Today, I quickly glanced at the date….and then like a ton of bricks it hit me. It’s been almost 2 months since we put down our beloved Booey.
But before Booey was our beloved cat, she was my beloved cat.
Booey’s path crossed mine the year I turned 19. I had just moved out with my boyfriend at the time and had gotten a whopping $123 back from the government. My mother had moved the states and taken my childhood cat with her about 6 months prior. I still missed my cat very much and knew that with this return….I wanted to bring a cat into my home….now that I had my own. I searched through the pennysaver, a publication much like Kijiji and finally found an ad I knew I had to respond with. I can’t remember what it said, but I knew that I had to have that cat.
My ex drove to a city about a half an hour away and picked her up the next day. When I got home from work, there was this cute lil gray ball of fur sitting on the couch. She quickly let me pet her, which was when I discovered an odd kink in her tail (I later found out, the vet suspected her tail was broken and never healed correctly) I knew it wasn’t right and that she couldn’t have been treated properly in her former home. I looked at her and promised she would have a good home.
I remember her younger years like they were yesterday. She was a ball of fire, always on the move and always in mischief but always so full of love and wanting affection. Her favorite spot was curled up in a lap or snuggled beside me in bed. She truly was my best friend.
Over the next 10 years Booey would endure every up and down, that crossed my path. She had seen several moves, a relationship break down, new roommates, a new relationship and the birth of my son. Through every single thing that changed in my life, the one thing that always remained the same was her. Her companionship, and love of affection.
Gord often jokes that when he first met me, Booey didn’t want anything to do with him…..there was no doubt she was my cat. But over the years she shifted loyalties and was often found in his lap. She was also very tolerant of Myles, who as he grew….would always test his limits with her and not once did she ever bite or swat at him….she just loved the attention.
Just after Xmas we had noticed Booey was starting to loose weight, but chalked it off to her aging. In retrospect I wish I had of taken it more seriously. In early March I came home from work and just knew something was wrong. She was barely moving, not eating….just plain not herself.
The next day Gord took her to the vet, where we were told she was in kidney failure and in all likely hood wouldn’t have very long. They suggested a few options and we agonized over our decision. Sadly Booey didn’t even last a week after diagnoses. We were hoping to have one last weekend with her, but by the Wednesday she wasn’t eating, could barely move, and was brinigng up white bile. As badly as we wanted to spend some time with her, we knew it wasn’t fair.
The next morning, I sat with her and stroked her and cried until it was time for Gord to take her to the vet. It hurt, to have to let her go even knowing it was what was best for her.
Its amazing the impact an animal can have not only on your heart…..but on your soul. She truly was one of a kind and there isn’t a day that goes by that she isn’t thought of and missed.
However, next time I will fill you in why I believe everything happens for a reason…….
And on a side note, I would like to extend my congrats to Mike, Tracey and Matthew on the arrival of Marcus. Tracey - you have touched the lives of so many with your kind heart and soul - I wish all of you nothing but a lifetime of love, health and happiness!
Our beloved Booey - taken the day before she passed.
