RIP Trouble, 1989-2004

[quietann]

My dad's cat Trouble was put to sleep this afternoon. He had developed pouches in his colon leading to frequent and severe constipation over the past 2 years, and was no longer a happy enough kitty enough of the time...

He started out as my cat; I got him as a half-grown kitten in 1989, and in 1990 he and my other cat and I went to California for a couple of months. I offered him to my parents because it was clear he was happier being an indoor-outdoor cat rather than an apartment cat. Given his stellar personality, they of course said yes. He spent the next 11 years of his life at their house, with occasional visits to neighbors' houses (he got locked into their garages on a regular basis, and visited the older lady next door every day, whether she fed him or not.) Trouble was part-Siamese, so he talked a lot, about everything. As he got older, his talking took on a "grumbling" tone, and he became quite fussy.

His favorite place to sleep was (I kid you not) on my dad's genitals. After my mom died in 2000, there were times that my dad says his only reason for living was that Trouble needed him every day. Trouble was always affectionate and had a nice big purr for anyone he met, plus a cat vocabulary of about 20 other expressions (for a while, he said "Mee-OUT" when he wanted to go outside). He accompanied my dad to a retirement home in 2001, by which time he was old enough to enjoy having his outdoor area small and fenced. My dad's new wife, Helen, claimed not to like cats, but Trouble spent as much time as possible on her lap, and she never turned him away.

Ben took the photo while we were in California recently. Trouble was full of purrs, but not much else. I'll miss him.

Comments

[rmd.livejournal.com]

oh, i'm so sorry.

he looks quite beautiful in that picture.

[quietann.livejournal.com]

The picture hides some of his health issues... His coat was all sticky from the medicine my dad had to give him every day (try getting 4 cc of very sticky green goo down one of your cats every day!) ... and of course it isn't clear how skinny he had become (not surprisingly, if he wasn't able to produce any output, he rejected all input...)

BUT he was still a very pretty cat :)

[fizzygeek.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry for your loss.....he was gorgeous! *hugs*

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

My condolences, Ann. What a beautiful kitty.

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

so sad to hear of the cat's passing. Btw, it's 2004 now.
I hope your dad can get another cat. Have a beautiful kitten steal your dad's wife's heart...

[quietann.livejournal.com]

correction made :)

Dad and Helen are both sick right now, but I am hopeful that Helen will come to miss having a purring cat in her lap...

[gosling.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[thespian.livejournal.com]

I'm so terribly sorry. Can't write more; it's bringing back my two losses of 2003. But I'm very sorry.

[halleyscomet.livejournal.com]

Very sad.

My family's cat "Missy" was out to sleep a while back. I remember being told about it before hand, and asked if I wanted to come see here before she was put down.

I opted not to go. The last time I had seen her was when she was still healthy, before her rapid decline, and I wanted to remember her that way.

The decision was made easier by the fact that the cat wasn't responding to anyone, so it was unlikely she would have recognized me anyway.

She was a good cat. She purred like a banshee, and scared dogs.

OK, I'm going to slink off now and miss Missy.

[badgerthorazine.livejournal.com]

*big hugs to all*
A beautiful and loyal cat. It's a wonderful thing to have.
Hope they can get a new one soon, but Trouble'll always be in their hearts.