Kitteh had to be euthanized this morning. She had apparently had a couple of strokes in the last year, leaving her mostly blind and suffering from vertigo. We brought her inside about a year and a half ago, when it became clear she wasn’t capable of fending for herself anymore. We figured she deserved some time in an assisted-living facility in recognition of her long service — she was already living on the premises when I moved in almost thirteen years ago, and despite the presence of several dogs who weren’t particularly fond of cats, she steadfastly hung around, eventually outliving them all. I’m glad we at least got to let her enjoy one winter snuggled up to the woodstove. Thanks for your company, old girl.
August 21, 2020 @ 5:30 pm
A life well lived. RIP Kitteh. We have an outdoor cat named Smith, a great hunter of rats, and I only hope he lives as long as that. Too often outdoor cats here get eaten by coyotes. But Smith thrives on risk and adventure and will not be content indoors.
August 22, 2020 @ 9:05 am
Long may Smith defy both conventionality and coyotes. Long may the rat community curse his name in fear.
How are things in the Democratic People’s Republic of the Pacific Northwest lately? I see that residential neighborhoods are now being harassed late at night for the crime of sleeping while bourgeois.
August 24, 2020 @ 5:44 pm
The folks in the streets are mindless zealots. The political leaders are spineless enablers. Life in our immediate neighborhood is normalish (though we’re only a 5 minute drive from downtown), but I think it’s safe to say that there’s a growing sense of unease with the violence among neighbors who a month ago wouldn’t have drawn a line between the peaceful protesters and the anarchists. Where does it all end? I’m afraid it must get worse before it gets better.