PIPPI
My beloved little cat, Pippi, was put to sleep permanently just before 4:00 p.m. on Friday, 31st of August 2007. She was aged 20 in human years. This equates to well over 100 in cat years.
Pippi was, by far, one of the most beautiful cats I have ever seen. She was certainly one of the smallest, and definitely one of the most intelligent. She had soft black fur with a beautiful russet undertone that could only be seen in the right light. Pippi had huge yellow-green eyes, enormous downy ears and a gorgeous velvet nose. She looked like a pixie.
Pippi was shy, modest in her personal habits, sweet, caring, timid, affectionate, demanding, grumpy, willful, determined, funny, brave, smart, sensitive, bossy, talkative, cute, considerate, intensely curious, touchy and bashful. She remained as playful as a kitten all her life. Her favourite toy was always a piece of string, dangled enticingly in front of her. Her favourite foods included roast chicken, cheese and mince meat. In earlier days, Pippi loved to play in the garden, and would go to sleep sitting in a pot plant in full sunlight. She also loved to roll around on top of the cat mint bush when it flowered. In later years, Pippi was happiest when relaxing on the bed or her favourite armchair, in patches of sunlight. She also insisted on having the heater on full blast in cold weather.
When I first met Pippi, she was a feral kitten hanging around my father's house. She bounded up and introduced herself to me, leaping up onto the back of an armchair. She was the most diminutive cat I had ever seen. I knew I had no choice but to take this bewitching little creature home. When I did, she promptly hid under the stove, and did not come out for two whole weeks.
When Pippi eventually felt comfortable enough to emerge, mealtimes proved difficult. Pippi threw up four meals out of five. After many trips to the vet, and a special test, we learnt that she had a stomach defect, and could not tolerate large amounts of oily food. She was placed on a special diet, with vitamin supplements. Pippi needed to have many small meals a day. I steeled myself for the fact that she would most likely die within a few years, and resolved not to get too attached to her.
We also discovered that a severe lack of calcium due to her stomach defect had led to very poor tooth development. The few teeth she did have were mostly deformed and twisted. Some had to be removed altogether as they were growing into her gums. Once the bad teeth were removed, Pippi suddenly discovered the ability to purr.
Pippi continued to have trouble eating, and never achieved a 'normal size'. She stacked on muscle from the vitamin paste until she was strong enough to fight me off, and that was the end of that. She loathed being picked up, or having her tummy or mouth touched. She would always swear and carry on if this occurred. She never appreciated being messed with, people taking liberties with her.
Despite being a very nervous animal, Pippi gradually realized that I was there to look out for her. She would magically appear in the same room as me, whilst pretending to be engaged in some other deeply interesting activity. Over time, she became extremely affectionate. She even sat on my lap on occasion, although she always preferred to sit next to me. We adored eachother.
Pippi also had lots of fun, gamboling around the house and garden. She was so tiny and light that she could play on top of a clothes horse, skipping from one end to another like a gymnast whilst keeping perfect balance. She enjoyed lurking in corners and stalking unsuspecting shafts of sunlight. She enjoyed the company of her brother and sister, King and Teddy Bear, although they could be a bit rough towards her at times. She also made a true friend in Holger's longhaired cat, Siegfried, who was of a similar age and gentle temperament. Pippi missed King and Teddy Bear when they died. She was not overly fond of her new baby brother, Leonine, although she eventually permitted him to sleep next to her and appreciated his company.
Pippi was highly intelligent. She understood almost everything. She would do as she was asked, except when she had a different opinion.
I will never forget the day that Pippi loudly demanded my assistance... And it became apparent that she wanted me to make my bed properly, not just leave it in a scrambled mess.
Pippi was very kind to me when I was extremely unwell and in lots of pain. She and her brother and sister would take turns sitting next to me when I was bedridden, for days at a time. They knew that having company made all the difference. When Pippi was old and unwell, she would demand similar attention from me.
During the last couple of years, Pippi's health deteriorated. She developed arthritis (despite several series of Cartrophen injections), high blood pressure and a heart murmur. It became very difficult for her to walk, although she was still full of life and happy. Her hearing was affected, although I think that was my fault for singing and playing music so loudly. She began drinking lots of water, an indication of kidney problems. By the last year, Pippi began to suffer seizures, once every five months or so. These were traumatic for her, and a great strain on her delicate system. The vet at the emergency animal centre advised that little could be done to prevent or even diagnose these seizures. The most probable cause was said to be a brain tumour. Chiropractor Helen Alevaki kindly offered a number of spinal adjustments to Pippi. These were dramatically effective at sorting out Pippi's posture and relieving her pain. I can't thank Helen enough for her love and care in providing these treatments.
After the fourth seizure, however, it was obvious that these attacks could not be prevented. It was not going to be possible to ensure Pippi's continuing safety. Therefore, this Friday, Dr. Alexandra Whan and nurse Alice visited our house. Pippi passed away on her favourite bed next to me, being cuddled, with a full tummy, surrounded by the things and people that she loved.
She is sorely, desperately missed.
Even though it has been many years now, I will never forget her and I will always cherish her memory.