The Hubby and I got back yesterday afternoon from a long weekend away camping with friends. Was a great weekend, great weather, lots of good food and much laughter. I was kind of on a high when we got home.
And then we had to put my cat to sleep.
As soon as we walked in the house I knew something wasn’t right. Nicki always greets us at the door meowing SUPER loudly, as if she’s demanding to know all about our time away and wanting to tell us about hers. Yesterday she didn’t greet us and her meow when I found her was pathetic. She had’t touched her food since we left and she was extremely dehydrated. And I just knew.
Now you’d think since I connect with animals all the time, animals who are about to transition, that this would be easier for me because I know that death to them is nothing but a blip and when they do cross they get a new, fresh, frisky body. You’d think that. But it isn’t. It’s never easy. But I have learned how to move forward with the grief. We do that by honoring our babies…
Nicki was just about 18 years old. To say she was a badass would be an understatement. Because we have a doggie door and because she demanded it, we had no choice but to let Nicki go outside. She LOVED walking the neighborhood. She loved sitting on our deck or in our driveway yelling at any other cats who came sniffing by. She got herself in to a few scrapes over the years, but always managed to make it look like she was the tough one. Her meow was legendary. When she wanted attention, she got it. Her purr was just as loud and would wake you up in the middle of the night. She was a gorgeous cat and so incredibly soft to the touch.
It was Nicki’s time and she knew it. But she did wait for me. And I’ll forever be grateful for that. She allowed me the opportunity to hold her and love on her one last time and tell her what an amazing kitty she was. And she was.
Here’s to you Nicki you badass. Don’t be a stranger…
Live and learn with love…