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| Needy celebrates Christmas 1999. |
On December 31, 1999, this joyful little kitten entered my life. I have shared my life and my home with Needles since that time (adding Pins in October 2000). Needy survived a major health scare in September 2008, and he outlived every known member of his family. Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye this week.
His health had been in rapid decline throughout the year, especially over this past summer. Although he had once grown into an over-sized cat, he had lost all his weight this year. He was down to skin and bones, but he showed few other signs of illness. His final turn in health happened relatively fast: only a couple days. In short, he was too weak to maintain normalcy and too old to fight through another treatment.
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| Needles always had the wonder in his face. |
As early as June 2013, I strongly doubted that he would make his 14th birthday in November. After numerous restless nights of concern over his well-being, I was at a loss on what to do for him. Then, in late September, my church scheduled its first ever Blessing of the Animals for October 5, 2013. I took him to the service, even though he was the only cat in attendance (effectively, I out-crazied every "Crazy Cat Lady"), and after that event, he started acting normal again. He certainly wasn't healthy but he started acting happy & carefree again, and I began to as well. I went from openly telling people that "he's not long for this world" to silently wondering if he could live another 5 years. My mind and heart were at peace.
Over Thanksgiving weekend, I lay in front of my television for over five straight hours. I stayed in that position longer than I should have because my little boy had planted himself on my lap and fallen asleep there. It was a lasting moment of peace that only animals can bring us.
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| You don't just step inside to 14 years. |
Every time I left my house for the past 14 years, I have shouted out to my cats as I closed the front door, "never forget that you are loved." Those were words I whispered in his ear as he took his last breaths. In some ways, I wish Needles could have lived with Pins and me another five years, but as they say, life goes on. And even if his won't, his love certainly will.
