Ode To Felix, A Most Wonderful Cat. Options

[phoebekitty]

My furry friend was born on my front lawn in 1996. His mom was dumped at the school next to me, and had no choice of where to give birth. I found homes for the family, but could not find a home for the "runt". So he became mine.

He was the smallest, but the smartest of the bunch. He always attacked every toy I gave to the kitties, even pushing out the bigger ones. He figured out how I opened the screen door to let them in and out: I found him dangling from the latch but unable to manipulate it. His large feet caught everything that moved: mice, rats, dragnflies, lizards, but not hummingbirds!

My husband did not really think too much of cats when I met him in 1998. Somehow Felix learned how to get my husband to give him snacks, let him out, play with him and scratch him in the "right spot". When I thought that Felix might like Jim better than me, he would sleep at my feet every night. We talked to him and he talked back. He was my friend who did not speak English, but could make his wants known. He owned the house, and we made the payments.

Felix had diabetes, and an enlarged heart, both diagnosed within the last year. He let me give him shots, and I hid his heart meds in Pouce catnip-flavored snacks. He never complained when I took him to the vet, and always purred when we came home. Felix had his front leg amputated (in early November) because of a blood clot, and he was recovering very fast.

We had little footstools and pillows for him to use while he go his legs back. He slept between us purring as usual. When he started limping, he had a biopsy, which diagnosed a fractured hip and a very agressive cancer throughout his body. He was euthanized at our home within a day of the diagnosis. Except for the last 2 days, you would hardly know he was ill.

I am so thankful I had this cat for such a short time! Even as he lay dying, he struggled to purr and to move his little legs when I spoke to him. I told him as he was going that I loved him and would miss him. I know he understood me.

[phoebekitty]

Felix's 13th birthday was last week. I thought about writing something on that day, but just couldn't focus. I think of him every day, not with much sadness, unless I dwell on the subject. I come to this forum occasionally, but do not do it every day, because it brings back memories. I do still talk to Felix, and tell him that I love him. It's kind of a habit, and the dilema is what to do with all that love for one cat?

The story that makes me smile most concerns his need for attention. When I or my husband were in the house, he usually greeted us, and hung around us, although we were not allowed to pick him up an cuddle him. However, he played with his toys, and wanted us to throw the mouse, rubber band, or feather toy until he was tired. Sometimes he would jump on the kitchen table (aren't all cats allowed to do that?) and meow at us. If I or my husband were too busy to pay attention to him, he would take that big paw and nudge something off of the table to the floor. He would look at us, waiting for a reaction. When nothing happened, another little nudge came and papers would fall on the floor. We would ignore him, but eventually he would be scolded by my husband and scamper off to look for more trouble.

He started a variation of this technique at 4 or 5 am in the morning. because his food bowl was empty! If I did not put enough in the bowl, he would scream at me from the floor, and then jump next to me and put that paw on my mouth! If I covered my face, he would jump on the bureau and start knocking things off the top, until I told him "to get down!" Even if he left me alone, I could never go back to sleep, and had to get up and feed him anyway. I eventually had to cover my bureau with clothes and stuffed animals so Felix could not jump up. He never stopped waking me up a few minutes before the alarm each day. I think he just liked to get me up each day.

Things are getting better. I am posting one of his first pictures-amazing big paw! Judy asked me to post some of him, and perhaps, she will see them.

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