Ode *on* an Orange Cat sounded weird. So I felt the liberty to change the title of John Keats' poem, Ode on a Grecian Urn.
Today sucked. Today my dear, sweet Ottoes (Otto to the rest of you) was put to sleep.
I came to be Otto's proud momma in July of 1999, the summer before my senior year of college. I was working at an emergency vet clinic. Some kind soul brought him to the clinic after finding him under the hood of their car. In July. He had a temp of 108. His poor little kitten brains were cookin. That should've been my first clue to the life we'd have together...
This photo is just precious to me. The non-cordless-landline-phone, the bunk beds, the paper planner on the floor...how 1999...
Of note: Otto has had the same sized ears his WHOLE LIFE. When he was a kitten, they looked like little satellite dishes on his head.
Otto helped me finish college at NC State. He (barely) lived through the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Exec Team meetings at our apartment. *cough cough MATT and MICHAEL cough cough* He moved with me to Columbia, SC for my first grown-up job. He survived me getting another cat (Nestle).
He didn't judge me when I moved home pregnant in 2004. In 2006, we went to nursing school together. That cat can write a mean care plan.
In 2008 I put our relationship to the biggest test, I got married. There was not a lot of love lost between Scott and Otto.
He endured two more pregnancies with me. (actually both Otto AND Scott endured...kudos to both)
He was my buddy for 14.5 years.
Three years ago he was diagnosed with cancer in his rib and chest. I chose to do palliative/comfort care as opposed to aggressive treatment. He lived THREE YEARS!! In the last few weeks, he was going downhill. Today I made the heart-wrenching decision to let him go. That totally sucked. I keep sighing. Pretty sure I don't need the extra oxygen, I just keep remembering that today sucked. <sigh>
Otto, you were the best orange kidden there ever was. Rest in peace.
(kissing his fuzzy head for the last time today)
1 comment:
Whaaaaaah that was amazingly written. As is everything you do. But so heart breaking. Like really. Erhmehgawd. I'm such a cat person. I am so sorry for you BA. I know that pain. My old girl is 13.5 yrs and has good and bad days. Pretty sure she has ca, but there is no way I would go through the treatment. I feel for ya. Sniff sniff
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