Wednesday, March 10, 2010

9th Life

Last night we each strapped on a baby, gave our old, wonderful cat Savina all the dry food she wanted (it was a forbidden luxury. she only got 3 pieces a night as a treat when she got her meds), put her in a carrier and walked to the vet. Our former 18 lb baby cat was light as a feather.
During the past week she did not get better. Everyday that went day we had to make a decision; today?
There's never a good day. Even as I made the phone call yesterday a voice inside my head was crying "I don't wanna". But she was not happy and I could tell getting more and more uncomfortable.

I adopted Savvy from the Dallas SPCA in summer of 1992. She was around 6 months old. I had gone there with my gf at the time for her to get a kitten. While she was looking in the kitten room, I went to the older cat room. I saw this cat with beautiful green eyes and the friendliest personality. She came up, meowed at me and stole my heart.
My gf didn't want an older cat, but you can tell who won that argument.
We found out that she had already been rescued once. An old man used to go around to the city shelters on kill day and rescue the animals he thought he a chance to be adopted at the big SPCA. He saved her life and now, I was saving another life as it was her last day at the SPCA.

We had brought her home to be a friend to our other cat, Bunny, who was already 6 months old. From the day she arrived he wanted nothing to do with her. And yesterday, 18 years later, he wanted nothing to do with her.
But we had other cats through the years and she was an excellent mother to all of them; bathing the other cats and taking care of them.

I taught her to fetch and come to her name when called. I would throw mardi gras bead down our long wooden hallway and she would run to get them, slide, and trot back with a string a beads dangling between her legs. She loved crinkly hard candy paper and would fetch those as well. Furry toy mice were always a big hit being thrown high in the air and attacked.

When the gf and I broke up, we argued over who got Savvy and I won. Great decision as I know she wouldn't have had such a good life. My ex was pretty messed up and only went further downhill from there.
We moved, all the cats and I, from Texas to Florida to Massachusetts to New Jersey and finally New York. I believe we covered 12 apartments in those 18 years. She was horrible in the car, but nevertheless survived me driving her across the country on various journeys.

Savvy was the kind of cat who won over people who don't like cats. She was a cat dog and the sweetest kitty. She wasn't a lap cat very often, but she did want to be right beside you at all times. Even up to the end she laid beside me on the couch, as close as she could.

She preferred to lay on top of your head during the night and that was Chicken's introduction to the ways of Savvy. The very first night we spent together, Chicken had a cat on her head. She already was suspicious that I might be one of those older, crazy cat ladies (I had four cats), but Savvy and the gang won her over and from that night on, Savvy was hers and she was Savvy's.
She spent the next 10 years sleeping with Chicken, on top of her head and bathing her hair.
I taught her "kisses" where I could say the word, bend down my head and she would lick my forehead.
She loved to rub up against just about anything, but stinky shoes were her favorite. You could often find her splayed in the closet on top of a pile of shoes. It was her heaven.

Savvy had a ton of health problems through the years and we did everything possible to treat her and get her better. Time after time she amazed us by rebounding and staying with us.
We had known for quite a while that she was going down and it was just a matter of time. I had sort of hoped that she would go before the babies came, so that she still had my undivided attention. I hated the thought that her last days would be spent feeling bad and not getting all of the love she was used to. I feel pretty guilty about that.
But, she had a great life for 18 years and we did everything we could for her up until the very end.
Goodbye Savvy. I thought I heard you meow this morning when I stepped out of the shower and I cried all over again. You were so loved.
Last night we watched the light go out of your beautiful green eyes as your life faded away. We'll never forget you.

Last night, giving me one last kiss goodbye.
Better days, fat and happy.



27 comments:

Kate said...

Oh, I am so so sorry. This post made me cry. Savvy's pictures are so gorgeous; what a beauty, what a sweet companion.

Schroedinger said...

I am so sorry for your loss of sweet Savvy. I know too well how it hurts.

You gave her a wonderful life, and you knew when it was the right time to let her go.

Gorgeous photos. Sending you lots of hugs.

Anonymous said...

What a gorgeous cat. So sorry to hear your news, but sounds like it was the kindest thing for her. *hug*

Mina said...

I'm so sorry. What a beautiful girl. This made me cry. You gave her a great life, and you did the right things for her..

tmaddy said...

I am so sorry! Losing a pet is losing a family member! She looks just like my Cleo who we had to say goodbye to and it made me cry for her all over again! Glad you have wonderful pictures to remember her by!

Pomegranate said...

She's beautiful. I'm so sorry. I know how much it hurts. I had to put down my baby a year ago after 14 years together. It broke mt heart.

Anonymous said...

This post made me cry. I'm so sorry to hear that you finally had to put her down. She seems like a wonderful cat--I would have been drawn to those green eyes, too. I can tell she had a wonderful life, and I am sure she loved her human grandbabies, too.

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry. Count me in the crying camp. Savvy was a beauty {{{}}}

jessie said...

I'm so sorry for your loss!

Laurie said...

I am crying! I am so sorry that you had to say goodbye to her :(

tireegal68 said...

What a beautiful tribute to a wonderful cat. I'm sniffing as I write this. Your love for her is so apparent and she was such a wonderful faithful companion to you.
I'm so sad that her life had to end but so glad that you and Chicken were her people. It's beautiful seeing you together. Thank you so much for telling us about your gorgeous cat. You just got elevated even higher in my estimation.(((()))))

amy said...

totally depressing!

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry..............

Next in Line said...

Hugs for you girls. Savvy sounds like such a sweetie. That is so cute that she slept on Chicken's head. So sorry. xoxoxo

cindyhoo2 said...

I am so sorry for your loss. She clearly lived a long blessed life in your home. I snuffled through this post until I got to the picture of her giving you kisses--- the flood gates opened wide then. She was such a beauty and such a lovely soul to have in this world.

N said...

I'm so sorry. Much love to you guys.

Lizzie said...

Oh, honey. I'm so sorry. This made me cry. Love to you guys. xo

2momsmakinalilluvbug said...

I am so sorry for your loss, it is such a heartache and I totally sympathize, you gave her a great long life and you did the best thing for her..

ks said...

I'm so sorry for your loss. Losing our fur babies is so very hard. You made the right decision, the humane decision, but it's still very hard to handle. All my thoughts to you and your family!
Signed,
Momma to 3 fur babies

mama bea, bao in the oven said...

I am so sorry to hear about your little girl. Losing a pet is so incredibly hard. It sounds like she had a wonderful life with you, though.

tbean said...

Oh Puffer. I am so sorry to learn of the loss of your beloved Savvy.

If it helps at all--I think it is wonderful that she was able to meet the boys. She has been such a companion for you for your entire adult life, it is only right your boys got to share some of their life with her. And even if you think you didn't get to spend enough time or attention on her in her last days, I'm sure that's not true. You were home all the time and she got to be with you. And she waited until your heart grew two sizes bigger with the boys' arrival before she had to go.

hugs

Anonymous said...

*sitting here in tears* goodbye, Savy- cat.
I am so sorry for your loss. Perhaps she just waited so long to go home to make sure that the baby boys were there and you were not too alone and sad.

xoxo Monika /Berlin

Ruby at Breathedragon said...

I'm so sorry. :(

Anonymous said...

I dont even like cats and yet I am sitting here crying after reading your post. Savy was lucky to have you. Im so sorry for your loss.

Anonymous said...

Oh Puffer and Chicken, my heart is breaking for you. This post reminds me so much of our old cat G who left us 2 years ago and I know how much your heart aches over Savvy. Love and hugs to you. xoxo

Anonymous said...

I'm really behind in my blog roll, but didn't want to pass by without saying how sorry I am about your kitty. It sounds like she had a wonderful life.
xo

Susan said...

Crying. RIP Savvy. xxx