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In Memoriam: My cat Cloyd (VANITY)
Boris | 11-25-2003 | Boris

Posted on 11/25/2003 9:56:23 AM PST by boris

My big old cat, Cloyd, passed away today, after 19 years of life with me. He came to me as a kitten, with his “brother” Gidney. Grey toms.

Gidney and Cloyd (named after the Moonmen in Rocky & Bullwinkle) had distinctly different personalities. Gidney was hyper; Cloyd laid back. Gidney was starved for affection, like a clinging girlfriend. Cloyd, from the beginning, was an irascible beast, accepting affection grudgingly, on his terms. I didn’t much care for Gidney. I came to love Cloyd with all my heart. Gidney was “easy”; a slut. Cloyd played hard-to-get, a challenge. He seemed to say, “If you want my trust and my affection you will have to earn it.”

Both were indoor cats. One day, due to illness and dull thinking, I left the front door unlocked. The wind blew it open and Gidney vanished. A hawk or coyote got him, I suspect. I did not grieve much for Gidney, though I searched everywhere for him, put up flyers, made the rounds of the animal shelters.

Cloyd was alone. I thought him lonely, so I sought a companion. I wanted a female cat. Lady cats have bigger plumbing and don’t block as easily as males. A friend called me from Albuquerque. He had a black cat abandoned by its owner. “Male or female?”

“Male.”

“OK, I’ll take it.”v

That’s when Ringo appeared. A domestic long-hair, with a tail that loops into a circle as it comes off his back. He arrived sodden; completely soaked in his own urine. The idiot who’d driven him up from Albuquerque had left him in a carrier for the entire trip. A more disheveled creature I have not seen. Ringo was almost named ‘Helix’ but I thought that too cute.

Ringo turns out to be Gidney on steroids. He wants to worship at the Church of Boris, and is content only when in close physical contact with me. I hate him. Well, not really, but constant worship, even from a cat, becomes wearing.

Ringo used to be an outdoor cat, and he longs for the outside world. But, aside from a cat door to my 3rd floor balcony, he stayed in with Cloyd.

Cloyd, at about nine, began to have urinary blockages common to male cats. He had several surgeries, and almost died several times. He was a high-maintenance beast. I calculated that, over his lifetime, he has had well over $10,000 in medical bills. His most recent operation cost over $4,000. The vet and I had a conversation. “This will be his last surgery. He couldn’t survive another, and his quality of life would be zero.” The thought of euthanizing him brought me to tears.

Thinking of the ordeals he has been through, I am amazed at his bravery and resilience. Nine lives…I think Cloyd had 19. A tough guy and a trooper. I suspect that for the last couple of years, he has been suffering in silence. The vet told me his bladder wall was scarred and thickened to an almost incredible degree. Every time he urinated must have been a painful effort.

Cloyd was always a character. He liked dark colors. He would perch on a piece of cloth, a blanket, a garment—if it was dark. If I was wearing my navy robe, he would consent to sit on my chest. If I was wearing something light-colored, he would ignore me.

He used to love to sharpen his claws on my sneakers, eventually ripping out the toes completely. I gave him a pair of sneakers, and he quickly understood that he could do anything he wanted with them, but must leave my other ones alone. Eventually I threw them out; they were no longer recognizable as shoes.

Lately he’d work on some black rubber flip-flops, slowly reducing them to tiny bits.

Cloyd was a low-volume beast. When God designed him, he set the volume control on Cloyd’s purr-motor at a very low level. You basically had to put your ear on his chest to hear anything at all. He wasn’t “talkative” like many cats are…and, like taciturn humans, his paucity of “speech” made you listen more carefully when he “spoke”.

I called him “Rammer.” He had the feline love of edges, rubbing his head on anything sharp or hard. I accommodated him. We developed a ritual. I would find things to rub his cat skull with. He loved the handle part of a pair of Fiskars scissors. The hub from a 50-CD stack was another fave. Pens and pencils. DAT tape containers.

When you live with a person—and Cloyd was a person—for 19 years, you get to know them. Cloyd talked to me, and I to him. I knew what he liked, what he disliked, what he wanted, what was wrong. I gained a sixth sense that enabled me to detect when his bladder was blocked and rush him to the vet.

What can you say about a cat that you loved and who has died? Cloyd was a good and true friend, a faithful companion, a joy, and a nuisance. I’d be much richer—in dollars—if I’d never met him, but much poorer—in spirit—if I had not. He was a good cat. A much better cat than I am a person. Ten thousand dollars? I’d have gladly spent sixty thousand, if it’d given him relief and a few more years.

So now I am left with Ringo, a second fiddle who is suddenly first. But it is not the same, without the big old curmudgeonly bachelor cat – who so resembled me in temperament.

I am going to miss Mr. Cloyd for a long time. I feel his lack as an aching absence that I will never get used to. I will grieve over him as I would over any family member. And as long as I live, he will live in my mind. It is my fond hope that his soul and mine might again meet, on the other side. If there is a Heaven, he is bound for it. My own destination is less certain. But I wouldn’t mind a bit, if the Lord would permit me to share eternity with my friend Cloyd the Cat.


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To: boris
At my home lives 3 wolf-dogs, 4 ducks, 3 fishies, and 4 humans... all ruled by 2 cats and a kitten. My oldest is 12 and like your dear Cloyd lost her brother a few years back. It's good to know she could still be around for many years to come. With empathy as well as much, much sympathy - YankOkie
21 posted on 11/25/2003 12:28:21 PM PST by YankeeinOkieville
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To: PetroniDE; w_over_w; MEG33; sciencediet; Allegra; dixie sass; grizzfan
Thought y'all might not mind being pinged.

Petroni - I know I missed some...

22 posted on 11/25/2003 12:40:40 PM PST by YankeeinOkieville
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To: YankeeinOkieville
My sympathy to you regarding this loss. This is something that ALL cat and/or dog people must face some day.

I will ping the full kitty list tonight.
23 posted on 11/25/2003 12:55:01 PM PST by PetroniDE (Kitty Is My Master - I Do What She Says)
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To: YankeeinOkieville
Thanks for the ping. I'm sorry for your loss; it's always so hard. When my old white cat died, about a year passed before I could bring myself to put her toys in the closet. For that year, the little toys were in a basket under a table; I'd move them every time I vacuumed.

Someone remarked that every cat is always at his/her best. The very best cat it could possibly be.

24 posted on 11/25/2003 1:06:31 PM PST by Lucy Lake
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To: boris
# 24 was meant for you. Sorry for the mistake.
25 posted on 11/25/2003 1:09:38 PM PST by Lucy Lake
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To: boris
Your memorial to Cloyd is just beautiful.When my tomcat ,Sassy died after 15 years I thought I couldn't bear to love another animal again.I literally wailed.I still miss him.It took several years but I found a once almost wild mother cat could win my heart..and after 8 years,break it when she died of cancer this year.

We had a thankgiving service for all the joy she had brought my family.She had climbed into my daughters attic and had kittens.I talked them into allowing me to take her home when I pointed out she was harrassed by her adult kittens!I had bonded with her and given her refuge when I visited.My cats have always loved the men in the house and they loved in return.

It is a joy to to have them and the pain is great when they are gone.I am so sorry you have lost Cloyd,so happy he had you for so many years.
26 posted on 11/25/2003 1:27:53 PM PST by MEG33
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To: boris
What a beautiful tribute to your good friend. I understand your feelings and sense of profound loss. I feel the same way about the many animal companions that I shared some years with - and I hope that I will see them in heaven because it wouldn't be heaven without them.
27 posted on 11/25/2003 2:49:48 PM PST by austingirl
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To: boris
He will be waiting at the Rainbow Bridge. I know what it is like to lose a beloved friend like Cloyd.

Ringo misses him also. Maybe you should think of a friend for Ringo now.
28 posted on 11/25/2003 4:24:22 PM PST by dixie sass (Meow, pfft, pfft, pfft - (hmmmm, claws needed sharpening))
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To: eddie willers
Hello, Eddie. Cats are people with fur and a foreign language.
29 posted on 11/25/2003 4:27:47 PM PST by dixie sass (Meow, pfft, pfft, pfft - (hmmmm, claws needed sharpening))
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To: YankeeinOkieville
Thank you for the ping Yankee.
30 posted on 11/25/2003 4:29:24 PM PST by dixie sass (Meow, pfft, pfft, pfft - (hmmmm, claws needed sharpening))
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To: dixie sass
Hi dixie.

I'm so glad John changed the way you can view ALL the latest posts if you wish.

That way I saw this thread when I normally never click on "Chat".
31 posted on 11/25/2003 4:40:32 PM PST by eddie willers
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To: YankeeinOkieville; boris
Bye Cloyd . . . sniff . . .

Boris, fwiw, after we lost our 16yr. old Himi the best advice we got was from my sister, "Find a kitty that looks like her and start enjoying a new friend and missing an old friend at the same time." We offer our prayers for God to comfort your heart.

Thanks for the ping YiO!

32 posted on 11/25/2003 5:09:03 PM PST by w_over_w (Why do Pilgrims pants always fall down? Because their belt is on their hat.)
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To: boris
Sorry about your loss. It's always tough to lose a special pet. Back in 2000 I had to put my cat to sleep (she had diabetes) three days before my ex moved out. Needless to say, that was a rough week. I still miss that cat much more than the ex. My new wife brought Shadow, a gray tux into the marriage, and he is a great cat. He's about 13 1/2, so he's slowing down some, but we really do love him. I call him Bubba.
33 posted on 11/25/2003 5:12:39 PM PST by ringgold (A pirate looks at 40!)
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To: boris; 4catsinmaryland; abner; Aeronaut; Allegra; alnick; Bahbah; balrog666; Bella_Bru; ...
Sad News Kitty Ping.
34 posted on 11/26/2003 5:22:05 AM PST by PetroniDE (Kitty Is My Master - I Do What She Says)
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To: B-Chan
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?

My theory is that anything capable of love must have a soul. Cats are certainly capable of love; therefore, their soul lives on after they pass. I hope to be reunited with my pets in heaven.

35 posted on 11/26/2003 5:33:50 AM PST by alnick
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To: boris
My condolences on the loss of your beloved pet.
36 posted on 11/26/2003 5:41:43 AM PST by rintense
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To: boris; PetroniDE
Cloyd can look up my Ginger and they can snuggle as they wait for us.

Ginger and Sheba

37 posted on 11/26/2003 5:45:51 AM PST by Flyer (This tag line contains 0 carbohydrates)
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To: boris
I am so sorry for your loss. The infamous Ms. Terry left me 9 Thanksgivings ago, and I still miss her terribly. They really have a way of worming their way into your heart, don't they? Sympathy from another manly cat lover...
38 posted on 11/26/2003 6:16:08 AM PST by GodBlessRonaldReagan (where is Count Petofi when we need him most?)
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To: boris
I was reminded of the many cats whose company I have enjoyed over the years.


Your life has been enriched by knowing such a creature as Cloyd.

Thank you for his story. My deepest sympathy for your loss.
39 posted on 11/26/2003 6:29:46 AM PST by petuniasevan
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To: boris
Sincere condolences on the loss of your companion. I know how you're feeling right now; I had to have my 19 year old Kong (black male cat) put to sleep 7 years ago. Although we know they won't be around forever, it's still a loss when they do have to go.
40 posted on 11/26/2003 6:39:30 AM PST by mass55th
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