Sasha the Cat
There was a noticeable silence at my house this past week, in particular, when I would get home & walk into the kitchen (or anytime I was in the kitchen). Sleeping at night things were different, I didn’t have to be careful of putting my head on the pillow. And when I took food out of the pantry, I didn’t have to watch my feet. I mean I kept doing those things, waiting, but nothing happened.
Last week, my 15+ year old cat Sasha died peacefully at our home, and it was noticeably different without her around (it still is!). My husband got this cat when she was just a small kitten, and she had a wonderful life as a solo kitty … for a few months. After that, we got married & moved in together, and suddenly there was another cat in her life, and then a dog, and later on even more kittens. As a result, she always cried when were in the kitchen. She always wanted food, as she always had to share her food with the other cats. We started putting her food in the pantry, so she could eat in peace. And at night, she would curl up to sleep on my pillow, or curled up next to him. I had to add a second pillow to our bed, since I never felt comfortable moving her. That pillow was like her safe place.
In the week she has been gone, there is no crying in the kitchen, and no food bowl in our pantry. I have kept that other pillow up near my head and wake at night reaching out to pat her, but she’s not there. It’s certainly strange.
Death is never easy, whether it’s a cat, a dog, a parent, a friend, a loved one. I’m pretty much done with death for the year, with my mom passing the end of March and now this; I think I’ve had my fill. Enough is enough. It’s amazing how much animals touch our lives. My husband is sad. My son is sad. I am sad. I wonder if the other animals notice she is gone (I would imagine they do). But we all move on. Tears flowed the first two days, and then they were gone. You try to embrace they joy & memories you had.
Death is always a reminder to truly love and cherish the people and animals in your life. To pay attention, to say I love you, to play fetch, whatever it is. The love of an animal is unconditional. Sasha would sleep on our bed at night, even if we were gone all day. She didn’t care. I think of the days I am away from the house all day, and my dog comes running to me when I am home. She sits by my side. She loves that I am home. Animals are amazing loving creatures & everyone needs one (or more) in their life!
