For the record …

… there has been a series of cats through my house since November. Well, only three, but it was an interesting experience to wander through, and worthy of mentioning.

Snoop, my ‘old man’, turned 18 this past June and had been showing signs of old age and potentially a further health issue. I tried different food and different water because I felt like he had a digestive problem. He was distressed occasionally when he needed to poo. I was in the space of saying goodbye to him since Summer, even though I don’t think I realized it at the time. I think I was processing the decision I was making — to have him put to sleep. It wasn’t a difficult decision, but it was still a shibby one to make. We spent a glorious summer in our backyard. Whenever I would sit at the patio table, he would join me in the cool grass underneath. I talked to him about things I would Never tell anyone … first interesting point … pets are truly the best secret keepers and vent listeners and do so with absolutely no judgment. I told him everything. Snoop was like a journal with a heartbeat and even though I don’t have any tangible record of what we discussed, he helped me process through a lot, and I mean a LOT, of my shit this summer.

One day in early November I was getting ready for some writing … I sat at my desk and he sat on my lap … not unusual. Then he turned his head like only cats do, and looked me in the eye. Whoooosh! He was communicating with me!! I gave him a gentle hug and he told me that my decision was a good one, and he approves hahahaha that sounds very businesslike, but that’s how it went down. He was at peace with saying goodbye and I accepted that and felt at peace with my decision. We said thank you to each other for sharing life together for nine years … yep, we adopted him when he was nine, so he’s had quite the life … NTS – reach out to Carla about his life with her Mom for expansion on a story idea. On November 6, we went on a drive to the vet and was the calmest he’s ever been in the vehicle and in the room while we waited for the vet to come in. We were together in more than a physical sense which was absolutely lovely. I couldn’t have asked for a nicer way to spend the last minutes with my ‘old man’, my best friend, and … a connection with Dennis which always makes me smile when I remember the look on his face when I brought Snoop home, and then watched the two of them become fast buddies over the years … sigh … I’m happy I’m writing about this:)

I had a hole already dug in my backyard. Another interesting point with this little slice of life … I had dug the hole way back in 2017 with the intention of planting some sort of tree or bush, but never did. It’s almost as if the hole was for Snoop all along. When I laid him in, with the sheepskin he loved to lay on so much, he fit perfectly hahahahaha omg that sounds so weird, but it’s true and very cool! The day was brisk and I’m glad I ‘prepared’ for his burial with a wheelbarrow full of dirt, rocks, and the best part, a steel wheel I brought from the acreage when I moved into town. I said a final blessing and will find the perfect solar light to finish off his place … Snoop’s Place … maybe a little sign too. Two days later we got dumped on with four feet of snow … not just a winter blanket for him, but a duvet!

I knew I wouldn’t wait very long before visiting the SPCA for another cat, which is the next piece of this slice of life, but for now, this is Snoop 😻