Thursday, September 4, 2008

In Memory of My Cat Precious

Generally this blog is about pop culture, but last night something happened that has changed my world forever. Last night my sister found our cat Precious dead in her closet. She had been missing all day. That was not unusual, as she was the sort of cat who liked nothing more than to find a nice cosy hiding place and go to sleep. This was especially true on chilly, rainy days like yesterday was. Precious was not a young cat. We estimate she was probably around 10 years old. And Himalayans only live to be 10 or 12 years old.

We got Precious in 2000, when she was probably around two years old. She was a purebreed Himayalan (or so we were told). The couple she came from had a habit of fighting and so she stayed hid for the first two weeks we had her. She hid under my chest of drawers. I would put food and water out for her. We had a litter pan right there. And I would take the drawer out to pet her. When she finally decided that my sister and I were not going to yell and throw things at each other, she finally came out after two weeks. For quite some time she would still run and hide anytime strangers (at least strangers to her) would come over, but to my sister and me she became a very loving cat. After about six months she stopped hiding even when "strangers" visited.

As I said Precious quickly became a very loving cat. She enjoyed sitting on people for hours and having her fur stroked. Being a longhair, she naturally loved to be combed and groomed. She had a disconcerting habit of when becoming overly affectionate of delivering "love nips," although she never bit very hard. Like most cats Precious liked to sleep with one of us when it was cold. This was nice as with her long fur and her size (she wasn't a small cat), she was almost like a small blanket! She also had one of the loudest purrs of any cat I knew. This was funny because her "meow" was so quiet one could barely hear it.

In some ways Precious was a cat of strange habits. She liked to sleep in the oddest places. She would sleep on top of cartons of soda, crates of bottled water, books, old newspapers... And she loved boxes (as the picture above shows). It didn't matter what kind of box it was or where it was in the house. Precious would find it and crawl in it. She also loved the old maple tree in the front yard. She would sometimes climb up in it and spend the better part of the day just sitting in it.

Precious also had odd tastes in food for a cat. She loved mashed potatoes and beans. but was not real crazy about milk (I guess that was the Siamese blood in her--Himalayans were created by breeding Siamese with Persians). Of course, like most cats she liked any kind of fish, especially tuna.

Precious got along well with her fellow cats for the most part. Her best friend was probably Monster (sadly gone too), who was about the same age as she was. Precious had an odd love/hate relationship with our cat Sis. She and Sis were always getting into it, but if another cat attacked Sis or another cat attacked Precious, they were the first to take it up!

Precious was an intelligent cat, too. She would come to her name, and she knew the names of all the other cats as well. When she was younger she would try to open doors until she learned she didn't have the strength to turn the knob.

Right now I am very, very sad. I will miss Precious immensely. She was one of the most loving cats I ever owned. She was the sort of cat who loved her humans immensely and was happiest when she was with us. I just hope she finds plenty of love in her afterlife.

18 comments:

Beth said...

Oh, that's really, really sad.

Losing a four-legged friend is every bit as hard as losing a two-legged loved one.

Bobby D. said...

Very sorry for your loss. Cats are so special, and soulful little creatures. Smart and loyal to good people, you know? Precious was a real good looking cat too. Good thing she passed away in her sleep. much better than suffering through a vet trip. She had a full life, filled with favorite things and loving people.


We still grieve for my brother Larry, who passed away in 2005 (he was almost 3 yrs.). It's impossible to forget such personalities. Sometimes we call Eddy 'Larry' by accident, because they are so alike personality-wise, and in habits. Both really feisty,. Eddy pokes and bites the remote just like Larry always did--totally fascinated with it-- turns the Tv off and on all the time. changes channels, turns up the volume ... and he gets obsessed with having things we take away from him.

Daisy said...

I am so sorry for the loss of your cat Precious. I can tell she was very, very special to you.

dennis said...

Dennis is sad about Precious. She had a nice life with you.

tut-tut said...

It is very hard to lose a friend, especially so suddenly. This happened to a friend of mine several months ago. Just unexpected and out of the blue.

PB 'n J said...

We're sorry to hear about Precious. It's so hard to lose a good friend.

Goldie, Shade and Banshee said...

We are so sorry to hear about your little Precious. She will be truly missed.

Purrs to you and your family.

~Goldie and Shade

Angel Junior, Orion and Sammy said...

We are so sorry to hear about Precious. We are glad she had a good life with you and your sister and we know you will see her again one day.

Junior, Orion and Meowm

Mickey's Musings said...

I am so sorry to hear about Precious. Losing a friend is always hard. The pain will go eventually , but you never forget!!
(((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))

Black Cat said...

I'm so sorry for your loss. I know how painful it is and my heart goes out to you and your sister.

Terence Towles Canote said...

I just wanted to thank everyone for their kind wishes regarding the passing of my furry friend Precious.

Toby O'B said...

My condolences, Merc. Over the years, I've lost Charlotte, Tigli, and Scurvy. I've got Sand to keep me company now and hate to think of the day he'll join his sisters.

It sounds as though Precious passed quickly and hopefully painlessly without the noticeable pain that would have necessitated a trip to the vet. You were both lucky for that.

The hurt never really goes away, but it gets muted by the happy memories.

Take care, buddy.

WitchRuna said...

I am sorry for the death of precious, I know how much you love her and well, now you can have the opportunity to adopt some helpless kitty since precious should be happy with Freyja and I do not believe that she worry or put jealous if you can take care of some another kitty that need it, always there will be needy cute animals for love, food and affection. I lost Gala some months ago, I miss her a lot, but I know that another little dog need me now, his name is king, is very cute.

PD: sorry , i am using a translator again.

Squirrel said...

I'm so glad to hear that Alu has adopted a new dog. It is so true--always animals needing our care and our love.

Terence Towles Canote said...

Alu, I'm very sorry to hear that Gala died a few months ago. But then if I remember she was not in good health. I can at least take comfort in that Precious lived a good, long life for a Himalayan. I do think after a month I will get another kitten, especially as Max misses Precious so.

WitchRuna said...

Yes, I miss her too much, especially keeping in mind that she lived with me most of the time inside my house and slept with me, but she was very sick, could not walk, she has many years old and sadly there was that to do her the worst thing ever: euthanasia because broke my soul to see her suffer like that, the veterinary did what he was able for save her, then a friend offered me that little dog that did not have home and they were going to kill him if he did not find someone that wanted him, sadly I cannot have him inside the house with me, but I bought him his own house for the garden XD is going to be very big and my cats are frightened upon seeing it XD, now Pantera, Odín and Kahua accompany me in the nights, but you do not imagine the allergy that they cause me jejeje. If you get another kitty Max will not stop to play, that´s sure XD.

PD: Using a translator again :)

Kaz's Cats said...

We're sorry for your loss, 'cos it's never the same when one of our little furry buddies has to leave us. It's lovely that Precious had a long and full life with you guys.

Purrs

Gypsy & Tasha

poppedculture said...

I can only imagine how you must have felt. I have two Siamese boys that are going on 18 soon and I can't imagine them not being around.

I hope you are as well as can be.