Own a Pet Cat -- In Memory of Dante Silverthrill
I write this blog entry with a heavy heart.Yesterday we said goodbye to our beloved cat Dante, who had come down with cancer.
Before he had cancer, he was Dante Silverthrill... when we met him, the breeder told us he had one of the best personalities of any cats she had raised. A Bengal cat who was constantly purring, it was ridiculous how much he purred. He was so obedient, he just wanted to make his humans happy. We had trained to come when we called him and to "do his business" on a human toilet. He was like a dog in so many ways.
He had such incredible ways of showing you he loved you. He would plop down next to you on the bed in the "spooning" position, nuzzling his head under yours and purring. He would rest his head on my hand while I was typing... didn't look comfortable to me watching his head bob up and down but he liked it. He was a lap cat, unusual for a Bengal. Sometimes he would stare into your eyes and start doing the kneading thing, and if you said his name he would knead even faster... he kneaded faster than any cat I have seen. If you waited long enough he would flop over on his back, letting you know he wanted his belly to be rubbed.
He was basically everything I dreamed of when I wished for a cat when I was 16-years old and added that to my bucket list.
My heart broke when I found out that our sweet boy had cancer. It came on so fast, we only had a week with him before he degenerated into a cat we hardly recognized on a physical level -- but on a spiritual level, he just kept showing us how much he loved us, still purring all the time when we petted him, even as his little body broke down.
In the last week we had with him, we made up stories about why he had to leave us. That he had to go rescue a hive of bumblebees from evil rat invasions. That he had a magical silver wishbone that allowed him to live hundreds of years as a pirate cat, but he had to give it back to the enchantress. That it was all just a grand illusion and that he was really disappearing to the south of France to drink kitty Mai Tais.
Finally, his poor little belly was getting so swollen from fluid buildup that he couldn't move comfortably. I stroked his belly where they had shaved him to give him the ultrasound and knew he wouldn't be with us much longer. We turned on "If We Hold On Together" and held our furry best friend for the last time, at least in this life. Our tears were covering his beautiful soft fur, but we knew he didn't mind... he was such a good cat, even to the end.
I think of the line from "Where the Red Fern Grows" ... You were worth it old friend, and a thousand times more.
Rest in Peace Dante. We love you and miss you so much. I know that on the other side we will call for you and see you bounding toward us with that eager look on your face as you wait for us to dish out a little of your favorite Friskies Salmon Dinner.
Before he had cancer, he was Dante Silverthrill... when we met him, the breeder told us he had one of the best personalities of any cats she had raised. A Bengal cat who was constantly purring, it was ridiculous how much he purred. He was so obedient, he just wanted to make his humans happy. We had trained to come when we called him and to "do his business" on a human toilet. He was like a dog in so many ways.
He had such incredible ways of showing you he loved you. He would plop down next to you on the bed in the "spooning" position, nuzzling his head under yours and purring. He would rest his head on my hand while I was typing... didn't look comfortable to me watching his head bob up and down but he liked it. He was a lap cat, unusual for a Bengal. Sometimes he would stare into your eyes and start doing the kneading thing, and if you said his name he would knead even faster... he kneaded faster than any cat I have seen. If you waited long enough he would flop over on his back, letting you know he wanted his belly to be rubbed. He was basically everything I dreamed of when I wished for a cat when I was 16-years old and added that to my bucket list.
My heart broke when I found out that our sweet boy had cancer. It came on so fast, we only had a week with him before he degenerated into a cat we hardly recognized on a physical level -- but on a spiritual level, he just kept showing us how much he loved us, still purring all the time when we petted him, even as his little body broke down.
In the last week we had with him, we made up stories about why he had to leave us. That he had to go rescue a hive of bumblebees from evil rat invasions. That he had a magical silver wishbone that allowed him to live hundreds of years as a pirate cat, but he had to give it back to the enchantress. That it was all just a grand illusion and that he was really disappearing to the south of France to drink kitty Mai Tais.Finally, his poor little belly was getting so swollen from fluid buildup that he couldn't move comfortably. I stroked his belly where they had shaved him to give him the ultrasound and knew he wouldn't be with us much longer. We turned on "If We Hold On Together" and held our furry best friend for the last time, at least in this life. Our tears were covering his beautiful soft fur, but we knew he didn't mind... he was such a good cat, even to the end.
I think of the line from "Where the Red Fern Grows" ... You were worth it old friend, and a thousand times more.
Rest in Peace Dante. We love you and miss you so much. I know that on the other side we will call for you and see you bounding toward us with that eager look on your face as you wait for us to dish out a little of your favorite Friskies Salmon Dinner.
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