His name was so close to being Batman, the year was 1990, Batman was the blockbuster of the summer the year before. I had not had another cat in a while. Jinx and Bear were brother and sister and had just recently passed in the previous 3 years. My mother was cleaning houses for a living and one of her customers cat had a litter of kittens. I at the time was a mess. I had lost my grandfather 2 years prior and had turned to drugs, dropped out of school. She took me over to see these kittens. Only one really appealed to me. He was the runt of the litter. All I saw was ears and lips, like I said I almost named him Batman but then I saw his little mean streak so I settled on Bart after the Simpsons.
Patricia did nothing but hiss and pick on you but just 9 months later you were getting the best of her. Then we found out something cool, you were a very smart cat, before the times of the litter box over the toilet, I heard a noise like someone was in the toilet, but I knew I was the only one home. When I walked in the bathroom there you were Bart squatting in all your glory on the toilet. I got a picture of it a couple of days later. I finally cleaned up my act because of you Bart.
We moved to Vegas a year later me, you, mom, and Patricia. You were always friendly to everyone, always looking for the good in people. You were the coolest under pressure too, and boy did I put so much on you. We just cruised along through life for quite a few years till I almost lost you that first time. You got real sick and was drooling real bad, but we pulled you through that. Then the next time I almost lost you I actually lost Patricia. You were sick as was Patricia but we got you out of that. You truly had 9 lives.
In 2003 is where it got real rough; you were growing some moles on you and you had a real big one on your cheek. Most of the time you would rip it open yourself and drain it but one morning you tore it open deep and just would not stop bleeding. I took you in again, blood drenched, you and me both but I kept pressure on it so you didn’t die on me there in a car. The vet informed me that you were diabetic at that time. We had to endure the shots everyday. Mom was afraid of needles so it was left to me and I did it without fail. We were going along so good till last Friday. You were getting old and had quit really grooming yourself. Our new addition was trying to clean you up but he couldn’t get the knots out of your hair, so I took you in the bathroom and tried to cut the knots but no luck. I went to work Tuesday and you almost died then, but you hung on and got better for a few hours. I feel it was so you could spend your last few hours with me saying goodbye. Even before you slipped into the coma you licked me one last time. There will never be another cat like you, Bart. Heck Taco Bell just lost a good customer.
Just remember I love you.
In loving memory,
| Bart |
| David Barnett |