Our cat Lily died early Sunday morning. She was fifteen years old.
I got her (and her brother Oscar) right after I graduated from college.
I didn’t know it at the time, but she was sick when I brought her home from the pound. She had earmites and ringworm and chlamydia of the eye (no joke). But she pulled through. She was a tough kitten and grew into a tough cat. She had a ferocious spirit and an iron will. She was loving but highly opinionated.
The girl got around, following the course of my adult life up and down (and up again and down again) the east coast. She lived in nine homes in four states. She survived a fall out a bedroom window, three babies, and more than one 24-hour car ride. She weathered it all with patience and dignity. She was a good girl.
And I like to think she had a good life.
With a few notable exceptions.
When the kids woke up this morning, we told them that Lily was gone. The concept is still strange to them. Alden wanted to know when we’d see her again. Kato looked around and confirmed that she was not there. We did our best to explain, but questions remain. Alden thought it would be nice to write Lily a card.
Here’s the cover.
And the inside.
And the back.
Thanks for all these great years, Lily. We love you and will miss you.
No one more than Oscar.
*sniff* for real. RIP, bossy cat.
I am so sad for you. She was such a dear. She is in good company in kitteh heaven, I know.
Oh, I’m sorry. It hurts so much to lose an animal friend. Alden’s card shows so much love for Lily. I hope that you all find comfort in your memories of your kitty.
And I’m sobbing. About a cat no less – but pets are members of the family and my heart aches, especially for the kids who don’t yet know how to understand these things. She had a long and beautiful life with you guys – big hugs to all.
I am so sorry for the loss of Lily. We went through the same thing last fall, and Julia and Nate now think our cat Turtle is “living” under the somewhat cat-shaped rock that we used as her headstone. But they get it. And they want another one. Sorry for Oscar too – it’s probably hardest on him.
RIP, Lily. I just know you had a good life with all those darling Idiots.
I’m so sorry. May she be rich with catnip in the beyond.
I’m so sorry about Lily. She was so sweet. So is Oscar.
Thank you all for your thoughts. Lily and her catty ways were probably never so well appreciated. We miss her in all of our chaos, but imagine that she’s happy to be free of it. Oscar seems to be handling it all with grace. “More food for me,” he says.
I’m so sorry. I’ll miss her! Hugs to Oscar…