One of our three cats was lying on the carpet in our den this morning and stretched, squeaked and purred as I petted her. Puffer couldn’t meow because she was born with damaged vocal cords, along with her sister, Coco, who were feral kittens that Amy cared for in 2007 until we decided to add them to our menagerie.
Although they were sisters, Coco and Puffer were, we concluded, a product of different fathers. They were too different. Coco is black with thick, matted hair, demands constant attention and weighs a lot, thanks to an appetite that never ends, while Puffer is a short-haired, trim, gray, rambunctious animal that made sure that when she wanted attention, it was on her terms, not ours.
When I went back to the den shortly after 4 p.m. Thursday, Puffer seemed to be asleep, stretched out, like she often does when napping. But she didn’t move. She was dead.
She must have died in her sleep sometime between 2 and 4 p.m. because she was still purring and attentive when I petted her around 2. Rigor had not set in.
Bootsie, our alpha male who often fought with Puffer, but then would sleep next to her, sat in the doorway. The look on his face told us he knew she was gone.
We have always had animals in our homes. At one point since moving to Floyd, we had six cats and three dogs. Now, with Puffer gone, we have just two cats.
I wrapped Puffer in a blanket and placed her in a box for burial. The box is now sealed and wrapped in plastic and, as soon as the weather clears enough, she will join the cats and dogs buried on the hillside above our house. We had lost the much-older alpha-males — AC (short for Anti-Christ) in 2017 and Jekyll two years later — but Puffer was 72 in cat years, much younger than the two males. AC was 126 in cat years and Jekyll 118. Diva, an aptly-named black long hair, died in 2019. AC, who came with us from our time in Washington along with Trouble, found wet and shivering on the streets of Washington, DC in the late 1990s, both surpassed 100 cat years before their deaths.
Amy said Puffer has tossed up a hairball Wednesday night, but she was still her rowdy and active self. After taking Coco and Puffer in, Amy decided to stop raising feral kittens. We had lost Loki, a feral male, who suddenly started falling and acting out of control. When we took him to the Virginia Tech Veterinary School clinic, an MRI found a massive, inoperable tumor in his brain in 2006.
When we had to put him to sleep a short time later because he was in too much pain, I excused myself, went into the bathroom and cried like a baby.
Pets have that effect. Amy and I are still wiping away our tears over the loss of Puffer today.
Very sorry for your loss of Puffer. So tough to lose a pet you have loved and nurtured, and which has loved you back,
The tears never stop, they become such a part of us.
So sorry for your loss. Our pets becomw part of our families…they are just like kids. I’ve had the same cat for 10 years and he’s doing fine. He did have a heat stroke a few years ago but he is doing fine except his sticks out most of the time.
I’m so sorry for the loss of Puffer. I was blessed with my Siberian for 16 years and lost her 2 years ago the tears don’t stop. I was also blessed with my precious George tuxedo cat I adopted almost 4 years ago he’s 8 years old and king of my life. I know Puffer had a wonderful life and loved unconditionally kudos to you so I wish for you to keep doing what you’re doing making fur babies happy. May GOD bless you
I’m very sorry for your loss of Puffer…losing a loved pet is never easy, breaks our heart…and we feel their loss…prayers
Our sweet pets take a huge piece of our hearts when they leave. So sorry for your loss
I completely understand the tears. I’m the same way. To make matters more complicated, I’ve been an animal control officer for a snall city. Give you 3 guesses where my unadopted animals went. Good thing I have a large property. God bless yoy and ease your pain in this loss.
Anybody who has never had a beloved pet (or even one you didn’t love quite so much) pass away or have to be put down, will never understand the pain and guilt that comes with these losses. My 16 1/2 year old first dog had her bags packed and was ready to go two days before Christmas 2012, and one day short of our 15th year together. I still miss her terribly and feel just awful about that last day. Everything was going wrong for her, and I could see the pain and could see in those eyes she was ready. I held her in my arms to the end. I held it together until I got home and saw her bed and blanket.
I like to think that she stayed with me just long enough, and taught me how to say good-bye, until the one who would be my second dog was born and beginning to grow up. Penny was born 3 weeks before the first dog passed. She is now 8, and is sleeping at my feet.
I feel for you, man. These creatures are amazing. And they become such a part of our families.
I’m sorry for your loss never truly covers it. You have lost a child, a member of your family. You can be greatful she went peacefully and on her terms. Knowing she loved you as much as you loved her.
Sorry for your loss. I lost 3 of my dogs within 2 weeks in July 2020 and still cry everyday because i miss them so much. They had a good life though one was 17, one was 14 and the other 10 but still have such a big hole in my heart.I wonder if i will ever get over this.