8 June 2007
Sasha, 1994-2007
Last
Tuesday I had my best friend and bedfellow of 13 years put to sleep. He hadn't been himself in about a month and had stopped making happy noises. Asthma and a lung tumor made breathing so difficult that he couldn't eat, drink, or sleep. We were both exhausted and sad.
But as the first injection took effect his body relaxed, his pupils dilated, and he drifted into an easy sleep. The second injection was very quick and suddenly there was no cat anymore, just a limp, fluffy pile of cat-shaped flesh. It's hard to believe he's gone.
Boy, did I ever hit the jackpot with this cat. I can't imagine that I'll ever have another bond like the one I had with him.
Some factoids about Sasha:
- He was majestically handsome.
- He purred a lot and very loudly.
- He was an ideal and enthusiastic bedfellow.
- He was silly.
- He loved the outdoors.
- Moths were his favorite prey.
- He had a dog-like desire to please his guardian.
- He talked a lot, with a wide and expressive range of mono- and multi-syllabic meows, murmurs, and grunts.
- He was good-natured toward other cats and bewildered by the mean ones.
- He enjoyed his life and made mine more joyful.
There are many photos in Sasha's gallery.