Sunday, March 30, 2008

Anakin




This past Friday, my cat Anakin past away. It's been a slow decline for him since this past November. He was 11 years young. Nowhere near old enough for me. I adopted him from a rescue society in 1997. Newly married, he was my "test baby". Could I care for another life... actually be a Mom? He was my baby then and until Friday morning when I swaddled him in a towel and held him until his eyes closed.
Through the years he was a GREAT cat. Full of personality. When I was pregnant with Maggie and having pain, he would climb onto my belly and pat it with his paws. Maybe he knew then that Maggie would be his best friend. He kept his distance from her through her toddler years until she turned four, he chose her, and that was just fine with me. She called him her big brother. She's gonna miss him a lot.

Why have pets if you feel this pain when they die? Because the love we feel for them makes us feel more alive.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry for your loss. I have two cats and I can't imagine how you must feel. He sounds like he had a very happy life with you and Maggie x

Kelly Light said...

Thanks Sarah, nice words.

Gina Perry said...

I'm so sorry for the loss of your dear kitty. He sounds like he was a great companion and friend.

Kelly Light said...

Thanks Gina. I'll probably be drawing a lot of cats for a while.

Alicia Padrón said...

Oh so sorry Kelly... the loss a pet is really tough. They are so important in our lives. 11 years is quite some time, I'm sure he lived a wonderful life thanks to you.

Brian said...

Sorry to hear that Kelly. Pets can add a lot to a life and when they're gone, there's no mistaking it.

Unknown said...

Oh Kelly.... I do fell your pain as we lost our little girl Pasha to feline kidney failure, which is ironic for too many reasons to go into here.

Anakin reminds me of our other little guy "Muughi", who is also a black kitty.

When our pets leave us, I like to think they are through with their task here an are continuing their journey in better health with those loved ones in our lives who have passed away, so that they may reap the benefit of their furry, and unconditional love in the afterlife.

My heart aches for you, Kelly, and while Noelle and I can't be there to offer some color in this gray time, I give you this image of our remaining little drug-addled and diabetic furry son, " Muughi";

http://home.earthlink.net/~bunnyeyed_twinkletoed_buttmonkey/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/muughi_door_edit.jpg
(He shakes his head and the sound of a broken light bulb is heard - not too bright but I'm sure he sends his purrs and love too...)

Love from California,

Lewis and Noelle

Tracy said...

I'm so sorry for your loss, too. Thank you for leaving your kind words on my blog :) Maybe your kitty and my dog are playing in pet Heaven :) or wherever wonderful animals go.

Anonymous said...

Kelly, I am sorry to read about your cat. We've had several...and, as a result, lost several...over the years and it never gets easier.

jenne said...

Hi Kelly, i've been kind of a lurker here at your blog a hile now and had not read for a while, today i read about your sweet Anakin and i am so very sorry you lost him. i lost my cat symon last summer and then lost my brother this past december and the ears keep falling, the only thing i fin that helps is that i keep remembering all the good times. i hope that works for you also. i love your art and your writing. Thanks for sharing with us. :) Jenne