Cato

Today I have been missing my cat like crazy. She had to be put down on Valentine’s Day last year because she had a tumor in her stomach which was causing her terrible amounts of pain.

She went through a lot of names at first, but Cato eventually stuck. She went thought having the names Kitty and Eclipse. However, she always had her nicknames Cato baby, snookie pie, snuggle muffin, sweetie, snookums, putty, pusser, and so many more. I couldn't get enough of her. She was the most calm, gentle, loving cat you could ever have. She had three litters of kittens before we got her fixed––our bad. But I am so glad we decided to keep her after adopting out the kittens. Mother cats are always so gentle, patient, and loving. Cato would love it whenever we would rub her tummy. At least once a week we would hold these “snuggle sessions” where we would bring her inside––she was an outside cat––and pour out our love for her. We would flop her on her back and give her tummy rubs (which she loved), play with her, scratch her chin until she drooled, kiss her, and just indulge in all of the kitty goodness for about an hour.

We had Cato for about 10 years. She appeared on our doorstep one day and we gave her a spoon of butter. Then she kept coming back every day. Then she decided to have a litter of kittens in our window well on Mother’s Day. That was an awesome day. My little child heart couldn’t handle all of the cuteness and love. Before we had Cato, we hadn’t had a cat for years since Mom is terribly allergic. So going from wishing and begging for a cat to having one randomly appear and have kittens just about killed me with happiness.

The day we had to put her down was one of the worst days of my life. I held her in my lap at the vet. She was whimpering from the pain felt in her stomach. I couldn’t handle to see her suffer. After seeing Dad an Spencer suffer from the pain they went through, I couldn’t handle it. The vet came into the room after giving us some time alone, and then she injected Cato with the shot that would gently put her to sleep. It was truly heartbreaking to hold Cato in her last moments on this earth. Watching as her little head drooped onto my lap is still so present in my memory. I love that cat, and I always will. I just hope I will be able to meet her, and Dad, and Spencer when I go to heaven. That will be the best reunion ever.