I was away at college when my precious boy came into my life. The owner of my apartment building posted a sign saying she had a 5 year old persian that needed a loving home. Lonely for my family, I jumped on the chance for a new companion.
We bonded instantly, thus beginning the journey of myself and Schaefer. We spent the rest of my college years together in the midwest and when it was time to move back to the west coast, he made the trip like a trooper with few complaints. What a lucky cat to live in two very different parts of the country!
My baby was very independent yet very loving. He had the beautiful persian full coat and I would often joke that he looked like a sheep! He also had a very regal appearance and demeanor, thus earning him the nickname “the lion” from my mother. He was very sweet…some of my fondest memories of him is him smelling my lips with his nose, gentle licks on my arm and batting at the charm on my necklace with his paws.
He also LOVED to play with his catnip mice. Like clockwork, at 10:00 each evening he would go through the house with a mouse in his mouth, doing some sort of hunting call! It was always a surprise where we would find the mousies each morning…
A few months ago he began to lose weight and a mass was found on his kidney. It dehydrated him down to 7 pounds but with IV fluids, syringe feedings and his iron will, he rallied back up to 9. He gained some strength and appetite back but then a few days ago, he became very weak and refused to eat. The doctor said a new cyst had developed that must have burst and filled his tummy with fluid. He was having difficulty breathing and was very weak.
As I look back, he seemed to look at me at times saying, mom, it’s my time…The doctor told me that he had very little time and that he was suffering. I took him home, spent good quality time with him petting him and telling him how much I loved him and thanking him for 10 years of happiness. Then I did the most difficult thing I have done in my life. I let him go to sleep…The only comfort that I have is knowing that he is once again happy and healthy and that I’ll see him again someday.
For now though, I have such deep pain and loneliness and have trouble thinking of a day when the pain will be any less. I love him so much and always will. I hope he knows that and
that I did what I did only out of love.
I love you so much, Schaefer.
| Schaefer |
| Charlene Buechner |