The death of a reader’s cat

January 30, 2017 • 1:50 pm

Everyone who has a pet (and that includes d*gs) knows how much a part of the family they become over time, and how devastating it is when they die. I’ve always thought that cats should live at least fifty years, so you could get one as a kid and have it your whole life. Sadly, Felis catus doesn’t live that long, and so, if we outlive our moggies, we must suffer, still knowing that our cats had good lives.  Reader Ginger K. sent me a sad email about the death of her beloved cat, and I asked for permission to put it up her as a memoriam. Meet the late Timmy Starr Garcia K., who died January 18, the day I got this information. Ginger’s notes are indented below:

timmy-2

Attached is a picture of my beloved sweet little baby boy Timmy Starr Garcia K.  I got him from death row at a local pound along with 2 other kittehs.  He had been abused, had fleas, ear mites, and worms, and his gorgeous fur was matted and filthy.  He was so small I thought he was 8 weeks old, but the vet said he was 5 months when I rescued him.  He required a stay at the vet and industrial-strength worm medicine, but he has been parasite-free ever since.

Despite his terrible early kittenhood, Timmy Starr was a very gentle and gregarious kitteh. He loved any loving attentions and fusses.  He was a major lap kitteh and loved to be groomed.  He got on well with my other kittehs, and being around them greatly helped him socialize.  He was emotionally needy and required a lot of motherly reassurance.

Today my beloved little Timmy Wimmy Kitteh had a stroke.  I took him to the vet, and his prognosis was poor.  I decided to send him to Ceiling Cat.

Timmy was such a good little boy.  I got him from death row in the pound in Michigan. He was always a happy little kitteh, very talkative, always begging for treats.

He and my other kittehs have moved across the country with me twice.  I had him for 14 years.  I miss him tremendously.  May he play with Ceiling Cat forever.

 

46 thoughts on “The death of a reader’s cat”

  1. What a beautiful cat.

    My condolences.

    I lost my kitty of 16 years in 2010. She was the sweetest most loveable thing. She slept in the bed with me every night, right under my armpit.

    I never thought that I could move on but I did. I got my hands on an Abyssinian and let me say, Abys are a handful. She is nothing like my kitty of 16 years but I figure that this is ok, as in the end, I can love her for the unique individual that she is.

  2. That is sad. But that photo is great. There’s something about the texture (soft focus?) that makes it appear as a painting.

  6. I’m so sorry to hear about Timmy Starr, Ginger. It sounds like he had a wonderful life with you & his kitteh step-siblings. Such a sweet face!

  7. I’m so sorry. It’s always so hard to lose them but I hope you can take comfort in the fact you gave Timmy a good, long life.

  9. My condolences. I had to put down my beloved cat SCSI three years ago. He aged 15 years and was my best friend. Time is the only prescription that seems to help the symptoms of a broken heart. I will keep you in my thoughts.

  11. I am so sorry to hear of your loss Ginger. Going by the photo Timmy Starr looks like he was a beautiful, well cared for kitteh. You did a wonderful thing in rescuing him and making him a part of your family.

    Reading of this made me sad, but also a bit happy to hear a story of a compassionate person rescuing a kitteh in need, caring for it, being cared for by the kitteh in return and developing a strong, reciprocal and long lasting relationship. It’s the kind of thing that shows some of the best qualities of people and the best that life has to offer.

  12. Been there too and it’s hard to go through. All of my kittehs have been rescue ones and I like to think they appreciate us as much as we appreciate them (even if we’re just staff). Sorry for your loss.

  13. What a gorgeous cat Timmy Starr was! Thank you for rescuing him and giving him a wonderful life.

  14. Yes, a sad story. My own Max the Magnificent was recently diagnosed with cancer with 4-6 weeks to live. I had him euthanized in my presence on August 30, six months ago to the day. I still haven’t gotten over it. He was like no other cat I’ve had, and I’m too old to consider getting another. A great seven years with a great friend and companion. Even his bites were loving. Well, mostly 🙂

  15. There likely isn’t any such thing as consolation.

    But the closest — and even better — thing is knowledge that the world is a better place for what you’ve done, and the memories to prove it.

    All things considered, a fourteen-year stay of execution for a kitten on death row is damned impressive. Timmy’s world was clearly far, far better for what you did for him, and I daresay the evidence is pretty clear that your own world is equally better for what he did for you.

    We none of this get out of it alive, including our divine overlords. What matters not is that we die, for that is a guarantee.

    What matter is what we do with the lives and time we have.

    Cheers,

    b&

    1. “What matter is what we do with the lives and time we have”

      If that’s true (and I don’t doubt that it is), Timmy had a great life. He was lucky to have had a great caregiver for 14 years.

  16. My deepest condolences too, Ginger. Lost quite a few feline companions myself over the decades. Each loss is a wound to the heart but the joy they each brought during their lives makes it all worthwhile.

  17. Such a beautiful tuxedo cat! And how refreshing it is to read of your loving rescue of this furry refugee from the storms of life, especially in the context of a nation (USA) that has (temporarily, I hope) gone berserk. I’m so sorry for your loss. I’ve lost similar companions, and it really hurts.

  19. So sorry to hear of your loss. Pets almost always break our hearts. I had to euthanize my dog before my current dog because she got cancer at only 8 years old. It was awful to go to the vet with your pet and return with only her collar.

    1. Condolences ginger & Diana, I can relate I just had to put my 14 year old mostly Short Haired pointer down. She had canine lymphoma. I did extend her life nearly a year with chemo.Then my wife came down with some kind of a virus necessitating cancellation of 3 weeks in Maui. A double whammy, but the pet hurts far more.

      1. So sorry to hear that. Every time I play with my dog, who is now 8 & still behaves as a puppy, I’m pained by the thought of losing her one day. She is so much in my heart, has such personality and is so smart. Someone once asked me to name someone I loved and I immediately answered, “my dog and I’d love to be just like her because she lights up a room and everyone is attracted to her”. What a little soul in a big world!

        2. I am in the same situation with a black standard poodle who is going on eight years, yet continues to bounce off the walls. Prior to her, we had a black standard poodle no less full of life and who could run like the wind. At age four she expired during the night while staying with friends (a friend and his doggie), with whom she had stayed numerous times, while we were away on vacation. As much as we grieved, I cannot imagine what he felt like to wake up to find that situation on his hands.

          And as time has passed our friend had to confront the ordeal of his dog similarly passing during the night, the next morning looking as if he were merely asleep.

          Soon after that, we had to confront a thirteen year-old rescue toy poodle suffering seizures (brain tumor?) and endure having the vet mercifully putting her down.

          Good training in “carpe diem,” and “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may” (Robert Herrick), and predisposing one to be thankful for every precious day and every precious memory.

        3. Diana, that’s so poignant; and I can certainly identify with all you say.

          Filippo, same to you. I guess all we can do is hold on to the good memories, and continue to rescue the other little fur-balls that need us…

  21. Losing a pet is indeed a travail. Time is the only cure, and solace can be somewhat achieved by remembering and knowing you gave the pet a good and happy life. I can tell from reading your comments that you gave Timmy a great life, and that’s a wonderful thing.

  22. Very touching. Yes, it is devastating when they die and/or we have to help them out of suffering.My sympathies – but he was a lucky cat to be rescued by such a caring person.

  24. My heartfelt sympathies – he looks so soulful and from your account he was a wonderful puss. At least you can console yourself you gave him a very happy life, and enjoyed a wonderful companion.

  25. I am so sorry for your loss, Ginger.

    Please know that you did a wonderful job caring for Timmy and giving him a full life. You did the right things to overcome his initial health problems, as evidenced by his long life.

    I’m sure you will miss him terribly, especially in the near-term. May your memories of him, and the knowledge that you helped him heal and live well, give you a measure of peace. L

  26. Although a sad post, you did this very very well, and I can tell that your kitteh had a great life with you and that you were the perfect human for Timmy.

  27. So sorry for your loss, Ginger. Thanks for giving him a good life and sharing the story and photo.

  28. I’m so glad one more kitty who suffered at the beginning got to live a long, healthy, fulfilling, and loving life. Thanks for saving him, Ginger.

    Most cats that were bread to be sold off will eventually find owners, but most of those in the pounds will only lead lives full of sadness until the finally die. If anyone reading this is ever looking to get a kitty, please adopt one from a shelter — preferably an adult, as they have far less chance of being adopted than a kitten. Adults are often adopted as kittens and then, after living a happy life full of love for a year or two, are brought to a shelter and locked in a cage for the rest of their lives and without ever knowing why, all because their owner thought they were a toy that could be returned when they got bored with it. Save them and give them the lives they deserve if you can 🙂

    By the way, I’d love to know the story behind this kitty’s name.

  30. I’m so sorry for your loss of Timmy. — wish there were words that could soothe the grief that comes from that aching absence of a cherished family member. Hold on to a special memory of him, and let the others flood in with time.

  31. My sincere sympathies, Ginger. The grief from the loss of a beloved pet is profoundly painful. I still grieve the loss of my cat Wolfgang even after two years.

  33. Thank you for posting this. I miss my baby so much. He actually died Jan 5, but I couldn’t send the pic until later.

    KD

    A day wifowt kittehs iz a day wifowt sunshine. — Dr Jerry Coyne, translated into LOLCat by Ginger K.

    Eben teh smallest kitteh iz a masterpeece. — Leonardo da Vinci, translated into LOLCat by Ginger K.

    ________________________________

  35. Thank you everyone for your kind words and sentiments. Timmy Starr went to Ceiling Cat in my presence because I am his Mama and I should be there.

    His name is a bit of a story. The person who found him in her yard and gave him to the pound is named Starr, and my coworker named Garcia told me about him. I then adopted him from the pound.

    The pic is from my mobile phone camera. I don’t have a real digital camera.

    Thank you again,

    Ginger

  36. I am so sorry for your loss. My Toy Poodle, Tuffy, died over 20 years ago. He took a last mad dash around the house and had a heart attack, dying on my lap. He is buried nearby on our home property. I still dream about him, mostly worrying about whether or not I’ve remembered to feed him. He was a little dog (about 8 lbs.)but he thought he was a giant and a warrior. I’ve seen him chase much bigger dogs, and cows.

  39. Very pretty cat,I have one just like it,but mine is female.ive had her so far 6 years.. and very, very smart.she’s a doll lol.

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