In Memoriam: My cat Cloyd (VANITY)

Boris | 11-25-2003 | Boris

[Frank_Discussion]

As one manly man who loves cats to another, my sympathies.

[Nonstatist]

19 years is a good lfe for a cat. My condolences, just the same.

[spetznaz]

Condolences.

I personally love cats like crazy. I think dogs make the best pets .....BUT cats are not pets. They are companions.

[Lead Moderator]

We're sorry for your loss.

[stanz]

It's always tough to lose a pet. Although you will never forget Cloyd, it will be easier to cope with his loss as time goes by. He had a good life and that's what counts.

[EggsAckley]

Your vivid descriptions of Cloyd bring to mind Grumpy, my Burmese, who lived to 23 years. Although he passed away in 1989, I still feel him here. He was with me for more than half my life. What a companion. Like Cloyd, not a cat, but a person.

My deepest condolences.

[Think free or die]

I'm sorry about Cloyd. He sounds like a wonderful companion. My Molly has been gone five years now, and I still miss her. She lived with me for 18 years, and when she left she seemed to take what was left of my youth with her. Some cats just settle into our lives and hearts in that way.

[Chummy]

As another 'manly man' who loves cats (and dogs and all critters), please also accept my sympathies. My Kermit was my best friend and lived with me until he passed away just short of his 20th birthday; I know what you feel.

Even that blessed amount of time we are given to share together does not seem nearly enough when their time arrives to cross the bridge.

Please know, too, that you'll see your pal again someday, boris. All will be well.

[eddie willers]

BUT cats are not pets. They are companions.

Somebody said:

Dogs have owners, but cats have staff.

[netmilsmom]

Sometimes there are prints left on one's heart. The paw prints stay forever.

My favorite picture in the whole world is hanging in my living room. It is my newborn daughter sleeping on my "Kitty" He was 19 when he died too (not long after that picture, like he waited for a new baby to come and felt he could leave me). My daughter is now 6. I still miss him.

My dad (gone since '82) used to putt golf balls down the hallway at the top of our stairs. My cat would wait on the top step with his ears back. Daddy would putt, it would roll past the cat to a ball return, the ball would pop back out and just as it would roll by, my cat would snatch it to roll down the steps. My dad would yell, "Damn Cat!" and chase the ball and cat. They played like that for hours.

When my dad was dying of cancer, the cat could not be moved from under his bed. When he died, the cat just stood up and walked away...

[NormsRevenge]

My sympathy to you in this time of your loss.

I have been thru this loss and mourning too many darn times.

I have had cats that were anti-anyone being near them on anything less than their unconditional terms.

I have had cats that were the complete opposite and you couldn't push them away from you if you tried.

I have had cats that disappeared, not sure what happened and I have had cats that I know were angels (we have one now) and were there to just be with us as we experienced all the ups and downs of life.

[B-Chan]

My sympathies. As a writer and artist, I find the company of cats to be both comforting and practical; as unobtrusive companions they are without peer (occasional demands for petting excepted!) and their cleanly ways and low-maintenance modus vivendi jibes well with my need for concentration and limited free time. Plus they're cute and lovable.

(I love dogs as well, but dogs are pack animals that require exercise and attention to be physically and psychologically healthy, and I often have no time for either.)

The fact that the solitary, self-centered cat can be transformed by love into a creature capable of something more offers the despondent pet owner some hope of a reunion with their lost cat. C.S. Lewis was of the opinion that certain pets could achieve immortality in the same way we humans do: by being loved. Just as God's love of human beings transmitted through the Person of Christ is the sole means for the transformation of sinful human nature (and thus of achieving immortality), so too, speculated Lewis, could God's love as transmitted through the owner of a cat or dog (etc.) serve to transform the animal loved, changing its innate nature (i.e. its "catness" or "dogness") into something higher than mere "cat" or "dog", creating a new creature capable of some form of eternal life.

Lewis wrote about the possibility of animals being in Heaven several times. In a summer 2003 essay entitled “Animals and the Kingdom of Heaven”, Catholic writer Sean Connolly explains that

...in Lewis’ vision of heaven, the pets I had as a child - and indeed those I have now or may come to have later - may well be caught up in my experience of the heavenly realm when I die. The best expression of this idea is found in Lewis’ theological fantasy, The Great Divorce. Here he describes a woman in heaven surrounded by a train of young children, angels, and - significantly - birds and beasts. The following dialogue makes explanation:

“What are all these animals? A cat - two cats - dozens of cats. And all those dogs ... why, I can’t count them. And the birds. And the horses.”

“They are her beasts.”

“Did she keep a sort of zoo? I mean, this is a bit too much.”

“Every beast and bird that came near her had its place in her love. In her they became themselves. And now the abundance of life she has in Christ from the Father flows over into them.”

Human nature is flawed by original sin; left to ourselves, our natural end is the eternal death of Hell. The atoning love of Cheist for us transforms our broken nature into the perfect, immortal nature of the saints. In like manner, just as God transforms human nature by His love for us, enabling us to live forever, might not the limitless power of that divine love overflow through us into the creatures that we love, enabling them to somehow exist in the New Heavens and New Earth that await all those touched by the love of Christ?

Remember, we know that there will be cats in heaven; Scripture specifically tells us that the lion will lie down with the lamb. If lions will be there, why not your cat?

In any case, that was Lewis' opinion. Your duty is to thank the Lord for the years of companionship your lost pet gave you, and to adopt another pet — preferably one in need! — that you can love and be loved by. Your local shelter is full of such animals, waiting patiently for your call.

Again, my sympathies.

[lindsay]

My cat is failing in health.lt is oldage.l love her dearly and am doing everything l can to make her last days happy ones.We love each other.Your story made me cry.My cat was a stray that came to visit eight years ago on Christmas Eve.lt was forty degrees below zero.l took her for the weekend.The vet told me she was between four and eight years old.She hates the cold and with good reason.She sits by the fire and l feed her cat treats.We are happy and cozy.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Sorry to hear about Cloyd. I had a nearly toothless old abyssinian named Leon who was smart, fearless, and much better than I deserved. He's been gone nearly 4 years, but I still miss him.

[etabeta]

your sad and loving testimonial made me cry and brought back the memories of all my beloved cats I have lost over the years. The ache is still strong but with time the tears have dried and left are the great memories of their interaction with us. They truly enrich our spirit and teach us about unconditional love.
I am very sorry about your loss.

[GovernmentShrinker]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I lost a dear ancient cat last Thanksgiving, after a similar tally of vet bills. And you're quite right that Cloyd will keep living in you, just as the special spirit of my Ollie is still burning bright in me.

[Think free or die]

How very beautiful.

Our two latest cats were rescued feral kitties. We considered purebred cats, but ultimately our hearts led us toward the homeless needy kitties - once again. They always seem so grateful for their place in our homes and in our hearts.

[tiamat]

Aw boris,

I'm so sorry! Tia

[OpusatFR]

With Sympathy..

My cats are aliens who rule by mind control and they have a willing slave.

Yours probably has his wings.