Mickey by Lois Bishop / Mommy

My dear Mickey, little Mick Mick, beautiful Green eyes. As I mourn your loss, I also celebrate the life I had with you.
I was there when you were born and with you when you departed 19 years, 7 months and 2 days later. What a blessing to have been there with you throughout your life’s journey! What a happy time this is for you. Your family circle is now completed as you are reunited with Mommy Tootsie, brothers Huggy Bear and C.C. and beloved sister Tinkerbell. That hot July night, you were the last born and the smallest. You were always over shadowed by your siblings, but learned to hold your own.

It seems like only yesterday that you were a baby. For the longest time it was thought you might be a girl. You were small, dainty and not developed. Around eight months of age I caught you with one of the girls and shouted “He’s a boy.” Several months later you finally got your “jewels” only to lose them to my “No intact cats in this house” rule. You were a gentle kitty, staying mostly in the background. Six years ago, you were very ill. Everyday I brought your favorite baby food and fed you. Soon you were home but left with a wobbly rear end and back legs but still ran and
jumped like a champ.

In 2004 I lost my beloved Boo Boo Bear and your brother C.C. After that you spent more time by my side. That November you collapsed and were barely alive. Trip to vet did not reveal any immediate answers other being close to death. I wanted one more night at home for you. Next morning you muttered a weak meow and ate a tiny bit. Cancel pts, Mickey will live on! I was able to enjoy more than a year more with you. December brought a similar episode, but once again you pulled through. It was then that I started referring to you as the “energizer cat.” You just kept going and going and going.

In March 2005, blood tests showed that you had CRF. You immediately boycotted all renal foods. So I gave you all your favorites and would sneak phos binders in them. Renal values were back within normal range last month. You had been deaf for a year. You were no longer able to jump onto the counter but could still jump on the sofa and bed, your favorite sleeping places. You seemed content with life, mainly eating, drinking, and sleeping – good for a guy your age. All was going well until three weeks ago when you became ill. Nothing the vet or I tried worked. You became increasingly weaker. Finally the legs and strength gave out the last few days. I cried as I watched you struggle to stay independent. I didn’t want you to leave but I didn’t want you to suffer any more. You had a wonderful long life and it was time for you to go.

Like your brothers and sister, you were against sitting in laps or being held for a long time. You would accept petting on your head. As the years went by, I would awake to find you sleeping beside my head. After Boo Boo died, you camped out beside me on the sofa. Friday night, I went to bed early, with you beside me. I woke shortly before midnight to find that you had spared me the dreaded decision and left on your own terms. You looked so peaceful, just like you were sleeping. Thank you for that final loving gift to me. Now you are well again – no more pills or trips to the vet. You can hear again and see with perfect vision. You can walk and run without wobbliness, stiffness or pain. As sad as I am, I am so happy for you.

Mickey, I loved you very much and always will. You will always be with me. I have so many wonderful memories. I remember:
Your endless energetic playing as a kitten, going until you dropped in place, falling fast asleep

My panic when, one day I looked out the window wondering what Thunder the Doberman was so proudly carrying in his mouth, only to discover it was you! I rushed to the rescue but you did not have a mark on you. I’m sure it took one of your lives emotionally.

The funny little chirping sounds you made when you spotted a bird silly enough to land in your yard. The chase was on, luckily never catching one.

How no bug or lizard was safe from you. Even with a wobbly rear, you could still run with speed and accuracy.

Your love of baby food, chicken, chicken livers, turkey, hamburgers, etc. Soundly asleep and suddenly your nose started twitching. Fast as lightening, you were up bugging me to give you some.

Your huge passion for ice cream – favorite being Hagens Daz Vanilla. I called it the Ice Cream Bar that you visited on your birthdays. Wow, did you ever pig out! The hang over and effects were quite evident the next day.

Your love of anything with catnip. I loved watching your delight with the toys each year at Christmas.

Most of all, I remember your bravery at battling whatever life threw your way, your desire to live and your strength when battling what seemed to be insurmountable odds against you. I will always think of you as my little hero.

I miss you. Your buddies Tiger, Princess and Hot Shot miss you, also. Tiger has been sticking to me like glue. He would never let me touch him. Now he wants petting and even slept beside me last night. He knows how much I need Mickey’s buddies at this time.

I will always remember you and always love you. Hold that thought until the day we are together again. This is not goodbye – only till we meet again. I love you little one.

 

Loving and Remembering You Always