She Was A Good Cat
Very Old
Clarice was quite old for a cat, maybe 16 years. She had a good and healthy life. We have a large garden but she preferred to be an indoor cat summer and winter, except when the nestlings were ready to fly - she wanted to catch them! She was a good mouser too, not from our house but from around the area, leaving little offerings on the back doorstep, when she was younger.
Recent Years
In recent years, she has been less inclined to go outside than ever, sleeping on a comfy chair or looking out of the window, except maybe on a hot summer's day (we don't get many of those) when she liked to lie in the shade on the concrete to keep cool.
Last Month
In the last 4 weeks, she suddenly changed. It was totally overnight. She wanted to be outside all the time, first lying on the grass near the garage, then making herself a small nest or den in the long grass by the pond. She was well hidden in there and for a while we thought she had gone away but she came out now and again. The main problem was that she wouldn't eat. We tried all kinds of food, her normal hard food moistened with gravy or water, tinned sardines, tinned tuna, bits of chicken, ham .... She would eat a tiny nibble off my fingers, then turn away. She got weaker and thinner. We kept her in as far as possible at night but she wanted outside in the day. She was too weak to move much and eventually I carried her to a favourite spot. She didn't seem to be suffering and still enjoyed being stroked. She died on the grass, in the sunshine, near her den. She has been buried in the garden.
The picture is not actually Clarice but this one looks very like her.
Image Credit » https://pixabay.com/en/cat-sleeping-garden-domestic-brown-590684/
Comments
lookatdesktop wrote on July 26, 2016, 6:15 PM
I can tell you must be very fond of cats, yours especially. This was a touching story. Sad for your loss.
MegL wrote on July 27, 2016, 6:23 PM
We have had a cat almost all of our married life and even a dog for 14 years. At present, there is no pet in our house, however, my husband has been the one that acquired all the others, so there may be a surprise for me sometime! The dog arrived when i was on a course in London!
frankie2015 wrote on August 3, 2016, 10:25 PM
I understand how you feel. Even though I only have one cat at the time I have had 2 dogs. The first one Princess who lived till she was about sixteen followed by Tasha who also lived till she was about sixteen. Both did not die of old age but both developed ailments related to old age and rather than seeing them suffer too long or wane on hopelessly I had them both euthanized. I have not regretted my decision but I do miss them terribly to this day...
MegL wrote on August 4, 2016, 2:55 AM
Yes, all the other pets we had were euthanised because we didn't want them to suffer. I looked on Clarice's death more as just old age catching up with her.
crowntower wrote on August 13, 2016, 11:39 PM
That is so sad. Jay-r had the same attitude before he died. I miss him so much specially his dad.
VinceSummers wrote on August 16, 2016, 2:59 PM
We have a cat looking just like the one in the photo that I am certain is very near death. I've told my wife she probably won't last the year. She likes to lie in the shade, but especially likes it good and hot. She's very thin. I think her kidneys may be near their demise. We love her to death. She's not what you'd call a pretty kitty, but I personally think she was the mother of another cat we lost last winter, namely Bandit, a blond.
MegL wrote on August 16, 2016, 3:51 PM
Animals all have their own personalities. Each of our cats was quite different from the others.
HappyLady wrote on August 28, 2016, 4:22 AM
Oh no! Freya the Catblog cat and I are so sad to heat this. She also seems to be slowing down.
It was lovely to meet Clarice online.
MegL wrote on August 28, 2016, 9:07 AM
Thank you. Clarice was only online to meet new friends for a short time but she really enjoyed finding new blogger friends.
MegL wrote on August 28, 2016, 9:10 AM
Our pets become part of our family. We miss them. Each morning when I go downstairs, I still expect to see her greet me from her chair!
Colibry21 wrote on January 28, 2017, 2:15 AM
I'm sorry to hear about your cat. It's really hard losing a pet. They become a part of the family.
MegL wrote on January 28, 2017, 3:31 PM
Thank you. Yes, sixteen years is a long time and they do become part of the family.
1Colibry21 wrote on January 29, 2017, 5:20 AM
Sixteen years is definitely a long time. Your cat had a good life for sure.