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goodnight sweet Emma
Mar. 27th, 2006 05:47 pmThis afternooon at 15:36 Emma expired. Puck chose his own time, for Emma we decided.
Of the two cats Emma is the short-hair tortise shell. She wandered in when Puck was two years old, just after the release of Howards End.
Emma came to us postpartum, but with no kittens. She was engorged with soured milk and covered with fleas. We supposed that the kittens had succumbed to the fleas. We introduced her to Puck, and when spring came she confused him utterly. He was neutered and she was desperate. We had Emma spayed, but a few weeks later she started importuning Puck again. When we witnessed two sterile cats mating in the living room we took her back to the vet. The second spaying was free, and (at the cost of a very large incision) all the ovarian tissue was removed.
Emma loved to lie in the warmth with her pigmentless nose aimed straight at the sun. Nothing would deter her, and by the time we decided she would only roam during crepuscular and nocturnal hours it was already too late. Emma's cancer started growing uncontrollably about three months ago. We suspect that her worsening condition contributed to Puck's sudden, surprising demise.
Emma had not been able to smell her food for a week, and she was weakening daily. Yesterday it was clear that today should be the day. There was sunshine, and no reason not to let her go out into it. She loved it. When she was left alone after dark she went to the shed and climbed into the basket where she and Puck once slept. What better way for her to say she wanted to be with Puck? Last night she violated the rules and went into the room with the girls. The girls were Emma's kittens, and she was happy to be their mom cat. The girls made room for Emma.
Today we took Emma for several walks around the neighborhood, and we let her sit outside and listen. The approaching storm meant that sounds were carrying from as far as a mile away, or more. Emma basked in it all until the rain started as school ended. We were all with Emma to say goodbye.
Of the two cats Emma is the short-hair tortise shell. She wandered in when Puck was two years old, just after the release of Howards End.
Emma came to us postpartum, but with no kittens. She was engorged with soured milk and covered with fleas. We supposed that the kittens had succumbed to the fleas. We introduced her to Puck, and when spring came she confused him utterly. He was neutered and she was desperate. We had Emma spayed, but a few weeks later she started importuning Puck again. When we witnessed two sterile cats mating in the living room we took her back to the vet. The second spaying was free, and (at the cost of a very large incision) all the ovarian tissue was removed.
Emma loved to lie in the warmth with her pigmentless nose aimed straight at the sun. Nothing would deter her, and by the time we decided she would only roam during crepuscular and nocturnal hours it was already too late. Emma's cancer started growing uncontrollably about three months ago. We suspect that her worsening condition contributed to Puck's sudden, surprising demise.
Emma had not been able to smell her food for a week, and she was weakening daily. Yesterday it was clear that today should be the day. There was sunshine, and no reason not to let her go out into it. She loved it. When she was left alone after dark she went to the shed and climbed into the basket where she and Puck once slept. What better way for her to say she wanted to be with Puck? Last night she violated the rules and went into the room with the girls. The girls were Emma's kittens, and she was happy to be their mom cat. The girls made room for Emma.
Today we took Emma for several walks around the neighborhood, and we let her sit outside and listen. The approaching storm meant that sounds were carrying from as far as a mile away, or more. Emma basked in it all until the rain started as school ended. We were all with Emma to say goodbye.
