Furry Family

On August 9, 1997, a litter of kittens was born a few blocks away. A couple of weeks later, my parents and I wandered over to pick out our new cat. My father immediately scooped up one; I clung to another, and my mother glared at both of us and reiterated that we would be bringing home ONE kitten. Of course, several weeks later when they were ready to move on to their new homes, both kittens came with us, and spent the next several years nearly inseparable (as they aged, they became more independent and started prowling the house on their own instead of as a team).

Even though my parents have been his caregivers for many years now (I, of course, was not permitted to bring a cat to college, and there was no way my parents were splitting up the pair and letting me take him to my first grad school apartment), they have always continued to refer to Zeus as "my" cat -- after all, without me, he wouldn't have become part of our family. And, cliche though it may be, he certainly was a part of the family, always waiting on the coffee table staring out the window to greet us on our way home, and immediately jumping into the lap of anyone who sat in his favorite recliner.

It is with a very sad, heavy heart that I have to report that "my" sweet kitty is no more. He passed on this morning at the vet due to unexpected kidney failure, tragically unable to hang on as my parents rushed home from Puerto Rico to say goodbye. It's hard enough to actually say goodbye to a pet; but truly unbearable to not get in that one last ear scratch and knowing your pet, essentially a member of the family, passed away not being petted by someone he loved, but alone in a cage at the emergency vet.

Zeus, wherever you are now, I hope you always have a warm lap available and all the mice you want to chase!