'm glad I got a chance to know her, and to have been instrumental in her immigration. I'm very sorry she is dead.

I love you,

Squeaky

[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.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. <3

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

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

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you. ::returns hugs::

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you. She truly was.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you. She really was wonderful.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

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

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you. <3

[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.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Thank you.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Hugs are always appreciated.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

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

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

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

[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::

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

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

[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. ♥

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

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

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

♥