Never is a long time...

Rastoff

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It's hard for us as finite beings to grasp the enormity of time. Because we think and live within the confines of a time line, we always want to know what came before or what comes after. Even so, it's difficult to get a read on just how long never really is.

Unfortunately there are events that bring us close to understanding the magnitude of never.

My cat, Argon, died today.

Argon is the third of the noble or inert elements. It comes from the Greek word for inactive. My cat was indeed that, inactive. She would sit on the back of the couch all day and sleep, like cats do. We named the couch the "cat eating couch" because the cat would sit in the crack formed by the pillow and the back. It looked like the couch was eating her. She will never sit there again.

My son and wife would always tell me she was my cat. I would claim, jokingly, that she was not because my wife always feeds all our animals. Even so, she always came and sat in my lap when I came home from work. That will never happen again.

She didn't meow. It was funny. She would look at you and open her mouth like she was going to, but no sound would come out. She will never not meow again.

It's a difficult day when we are forced to come to grips with the concept of never. We will all have to do it from time to time; it's part of life. It's my hope that when you have to face that reality, it's something you can work through. This will take some time for me and my family, but we will dwell on the good parts and move forward. We will never forget our friend, Argon.

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Very sorry for your loss. I know how you are feeling right now, and it's terrible. Condolences to you and your family
 
I have been a cat person all of my life. Each and every time that I have lost my buddy, I have only been able to heal the agony by going and getting another rescue kitten, who needs me as much as I need him. The transfer of the love and affection that I had for my former 'best friend' to my new 'best friend' has helped keep me balanced in my daily life. I encourage you and your family to consider the same course of action. I have never forgotten any cat that shared my life, and I mourned the loss of each when it happened. My life is not complete without a Scooter or Boogie in it.
 
I'm not a cat person, never have been, yet I understand how you feel. I lost my toy poodle, Sammie, more than three years ago, her memory haunts me still. She thought she was a princess. Everything had to be just her way. Her bed, her blanket, and her toys had to be arranged just so, at all times. She would never eat her dog food if she suspected her favorite dishes were going to be fixed for the family meal. She shared Jimmy Dean Hot Pork Sausage with me for breakfast. When I was recovering from cancer surgery and bed ridden for months, she refused to leave my side.

Reading your remembrance of Argon, reminded me of Sammie, brought tears to my eyes. You have my most heartfelt condolences.
 
A very well written heart felt tribute to your devoted cat. I too have been a cat person all my life. Unfortunately I am also very allergic to cats. Once as a LEO I took a stray dog to the Animal Shelter. As I was walking thru a narrow corridor between cages, a 3 month old all black short hair kitten reached out and snagged my shirt sleeve. I stopped and looked him over and said, "the he## with the allergies, you're coming home with me." We named him Pepper and he had more personality than any other cat that I had ever seen. Pepper was my cat and behaved just about like a dog. He went everywhere with me including the rifle range. He lay on the dashboard of my pickup and watched everything I did. He came when called. He was my constant companion while I worked in my Gunsmithing Shop. He wasn't afraid of anything, any animal or anyone. I'm sure that is what got him at about the age of 6 because he didn't have enough respect for the abilities of the coyotes to catch outside cats. I still miss him after 15 years. And, yes, he gave me allergies. It was a small price to pay to have such a devoted companion. ......
 
I too have been a cat person all my life. Unfortunately I am also very allergic to cats. Once as a LEO I took a stray dog to the Animal Shelter. As I was walking thru a narrow corridor between cages, a 3 month old all black short hair kitten reached out and snagged my shirt sleeve. I stopped and looked him over and said, "the he## with the allergies, you're coming home with me."
Fantastic! (EDIT: fighting through the allergy I mean) Argon was about 6 too. I don't really know because she was a shelter cat. We assumed she was between 1 and 2 when we got her. She was asleep, of course, when I first saw her, but when I picked her up she woke and it was obvious we had to take her home.

She had a disease called Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and constantly had a runny nose. She loved people and wanted to sit in any stranger's lap. I had to warn them that she would sneeze on them and she usually did.

It was this that eventually got her. She contracted bronchitis last weekend and even with the antibiotics she couldn't fight it off.

Thanks for the story Big Cholla. It really helps.

Yes, shaggist, we will be out looking for another soon. And no, that doesn't diminish the memory of Argon at all.
 
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You know, I'm not either.....

I'm not a cat person, never have been, yet I understand how you feel.

You know, I'm more of a dog person, but the cats that have insinuated themselves into our lives became very special.

Charlie Cat

B.A. Cat

R.I.P.

And Pearl is still with us. She was starved in a rainstorm and she somehow talked my wife into bringing her in.:)

These three cats have covered almost 38 years of marriage.
 
Fitzhugh Lee, the tuxedo on top of the kitten, (yes, there is a kitten under there) is 16 years old. I'm starting to accept that both of us are getting old and trying to prepare mentally for what I know is coming.
 

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By their expressions and demeanors..

I feel for you. We lost Zachary earlier this year.


His little buddy Natayo moaned about it for a couple of days. I'm sure he still misses him, we do.

Zachary - Awwwwwwwwww.

Just by looking at their expressions and demeanors Natayo looks like our B.A. (Bad ***) Cat with the wild eyes and Zachary looks like Pearl (narrow-eyed Sphinx look) except Pearl is pearl grey.

In fact B.A. is a spittin' image of Natayo.
 

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