Alexander, our Siamese cat, passed this morning at 4AM. He had been part of our family since he was 8 weeks old......and was chosen because he had a bent tip on his tail, and a personality that just wouldn't quit.
He became the de facto head of the household, at least as far as the other animals were concerned. In all his years, he only "spanked" one animal we've had and that was when our Boston Terrier, Beanie, who was just a pup at the time, charged up to Alex in complete full throttle-play mode, and him being 14 at the time, gave her a swat on the behind (he was already beyond the "play with me" stage of life.) Beanie never forgot and the two became, over the years, very close companions....more often than not sleeping together.
Our house is also a foster home for one of the local Adopt-A-Pet organizations. So we see quite a few animals, both dogs and cats, come through our home. Alex, to our amazement, was the most tolerant of all our animals, esp. with the babies, both puppy and kitten. He would give a safe haven for the "newcomers", using his "boss" status to deflect the too-often unwanted curiosity of our permanent residents. Many times we'd find Alex with a puppy or kitten or two curled up next to him....all sleeping peacefully.
Alex had been in failing health over the last six months so his demise this morning wasn't completely unexpected, but in the end, his passing is still painful. You cannot have a presence in your family for almost a quarter of a century and not mourn his passing.
The house has been extremely quiet today as if every animal in here is missing his presence, too. We've got four dogs including a year old Golden Retriever, and even she is rather subdued today. We've got a pair of kittens we're fostering right now.....both had been under Alex's watchful eyes for about 3 weeks now, and neither have so much as played a minute's worth today....very strange behavior for them.
He was put to rest behind our house near our pond, under a new hibiscus we just got three days ago. The plant will never be moved and neither will he. Oddly, I went out this afternoon to just look and our three outdoor cats were all laying in a circle around the hibiscus.....almost as if they, too, were saying their goodbyes to him. (I know....but it almost seemed that way.)
Thanks for taking time out of your busy day to read this lament......I know it really is neither here nor there for most of you, but I just had to express some of the sadness we're feeling around here.
He became the de facto head of the household, at least as far as the other animals were concerned. In all his years, he only "spanked" one animal we've had and that was when our Boston Terrier, Beanie, who was just a pup at the time, charged up to Alex in complete full throttle-play mode, and him being 14 at the time, gave her a swat on the behind (he was already beyond the "play with me" stage of life.) Beanie never forgot and the two became, over the years, very close companions....more often than not sleeping together.
Our house is also a foster home for one of the local Adopt-A-Pet organizations. So we see quite a few animals, both dogs and cats, come through our home. Alex, to our amazement, was the most tolerant of all our animals, esp. with the babies, both puppy and kitten. He would give a safe haven for the "newcomers", using his "boss" status to deflect the too-often unwanted curiosity of our permanent residents. Many times we'd find Alex with a puppy or kitten or two curled up next to him....all sleeping peacefully.
Alex had been in failing health over the last six months so his demise this morning wasn't completely unexpected, but in the end, his passing is still painful. You cannot have a presence in your family for almost a quarter of a century and not mourn his passing.
The house has been extremely quiet today as if every animal in here is missing his presence, too. We've got four dogs including a year old Golden Retriever, and even she is rather subdued today. We've got a pair of kittens we're fostering right now.....both had been under Alex's watchful eyes for about 3 weeks now, and neither have so much as played a minute's worth today....very strange behavior for them.
He was put to rest behind our house near our pond, under a new hibiscus we just got three days ago. The plant will never be moved and neither will he. Oddly, I went out this afternoon to just look and our three outdoor cats were all laying in a circle around the hibiscus.....almost as if they, too, were saying their goodbyes to him. (I know....but it almost seemed that way.)
Thanks for taking time out of your busy day to read this lament......I know it really is neither here nor there for most of you, but I just had to express some of the sadness we're feeling around here.
Facebook
Twitter