The news was not what we wanted to hear, but deep down, we all knew it was the news we were going to get. Today we said good-bye to an incredible cat...more than a family pet.
In 2007 my family decided to visit my cousin Brent and his wife Sheila. They live on the family farm in Driggs, Idaho, God's Country (If God likes amazing summers and hellish winters...). While we were there our kids played in the pure air and open spaces a farm affords. They also had a blast chasing around a litter of kittens that ran around the farm with them.
Pure joy.
We had a few years earlier moved into a house and we needed a cat. We asked if they wouldn't mind parting with one, to which they agreed. We chose the only male kitten and we called him Teewinot because he was a climber and Teewinot Mountain can be found a few miles from my cousin's house.
Man...what a great cat.
I know many are not cat people and others downright hate cats. I can understand that, but I'll bet they'd like this one. We was cool, not uppity. And he owned the cul-de-sac where we used to live. He'd lay down in the middle of the street and give anyone passing by a nonchalant glance. He got in fights--we think he won many, but lost many, too. He was also a tremendous hunter, bringing victims of his skills home...everything from mice to squirrels and even bats and bunnies.
As he got older he even took on the neighbor dogs. He was fearless. Except for marring up the siding under our bedroom window and destroying countless window screens, Teewinot had few faults. And he even accompanied me on many a mountain hike. I blogged about one such adventure: HERE.
Last week, everything changed. He barely moved, wouldn't eat or drink...so unlike his normal curious self. Yesterday we took him to an E.R. vet and they diagnosed kidney failure...we could spend thousands of dollars for treatment, but the result would be the same...he would not survive. We made the agonizing decision to end his pain. We brought him home, sedated and lethargic, and put him in the back yard. He sat in the sun with my youngest, the two of them spending their last afternoon together.
Pets are amazing, not just for the companionship, but in what they teach us. They teach us patience, discipline, responsibility, and they continue to teach in death. We learn the value of life, the selflessness of some of God's amazing creatures.
I'll be spending the next few days searching my photos for classic pictures of our beloved cat. We're planning on compiling a book. Yes, he's gone and we remain, but hopefully, the memories will linger still.
R.I.P. Teewinot...a great cat.
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