So Long, and Thanks For All the Fish.*
Saturday, August 22nd, 2009
Thackery
About an hour ago, we buried our beloved Thackery. It’s a travesty that after 14 years, we have no photos of him except the one above taken just minutes before we took his final drive to the vet.
Thackery was here before I arrived on the scene. He became an outside cat after discovering his marking the inside of the house after I moved in, which isn’t unusual. Three others joined him.
He was my buddy. Before his exile to outside, he used to curl up with me and we’d take a nap together. When I’d read at night in bed he’d make his bed between my legs. Even outside, he was affectionate and loving and would always come to me for loves and scratches. He never made trouble for the other cats. He was a lover, not a fighter.
When I’d take the cover off the grill, he was right there at my feet meowing. He knew he’d get a piece of steak or chicken or hot dog.
Before I came, his leg was broken and it had to be pinned. It never healed just right and he always sat with that leg in a funny position.
Thunder and fireworks scared him and we usually let him spend the night downstairs until it was over.
He was suffering from liver failure. We had changed to low-protein food (which he didn’t like) and at one point had to administer sub-cutaneous fluids every night for a week to get him hydrated. In the end he didn’t eat or drink and barfed a lot, which was the sign that his levels were rising to an intolerable height.
We made the (always!) painful decision this morning for his sake. He’s buried out in the vegetable garden with so many others, and so many will follow.
Goodbye, Buddy. We love you.
* With apologies to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
