My Cat Died

For folks like me who aren’t reproducing, housing a pet is the only real opportunity to try to generate authoritarian resentment. With this in mind, my wife and I adopted a 15 year old cat five years ago, seen here laughing at a joke I told him about a bird. Though I’ll refrain from the typical animal obit pablum (“the truth is – he rescued us”), I will say that his presence brought measurable peace to our home and happiness to our days. We meshed well because our pace was in alignment – he’d allow us our late nights or out-of-town weekends, and he shared our steadfast and literal commitment to Netflix and chill. He relied on us for all the standard owner-responsibilities – food service, proper quarters, and the regimented sifting of the shit-box. But soon enough it went well beyond that. He was not a basement-dweller or an under-the-bed sort of personality. Once we earned his approval, he was as attached to us as the clothes on our backs. I’ll spare you the list, but there really wasn’t anything done in our home for which he wasn’t present.

When you get a 15 year-old pet, they tend to come pre-named. We don’t know much about his life prior to our introduction, other than that he had been owned and abandoned, spent some time on the street, and eventually landed at the shelter via some Samaritan whose doorstep he darkened. Somewhere along that path he took the name Sphinx, and this is how we met his acquaintance. It didn’t last. We meant no disrespect, but we tended to refer to him for two to three week segments by whatever was top of mind (and if it made us laugh, that didn’t hurt). Junior…Black Sack…Mr. Puddles. When we were watching The People vs O.J. Simpson a few years ago, he was Uncle Juice. The last few weeks of his life we referred to him warmly as Old Dollar – the name of John Wayne’s horse in a movie he watched from my lap over the lazy afternoons around Christmas . It suited him, as he negotiated his last days with the urgency of an inchworm.  

There have been plenty of studies that demonstrate the positive impact that animals – and cats in particular – can have on your health. They reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, boost your immune system, and lower blood pressure and cholesterol. I’m hesitant to assign meaning and weight where it’s not warranted, but it’s been a stressful year here at DOD and I’d rather not speculate on how sunless it might have gotten around here had I not been able to experience his daily lap-nap. And that’s the thing that all pet-people understand – you can come to them the weight of the world, but you’re met with bulletproof exuberance. I will miss that, and will struggle to tackle the anxieties of the day without him. 

Anyway…rest in peace Old Dollar. I’m hoping you’re bellied up at the great Tuna Tavern in the sky (copyright: my wife). 

Save a spot on the couch for us.

7 thoughts on “My Cat Died”

  1. I was excited to see a new post… but then it turns out your cat died! 🙁 So sorry, losing a pet is not easy. Maybe more writing will aid the grieving process, because there is certainly no lack of political material lately.

  2. I remember “Sphinx” from his days at Feline Rescue, and I’m so glad to know that you enjoyed one another’s company for as long as you did.

  3. So sorry that you lost your buddy. I’m a Feline Rescue volunteer who came across your link in our volunteer newsletter. I really appreciate people who adopt older cats; if everyone only adopts kittens shelters will have no room for new cats. You nicely summed up all the good things cat companions give us. I can’t imagine our house without our cats. You write well – I’ll check back to see what you are up to. Thanks for letting us know that Sphinx was loved.

  4. I have I big soft spot in my heart for those who share open arms for geriatrics’s . It would seem you gave Sphinx (aka……life happens moment to moment and endearments can too)the very best years of his life and he returned the favor without even trying. I hope you will not wait too long to begin the next love fest with a new geriatric cat(for your sakes as well for your new handler’s).

    A former Feline Rescue volunteer

  5. As a long-time Friday night volunteer at Feline Rescue, I wanted to thank you for taking “Sphinx” into your home and providing him – and allowing him to provide you – with those wonderful years of love and attention and affection. What a lovely life you led together!

  6. As fosters and supporters of Feline Rescue, we grieve
    in your loss. There is a special place in our hearts for
    all kitty adopters but especially for those whom take
    senior creatures!
    We too have a black kitty, Barn-Barn, (found in Winsted, Minn)
    whom has brought joy beyond description.
    It is sad for me, when I make my several trips a year to
    Female Feline Rescue, only to find my same old friends.
    The five years you had Old Dollar, went quick, too quick
    but for him he had a loving home and someone to love.
    He had what all animals longed for.

    Now I hope for those believers, that they shall await
    us in God’s kingdom.

    Thank you so much for saving and sharing him.

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