My Pookie Bear

by Sherry, NY

During early Fall of 1988, a timid 6 wk old kitten was spotted running through the neighborhood but wouldn't let us catch him. We kept food and water out for him to have and as winter drew near, put a cardboard box with newspaper in it to keep him warm. Finally, I came home from work to discover a cardboard box in the garage with a little kitten in it.

My mother told me not to touch it because it was wild. However, I am a catlover by nature and had to pick him up. I no sooner picked him up and he started purring. I told my mom that he is not wild, he just needs to be loved. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship that lasted 17 years.

Oliver grew to be a beautiful cat, very affectionate and always greeting people at our door. When he was 15 years old, he developed pancreatitis and I had to learn to give him fluids. He eventually recovered, and became his normal playful self.

Ollie was an indoor cat who loved to go outside and eat grass and catnip leaves but never wandered away. We started him out on a leash, but he did not need one towards the end because he could not walk very far.

In July/August of 2005, he started slowing down. He started missing the litter box, and the closer I put it to him, the more he missed it. He stopped hopping on my bed to sleep with me. He could not walk very far and I would take him outside on a leash at first to let him eat the grass and the catnip plant which he always wanted to do. He could no not longer jump on my bed. By this time, I had to give him fluids one to two times each day which he took without growling or crying, even when I would accidentally prick him with the needle.

I knew at that point that something had to be done. I made an appointment to have him put down in September 2005 as he stopped eating and just was ready to go. I knew he was ready too and re-assurred him I would never forget him. I buried him in my backyard under a catnip plant so he could always be happy. I still cannot believe it has been 3 years since he is gone, but I will never regret keeping him on the fluids because he was not ready to go at that time. I love and miss him dearly and will never forget my pookie bear.