Sand in My Shoes Reviews
  • Home
  • A Celebration of Books Blog
  • Blog: Tails from the Front
  • Contact Me

Remembering Demon Cat

9/16/2012

1 Comment

 
Picture
His 'real' name was JJ but to me, and his legion of Face Book fans, he was Demon Cat, the bane of my existence, the thorn in my side. My constant, most loyal and most critical companion. The one who kept me honest and attentive...

...to his needs, his wishes, his tastes and his whims.
Picture
There was never any doubt. I was staff, albeit a most cherished and loyal servant to His Most Royal. 

His full brother, Tom, is nothing like him. Tom's feral where JJ was a homebody. Tom hunts, successfully, depositing the largesse on the mat just outside the door leading into the garage. The mat you step on in your bare feet when heading to find something to defrost for dinner from the big freezer.

JJ always had, from kittenhood, a 'condition' akin to human asthma. It made breathing difficult when he exerted himself chasing after the feather on the end of a kid's plastic fishing pole, or the laser point light that drove his brother into spasms of ecstasy and joy.

JJ was a stalker and a watcher, always underfoot, a supervisor of daily activities, be it gardening or feeding the horses or simply dogging my heels ... or perhaps, more appropriately ... 'catting' me.
Picture
My Demon Cat was a big boy, pushing 15 pounds under that gorgeous long-haired coat. When he curled in my lap he took up all the available real estate (and that's saying something).

We managed his health issues as best we could. He wasn't a fan of pills and I learned to keep a supply of iodine and mercurochrome in the kitchen and the bathrooms for the inevitable battle wounds. Though my son and I rarely talked about it, we both knew he wouldn't be with us all that long. 

But he held on for 8 years, a gift I surely didn't deserve. The end, when it came, was startling fast. He lay on his chair, the wheezing desperately rough and harsh, barely moving but willing to tolerate the fussing as we tried to make him comfortable. The next day I rushed him to the vet; he was in acute renal failure. I left him there for tests, the vet would call me with the results, but I already knew.

I drove to the supermarket parking lot next door and waited. I didn't want to be far from him and his last moments.

The news when it came was ... not good. I held him close at the end. I think he knew I was there, at least I hope so. I felt his last breath on my hand.
Picture
This happened back in April, on my birthday. Not something I want to remember and not something I will ever forget.

The seconds, minutes, hours, days and weeks have filtered past and I'm still waiting for time to heal the wounds. Of all the creatures with whom I share my time, my love and my respect on this earth, Demon Cat was one who owned a piece of my soul. He and my mare, Miss Winnie, define me, define my humanity.

I know I should open my heart to another. There are so many worthy shelter kitties needing homes. But I'm not ready. Soon, I hope but ... not yet.
Picture
1 Comment
Melissa Eyler
9/25/2012 03:54:16 am

I understand how painful the loss of wonderful fellow such as this can be. When I was young, I always thought it would get easier, but it never did. I finally reconciled that the more I loved, the more I grieved and it's the price I'd have to pay. So I do and so do you. Rest in peace handsome fella, and hugs to you, Diane,

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Share |

    Diane Nelson

    Writer of fantasy and contemporary romance.
    Editor.


    Follow this blog
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    April 2017
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011
    March 2011

    Categories

    All
    100 Year Flood
    2013
    About This Writing Gig
    Action
    Adventure
    A Fresh Start?
    After: The Jungle Tamed
    Almond Blueberry Cheesecake Tunnel Bundt Cake
    An Anniversary-One Year With Little Miss
    Annapolis
    Are We There Yet?
    Armageddon
    Before: Taming The Jungle
    Best Present Ever!
    Blogger Award
    Catastrophe
    Chicken Rescue
    Chicken Tikka Masala Curry (from A Jar But Hey Ho)
    Comedy
    Companion
    Contemporary Romance
    Country Breakfast
    Crab And Brie Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms #Recipe
    Creamy Chicken With Wild Rice Soup #Recipe
    Creative Cussing
    Demon Cat
    Destruction
    Eats Like A Bird!?
    Eulogy
    Fantasydragons
    Fear
    Finally: Good News
    Floating (Adventures In Equine Dentistry)
    Flood
    Foreshortened
    Frenchtown
    Garlic Knots #Recipe
    Harbor
    Hens From Hell
    Horseplay
    Jailbreak!
    Jewelry
    Kingston
    Little Miss Is Growing Up
    Locked Out!?
    Locked Out Addendum
    Make... Stuff
    Miss Stormy Braves The Storm & The Vet
    Mom's Day And The Beat Goes On...
    Mr Tom
    Mud
    Murder
    Nomination
    On Emergencies And Other Matters
    Oystermen
    Painted Post River
    Passings
    Pervbird
    Random Acts Of Kindness
    Random Cat Drive-By
    Random Facts
    Reviewing Man Vs Cat By David M. Brown
    Reynard
    Sailing
    Setbacks
    Snookered By Stormin Norma
    Snowmageddon & Equipment Failures
    Sorrow
    Sour Cream Apple Cake With Cinnamon Streusel Topping #Recipe
    Speaking In Tongues
    Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts #Recipe
    Stray Ally Tour: Rescue Your Heart
    Susquehanna River
    Tails From The Mount: Advice For Writers
    Team Czar Guest Post
    Thankful Thursday
    The 7-Writer Challenge
    The Perfect Storm?
    The 'Shrooms And Me
    To The Vet And Back
    When Life Gives You Zucchini
    When There's Nuthin To Do
    Who Ya Gonna Call? Skunk Busters!
    Why'd There Hafta Be Setbacks?
    Wilkes Barre
    Wind River
    Wyoming Valley
    Ya

    RSS Feed

    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
✕