Thursday, November 15, 2007

Rest in Peace, Alpha Cat

I'm terribly sorry to say that Pretty Lady's magnificent cat - Alpha Cat - has passed away. Whatever maladies were troubling him recently became insurmountable; he was suffering, and finally it was too much for him to bear.

Pretty Lady posted a personal history and pictures of Alpha Cat today. He was extraordinarily beautiful, not just in appearance, but in his countenance and attitude.

He also looks stunningly similar to my cat April.

He lived a long and particularly good life, from 1989 until today, November 15, 2007.

From personal experience, though, I can say this with certainty: That doesn't always comfort the humans who loved him and are left behind to grieve over losing him.

He is free, now, of sickness and pain. He's waiting for Pretty Lady and her friend, I've no doubt, in that place where April and BabyCat are waiting for me and for Walter.

6 comments:

Jean said...

oh, dear... he reminds me of my Bubba. A Maine Coon.
So very sorry.

Northwoods Woman said...

hugs for pretty lady.

Pretty Lady said...

Thank you, k.

Do you know what? I hope he isn't just waiting around. I hope he is moving on to greater studies and farther-ranging adventures. My one regret is that I was not always able to provide him with enough free-wheeling adventure; he had access to the Great Outdoors when we were living in a house with a cat door, of course, but at other times he was hemmed into an apartment and quite obviously got bored. He was almost supernaturally intelligent--well, let's face it, he was supernaturally intelligent--and his spirit is more than ready to take on some major challenges.

At least, that's the way I see it. I asked him several times if he would be my cat, forever and ever amen, and his reply was always inscrutable. ;-)

Joyce Ellen Davis said...

As I said at your place, if ANY of us are eternal critters, we ALL are!

Joyce Ellen Davis said...

Forever and ever. Amen.

k said...

Oh, I bet he isn't just waiting around, no more than BabyCat and April are.

April sent Walter and I postcards. She was in a beautiful field, with flowers and butterflies and such everywhere, tall grasses for fun stalking and exploring adventures...doing the kinds of running and jumping that she loved the best. All her favorite things were there.

She was having a lot of fun, and told us both she was young again and healthy. She showed us each a child of hers.

As in, *I'm having a wonderful time, I feel great, and look! my children live after me...*

Not at all like the wife and kids in The Man Who Fell to Earth, silently standing and waiting, holding hands motionless in the desert...slowly turning to stone. Waiting for papa David Bowie to come home and save them...

Nope. Not one bit of it, not for April.