Cloey

My cat, Cloey, had to be euthanized last week after a battle with a long list of age related health problems. He was 18 years old. Cloey was a grouchy old man from the day he was born. That's not to say he didn't have his good points, he also liked to bite people. He was the master of biting you without breaking the skin but making it hurt. It didn't matter what you were doing, petting him, combing him, when he had enough, chomp! Any time curious children were around they were warned, don't touch Cloey.

As a tiny kitten, he lived for a short period of time with a Rottweiler named Caesar. For some reason, this made him unafraid of dogs, which was not a problem because he was an indoor cat. If the neighbors dog came to the back sliding glass door, the other cats would leave, cartoon style, but Cloey didn't budge. The dog would be barking his head off and Cloey would just stand there, staring at him.

As he got older, he became more affectionate and less prone to bite. He also developed a thyroid problem and a heart murmur. The thyroid problem caused him to lose weight, but it's also a mechanism that allows the cats body to protect the kidneys. Either one would kill him. The treatment is to correct the thyroid problem just enough to allow the cat to gain weight, but not stress the kidneys. This is accomplished using medication for the thyroid and and special food to support the kidneys. We were able to give Cloey about 4 more months with this treatment.

It's amazing to me how many things remind me of him. When I wake up in the morning, my first thoughts are that I have to get up and give Cloey his medicine and food. I still expect to see him in his usual places and I sometimes I think I hear his demanding meow, even though he's been gone for a week. I suppose over time, those impulses will fade, but I will remember Cloey in all of the stages of his life, as a kitten, in his prime, as you see below, and as an old man who held on to life with the tenacity of a tiger.