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RIP Vincent: 2001? - 2013
Oct. 21st, 2013 03:27 amVincent, another of our cats, passed away tonight. He had kidney disease so it wasn't unexpected and when he stopped eating two days ago we knew the end was near. But I'm still in tears. He was a sweet cat and will be missed.
He was arguably the most feral of all the cats we've sheltered over the past 12 years. Whenever we put food out for him he would hiss at us before eating it, as if to say that he was only doing so under duress. He was missing most of one ear and weakness in his hindquarters meant that he walked unsteadily, so we named him Vincent van D'oh!
After a couple of years of hanging around our place, Vincent took up residence on the pile of plastic tarps that sit under a table just outside our front door. The paramour later added a soft blanket to the pile of cold plastic and he didn't seem to object.
As time passed Vincent would make occasional forays into the house, particularly if yummy food was on offer, but would always retreat to his nest under the table. Then last winter, the day after Cal died, he moved inside and discovered the joys of waiting out the winter rains in a warm, dry place. He found himself a few favourite locations in the house and made himself at home.
Although not deaf, Vincent was hard of hearing and thus easily startled, particularly if someone, or some other cat, came up behind him without his noticing. His instinctive reaction in those situations was to hiss at whatever alarmed him, which sometimes got him into brief tussles with the other cats. But I never saw him pester or otherwise initiate any unpleasantness with the rest of our brood. As I said, he was a sweet cat and, once he got to know us better, was appreciative of even the smallest of kindnesses.
Last night, emaciated and dehydrated as he was, Vincent climbed up onto the paramour's bed, cuddled up near zir face, and purred and drooled into zir ear. That tells me that for all the suffering in his life, we brought him at least some comfort, some joy. Right up to the very end. And for that I am ever so grateful right now.
He was arguably the most feral of all the cats we've sheltered over the past 12 years. Whenever we put food out for him he would hiss at us before eating it, as if to say that he was only doing so under duress. He was missing most of one ear and weakness in his hindquarters meant that he walked unsteadily, so we named him Vincent van D'oh!
After a couple of years of hanging around our place, Vincent took up residence on the pile of plastic tarps that sit under a table just outside our front door. The paramour later added a soft blanket to the pile of cold plastic and he didn't seem to object.
As time passed Vincent would make occasional forays into the house, particularly if yummy food was on offer, but would always retreat to his nest under the table. Then last winter, the day after Cal died, he moved inside and discovered the joys of waiting out the winter rains in a warm, dry place. He found himself a few favourite locations in the house and made himself at home.
Although not deaf, Vincent was hard of hearing and thus easily startled, particularly if someone, or some other cat, came up behind him without his noticing. His instinctive reaction in those situations was to hiss at whatever alarmed him, which sometimes got him into brief tussles with the other cats. But I never saw him pester or otherwise initiate any unpleasantness with the rest of our brood. As I said, he was a sweet cat and, once he got to know us better, was appreciative of even the smallest of kindnesses.
Last night, emaciated and dehydrated as he was, Vincent climbed up onto the paramour's bed, cuddled up near zir face, and purred and drooled into zir ear. That tells me that for all the suffering in his life, we brought him at least some comfort, some joy. Right up to the very end. And for that I am ever so grateful right now.
