It was two years ago today that I said goodbye to Koko and "took her to college." She was 18 years old, so that was my gentler way of referring to the next step in her journey. It just sounded so much nicer and more ladylike than anything more direct. She had a blood tumor on her paw which was removed in January, but it regrew and there were complications (plus she was a feisty beast and terrible patient), so eventually I had to take her in to the vet (to whom I'm eternally grateful for his care and kindness of Koko for over ten years) and we said goodbye.
I will never forget Koko. Other cats may still hold a place in my heart - like Etta in all her sweetness and supreme bounciness - but Koko and I spent so many years together she will always be the number one cat in my heart. She was a character, so ferocious and so feriously friendly. I miss her but I also think of her with great happiness because we were so fortunate to have such a great time together, especially in the last couple of years when it was just her and I together.
Because she was such a crappy patient and kept tearing her bandage off which caused all sorts or complications for her recovery, she wore a cone for about the last two months of her life. Surprisingly she seemed to like it; it's like it filtered out all noise and distractions. It didn't seem like she was agitated or bothered by it at all, although she occasionally misjudged space and would bump into things like a Roomba. She had a funny little swaying gait with the cone on, and she found it pretty handy for carrying around a little snack for later. When she wanted some attention and love (pretty much always), she would sit on my chest and put my face in the cone and purr and purr and purr. We learned how to sleep together in a way that the cone was comfortable. Watching her "wash" her face was quite hilarious (for me anyway) as she would wave her paw in the air and simultaneously lick the inside of the cone.
She loved going on the deck, and with the cone on, she wouldn't stray too far or try to jump on the roof and escape - she just loved wandering in and out of the house and going wherever her fancy would take her. This video is from about a week before she died.
Wherever you are sweet Koko, I hope you are happy. I think about you every day and am so, so grateful you were in my life for as long as you were. Love you, little bunny.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Friday, August 09, 2013
Parkdale Sunset
Since my apartment windows face east, I don't see the sunset unless it is reflected in the building across from my kitchen window. Still beautiful, no matter how it's viewed!
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Heartbreaker
I haven't been blogging lately because I've lost my cute sweet subject matter...Etta had to go and live with my friend Debi because she was killing me. Unfortunately I developed really bad allergies to her and nothing was working. My friend has two cats from the same breeder - one of whom is Etta's sister from the same parents - so Etta has gone to a very good home. Everyone has taken to her -- of course, how could they not?!? And she seems very happy! And I have visiting rights! So all is good, although I do miss her terribly. She is such a sweet, nice cat, and the house and bed are very empty without her.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Soft kitty, warm kitty...
I can't get Sheldon's (from Big Bang Theory) Soft kitty, warm kitty song out of my head when I look at this picture of Etta from Wednesday night.
Soft kitty,
warm kitty,
little ball of fur.
Happy kitty,
sleepy kitty,
purr, purr, purr.
Yesterday was a momentous day: in addition to being a back cat,
she also became a lap cat!
And today was a momentous day in other ways: Etta finally ate! Not a huge amount but enough to make us both really, really happy. Of course, it wasn't the good quality stuff that came in her care package, oh no, it was the over-the-counter crack from the convenience store - Fancy Feast medley! At this point, I'm just happy she ate something. I'll take it one day at a time since it's the first food she hasn't tried to bury.
Ps. You will never get the Soft kitty, warm kitty song out of your head now.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Welcome, Etta J!
Please welcome Etta J!
As of yesterday, my little family doubled in size when she came to live with me. Etta was born in September 2010 to Norman and Zoey, at Shorlyne's Tonkinese. She's a platinum solid Tonkinese. Although I knew in October I was ready for another fur-friend, I didn't want to bring her home until I came back from Sweden.
Etta was very vocal during the car ride home from Kingston, and she was pretty nervous and scared. She hid for a few hours behind a bookcase as soon as we got home, but she is a super friendly cat, and would tentatively come out for a visit when we would take a peek at her. She was very busy all night, finally coming out of the bedroom and investigating the rest of the house.
She's still very nervous and jumpy, but very friendly and not hiding. When we went out for brunch this morning, she took advantage of our being gone to have a cozy nap under the duvet. She was pretty tired as she hadn't slept yet. By this afternoon she was a bit rested and played a bit, and did a little stalking!
She is a big climber, and very active. She really wants to get to the top of the front closet and sandwiched herself between the folding doors, so that's maybe an Etta-free zone until I can figure out if she can do that safely. Hopefully she'll lose interest in the skylights!
She has had some water, and used her litter box, but she hasn't eaten much other than a small handful of treats, so I hope she'll find her appetite soon.
Etta is a really lovely and sweet cat, she's absolutely stunning and very affectionate already. I'm so glad she's come to be a family with me
More pics of Etta are on Flickr!
As of yesterday, my little family doubled in size when she came to live with me. Etta was born in September 2010 to Norman and Zoey, at Shorlyne's Tonkinese. She's a platinum solid Tonkinese. Although I knew in October I was ready for another fur-friend, I didn't want to bring her home until I came back from Sweden.
Etta was very vocal during the car ride home from Kingston, and she was pretty nervous and scared. She hid for a few hours behind a bookcase as soon as we got home, but she is a super friendly cat, and would tentatively come out for a visit when we would take a peek at her. She was very busy all night, finally coming out of the bedroom and investigating the rest of the house.
She's still very nervous and jumpy, but very friendly and not hiding. When we went out for brunch this morning, she took advantage of our being gone to have a cozy nap under the duvet. She was pretty tired as she hadn't slept yet. By this afternoon she was a bit rested and played a bit, and did a little stalking!
She is a big climber, and very active. She really wants to get to the top of the front closet and sandwiched herself between the folding doors, so that's maybe an Etta-free zone until I can figure out if she can do that safely. Hopefully she'll lose interest in the skylights!
She has had some water, and used her litter box, but she hasn't eaten much other than a small handful of treats, so I hope she'll find her appetite soon.
Etta is a really lovely and sweet cat, she's absolutely stunning and very affectionate already. I'm so glad she's come to be a family with me
More pics of Etta are on Flickr!
Monday, January 09, 2012
...And back again
We arrived back in Canada safe and sound on Friday night after a train ride to Copenhagen and 9-hour flight back. We did a little damage at the duty free shop in Copenhagen...can you tell what our individual vices are?
After a little issue in customs (completely unrelated to the above shopping at the duty free!), we were in the limo and on our way home. After seeing the sun so little this trip, I was delighted to experience this beautiful sunset on the way home!
It was a nice welcome home, although I will miss Sweden and the lovely people I met!
After a little issue in customs (completely unrelated to the above shopping at the duty free!), we were in the limo and on our way home. After seeing the sun so little this trip, I was delighted to experience this beautiful sunset on the way home!
It was a nice welcome home, although I will miss Sweden and the lovely people I met!
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