In Memoriam, Puff Reed, 1986-2004
Shortly after I'd moved in with my buddy Larry, I took my cat in for a check-up, and found out that she was in renal (kidney) failure. It's treatable (for a time, anyways) with saline injections under the skin. For almost a year I'd been taking her in to get that done, and she'd responded to it just fine -- she was her usual self, attacking my roommate's cats and everything. (Yes, my 6-pound, tiny grandmother of a cat kept Larry's much younger and twice-to-nearly-three-times-as-large cats at bay.)
Recently, though, she just hadn't been herself; she wasn't active at all, her eyes were weepy pretty regularly, and she just plain didn't look very happy anymore. Today I had to take my companion of 18 years to the vet to be put to sleep. She'd been with me for almost 2/3rds of my life, it's going to be hard to imagine her not being around.
She was a good cat, and a great companion. She was always spunky and active, but loved being a lap cat, too. She was one of the few cats I knew that would (almost) always come when you called. She'd been there for me since I moved with my mother, away from my dad and stepmom and friends in Wisconsin, and she'd been there for all of the major things that have happened in my life since then. She'd been with me through many moves, roommates, and a fateful run-in with a cat that gave her a little notch on her ear. She always held up well through changes, and was always a comforting constant even when everything else was in flux.
She will always be missed. I can at least take comfort that she went peacefully.
P.S.: The title of this post is a reference to Coach Z saying "Three cheers for the Chort!" Larry would sometimes say "Three cheers for the Porf!" when he saw Puff walk into the room.
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bummer, i know how that can be….
and… “Oh no! The King’s going to eat the chorp!” has got to by my favorite Coach Z line of all time.
My warmest sympathies, sweetie!
I met Puff a few months ago when I became the ‘other woman’ in Ben’s life. I was quite honored when Puff warmed up to me. Many times she would curl up next to me, purring in her special, chirping way. I quickly grew to love her and will miss her greatly.
*HUGS*
A trophy for the Porf!
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🙂
Oh no! So sorry to hear that. I’m glad we got to meet her at your party, though. Another friend of ours is dealing with the exact same thing with her cat, except she’s doing the injections herself! I know it isn’t much, but at the very least you guys had a fairly long time with each other.
Tanner & Janell
I am very sorry to hear of Puff’s death. I know how it feels to lose someone you love.
My thoughts go out to you both tonight from my home in tasmania.
jameso
On behalf of Cali (cat), Siri (cat), Shadey (cat), Kodi (cat), Picasso (crazy dog), Kaycee (person), Jack (person), Kaitrinn (person), Shealyn (person), and myself (???) I wish to offer our heartfelt condolences.
Ben- Im very sorry about Puff.
My condolences, RangerRick. 🙁
Ben,
Sorry to hear about your loss. It’s tough to lose a pet. As Tanner said, at least she lived a long life.
Mark
Ben,
I know it is hard to deal with the passing of any member of the family. You can take solace in the fact that Puff had a good long life and was obviously a happy cat.
Our thoughts are with you,
Bill & Heather
I’m sorry to hear that Ben. Puff was a really cool cat.
So sorry to hear of the loss of Puff. Godspeed, Puff!
We had just seen each other the day before I got the news from Cyn. I’m sorry for the late post my friend. My condolences & deepest sympathy. Take comfort that she is in a better place and is pain and illness free. In fact, I believe that she’ll be keeping busy until you see her again! And you will see her again. Take care, Ben, and call if you need anything.
Sorry to hear about your cat, man. I’ve always been a cat person myself, and I wouldn’t want to loose any of my cats. I dread the day I loose Recchi (that cat that has been brought into my life because of my fiancee).
May puff banter about the afterlife attacking cats 3 times the size.
Sorry to hear. From the sound of it she had a good life. Take care and comfort in knowing that.
Darn. I hate losing cuddly soft loveable felines. I remember the loss of Tom, my previous cat. (Tom&Jerry). He had to be put to sleep too.
*snif*
Best of wishes and remembrance to your cat.