Ashes, you were one great cat!

My cat brother Ashes and I hanging out a few months ago

Written by my mommy

In a split second today, our little family of seven became six.  Today, my gray and white cat (Ashes) was asleep in my office when he all of a sudden awoke, cried out, and then a moment later he was gone.  We think it was a massive heart attack.  He was only nine years old and on his last vet visit in June he was in good health other than being overweight.

On a trip recently I was asked how I share my life with strangers on this site.  I replied that I guess because it isn’t me but my dog telling the story of our life.  Today, instead, I want to personally share with you something I wrote (Rachel, Preston’s Mom) in my notebook an hour after Ashes left us.

I have no tears left … at least for now.  My sinuses are hurting.  I can’t breath I’m so stuffed up.  My heart is breaking … it feels as if someone ripped it out and is stomping on it.  One moment my other cat Pibb is looking for his best friend and the next moment he is looking at his lifeless best friend.  I can only imagine him saying “Wake up, lets go play!  ” My westie boys don’t even know yet since they are at the vet all day for a dental cleaning.  Why am I writing now?  If I don’t, I’m just going to curl up in a ball on the floor beside him and never let him leave.

Ashes wasn’t supposed to die today … I was worried sick about my westie boys and their dental procedures.  I never got a chance to worry about Ashes, never got to say good-bye or even I love you “Ash-ie” one more time.  He was just gone while I watched.  I screamed and yelled for my husband and fell to the floor.  Ashes was taking a nap on my office floor like he does every day.  He was only nine.  Yes he is fat, but he was fine yesterday, the week before, the month before, the year before … he is fine … he was fine.

Who are we going to have to step around because you liked lying in the middle of all our hallways?  Who is going to steal any food we forgot and left on the counter?  Who is going to be sneaky with Preston and knock the dog treats off the counter so everyone can chow down?  Who’s white and gray fur is going to cover every surface of our house?  Who is going to chew a hole in the cat food bag so they can steal their own food?  Who is going to be my other cat Pibb’s best friend now?  Who, who, who……?

When he crossed over to the rainbow bridge he opened his eyes and looked at me in my office chair.  I know I was the last thing he saw – he saw his mommy.

I hope he was happy here and he knew he was loved by so many.  Even though he was our little thug cat to the dogs, he was so full of love to give.  He just did it in his own way.

Here is to you Ashes, my big fat cat.  May there be many bags of your favorite Iams food (you know your sister Pepper’s food that you were not allowed to have because it wasn’t “weight management”) up at the rainbow bridge that you can chew a hole in to steal many meals.

We will see you one day at the bridge.

Love,

Your Mommy