Good bye my friend

Travis, with book as posted on website for author, Janet Evanovich.

Travis, my muse, my cat, my baby, my friend, passed away a few months ago.  I could not write until now.

Travis was the star of my cat tales, providing me ideas and always supplying the antics to create my smiles.  He was a never ending bundle of energy, but as he became older he became a house cat, which truly made me happy. No more dead birds, no more jumping 15 feet to the lower roof, and no more pollens in his fur. He still jumped from the planter to whatever piece of furniture he chose, still ran from room to room and still adored looking outside from his perch.

The last few month had Travis slowing down. His appetite was disappearing and he just wanted to be held.  The hardest part was listening to him. After eating, he howled. I'm not sure if it was from pain, or want of something different, but the  howling was loud and mournful.

Then he started losing weight.  His long hair hid it well, and he still looked beautiful, but Travis was getting thin.  Finally he could not hold his own weight. He dragged himself from room to room.  It was a Sunday and we decided to bring him to the doctor the next day.

I could not sleep. I lay on the floor next to my Trav, hoping for a miracle.  He moved to the kitchen, I crawled along with him, keeping my hand on his soft, warm back.  He then crawled his way into my bedroom under my bed, letting me know that he needed some alone time.  I climbed onto my bed and slept fitfully for the next two hours hoping that we will still have a cat in the morning. 

Five o'clock came quickly and the vet did not open until eight that morning.  I called at 8, hoping that I would be told to bring him right in.  "The doctor will not be there until ten, can you bring him in then?" was the response I got.  Travis and I settled on the couch for the morning, just waiting and sitting as comfortably as he can.

The vet loved Travis and spoke to him with concern in his voice.  Travis, as usual, just sat for the attention, taking it all in. The doctor took blood and returned in a few minutes.  His blood count was all wrong and even if we gave him a full transfusion there are no indicators as to what is causing the problem and whatever he has may just move onto the new blood. There is nothing he could do for Travis. 

With tears is our eyes, we said our goodbyes to the best cat we have ever owned.  Butch could not stay, but I held Travis tight as I could as the needle was plunged into his skin. Travis closed his eyes less than two seconds later on September 28th at 10:15 in the morning, and my baby was gone.

Travis was a true politician, giving time to both of us before settling to my side each evening.  He knew how to get what he wanted and who would satisfy his needs of the moment.  King of the neighborhood, king of  our home and most importantly, Travis was king of his own world, and that is what was most important to me.