Caring for the old

It’s a cold day,

blustery, windy,

takes some ajustments,

after all the lovely weather.

I had to be up and dressed,

early,

a little too early for my taste,

on a Sunday.

I like to take my time,

on a Sunday,

I like to,

linger over coffee,

the papers I didn’t have,

time to read,

on Saturday,

it being a workin’ day,

and all.

But, this morning,

I had to hit,

the grocery store,

early,

opening time,

or as close as possible.

You see the Dude,

my cat,

my old cat,

wasn’t feeling well,

and,

I had to get some,

litter,

he can’t handle the,

silica stuff,

anymore,

he pees too much,

he needs clumping stuff,

all of you who live with cats, will know, what I’m talking about, the rest of you may be a bit weirded out, apologies:-)

You see,

the Dude is either,

fifteen or sixteen,

can’t be sure,

got him as an adult,

he was abandoned,

I got him the week of,

9/11,

not the kind of thing,

you forget,

he’s a lovely beast,

always has been,

from the first,

he and I clicked,

in the last few months,

he’s had issues.

Since I got him,

all he’s ever wanted,

to eat was Cat Chow,

I tried other,

better stuff,

nope,

Cat Chow,

and,

then this Summer,

after more than,

9 years of eating,

the same thing,

he stopped eating,

sort of a hunger strike,

I didn’t know,

what to do,

maybe it was the heat,

maybe he had missed me,

I had been away for a few days,

but,

mom was here,

what to do?

What was the problem?

I went out and bought some,

canned stuff,

and,

he started eating again,

problem solved.

Yeah, well,

except for the weight,

he lost and wasn’t,

putting back on,

he’s always been svelte, but, now, he’s skinny,

this worried me,

but,

he was eating,

so maybe,

he’d be ok.

Recently,

I noticed the silica litter,

I had always used,

wasn’t cutting it,

he was peeing more,

and,

it wasn’t  being absorbed,

so I changed it more often,

and,

made sure all was well,

but,

last night,

I could see that he is peeing,

much more.

I know I should take him,

to the vet,

the thing is,

he’s cool,

with me,

mom,

a select other few,

but,

he’s very nervous,

and doesn’t like to venture,

anywhere near other humans,

or,

God forbid,

dogs!!

So, bringing him to the vet,

would make him,

crazy,

and,

probably,

sick.

Aside from being,

too skinny,

and,

a prolific pee-er,

he’s fine,

thing is,

he’s old,

very old,

in cat terms.

What he needs,

is for me,

to keep him warm,

and,

fed,

and not get upset at him,

when he throws up,

or is finicky,

his old blader,

and,

tummy,

aren’t what they used to be.

It’s hard for me,

I love this cat,

he’s been my companion,

for more than twelve years.

He’s the perfect cat for me,

sweet,

not clingy,

independent,

and,

good natured,

the last thing,

I want is to see him,

suffer,

and,

the last thing I want,

is to see him,

go.

That’s the thing about,

caring for the old,

you know,

that soon,

hopefully not too soon,

and,

soon being a relative term,

they will pass.

You try to make them,

comfortable,

happy,

and,

yet,

lingering,

in the back of your mind,

is,

that,

soon,

you will deal,

with the loss,

the hole left in your life,

your heart,

you try to prepare,

but,

can you really,

prepare for the gaping hole,

that a cute little blond beast,

will leave?

He’s sleeping right now,

and,

the clumping stuff,

has received,

the pee of approuval,

let’s hope,

I’m worrying for nothing.

Thanks for listening girls,

I needed to get it out.

Later girls,

BB