TW: pet loss mentioned
No easy way to say this… Yesterday we had to put our kitty to sleep.
For the past year, she lost weight, started slipping with her litter box usage, preferring to use the bathroom on our light grey dining room rug, and part of me thinks she slowly started losing her mind, too. She developed love for outside and would spend entire days in the yard. She would miau to be let outside. It was as if she wanted to distance herself.
Yesterday evening we found her in the garage. Her hind legs were cold and not functioning. She was not eating, and not reacting to our voices, or her name. She just lied there with her eyes open. We knew it was time to say goodbye. Part of me thinks she has started the passing process and would likely pass overnight but we were not sure if she was in pain. T took her to the clinic to be put to sleep since I just could not do it.
When T found her, the kids were thankfully watching TV. So we bathed Athena, all hush-hush, wrapped her in a towel, and placed her in a round basket. T used the side door to slip out while the kids were distracted by some movie.
It was hard to hold it together after T left. I grinded my teeth through dinner time, baths, books, trying to stay calm while screaming on the inside. Thankfully, they did not ask “where is Athena?” Not sure why. Maybe because for the past few months she has been mainly staying outside, coming home for her meals and sleeps.
I know sooner or later the kids will ask and I will tell them the truth- that she was sick and passed away.
A little about Athena:
She was 16 years old (mid 80s in human years).
She was the sweetest, most chill cat up until a few years ago when she started getting sick and slowly having problems.
She loved belly rubs (not all cats do).
She used to be a very large kitty.
Salmon dinners made her barf 🤷♀️ but she loved chicken, tuna and beef dinners in sauce.
She loved sleeping above your head on your pillow and she would purr like a machine.
She was with me before I met T, before I got married, before I moved houses. She was there when I was pregnant, and when both L and R were born. The was there when they went to school. It feels like she was always there.
Rest in peace, sweet girl. One day we will meet by the rainbow bridge.
Mom of Children 