It was ...

[blamebrampton]

… a very good last day. There was sun, salmon, some compost guarding, and some me guarding as she checked the laptop posed no threat.

And, at the end, with all of us kneeling around her cushions in the garden, she tried to bite the vet despite being sedated to the eyeballs. Because near-death does not mean a Min cat should give up the fight. The vet was incredibly charmed by this, and described it as extremely Minlike. The vet nurse cheered Min on, which I suspect was a trifle treacherous.

It is clear to me now that I cannot die before J, because, like the good, strong, tough man he is, he is bawling.

Comments

[sarcasticpixie.livejournal.com]

Glad she went out with dignity and sass. Hugs to you both. <3

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Sass was her constant. Dignity was usually something she manages, save for those occasional moments of off-lap rolling. She really could never manage to recall that my legs are several inches shorter than J's ... Thank you.

[lackofmendacity.livejournal.com]

Oh, sweetie... *hugs you gently*

Min sounded like such a brave, wonderful, cunning cat, and she was very lucky to have you in her life. *hugs you some more*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

She was indeed. And sweet, too, under all of her grump. We were rather lucky she found us. *Hugs you back*

[oceaxe.livejournal.com]

You loved her well, and she had the best farewell a cat can hope for. *sends calming thoughts and love*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Thanks, dear. She really was the best cat either of us have ever known, let alone owned.

[prilbrum.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry. Sending you love.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Thanks, prilbrum. I've had to reply to comments in batches, because I am a big girl's blouse and needed to trot off and find tissues in between ...

[shadowclub.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you have to go through this:(

♥

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Given the foreknowledge, we'd still have taken her in all those years ago. I'd just have spent more time schmoozing with veterinary oncologists. Thanks, shadow, the thoughtfulness has really helped this week.

[lilliputian722.livejournal.com]

I am so sorry. *cries with you*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Thanks, lil. It was the right time, but she's left a big hole.

[madchemist36.livejournal.com]

Gregor and I send our condolences. Also Virtual salmon to restock your bare cupboards. I would have cheered for Min as well ;-)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Many thanks to young Master Gregor, I do hope there's a cat afterlife so that she can be having a very good laugh at his capedness. (And given how many times I have 'seen' and 'heard' her in the last two days, I do wonder ...) Min would have liked you, and Gregor, too, though not necessarily in ways that Gregor would have enjoyed.

[blindmouse.livejournal.com]

I also bawled when my cat died, while drinking tequila and orange juice with my mother and telling cat stories. Er. The last few grammar lessons I've had are telling me I ought to clarify that my cat wasn't drinking tequila and telling stories, but I'm rather charmed by the image, so I won't.

I'm very, very glad that you made the last few days good for her. Lots of sympathy.

[enchanted-jae.livejournal.com]

While wiping my tears and sniffling after leaving my own comment, I happened to notice this one from you. My condolences on your own cat, but the thought of him/her drinking with your mother and telling stories made me smile.

I just realized, TODAY, that this is the first year that I didn't think of the day my most beloved cat died on that date. For the first time in three years, it passed without me remembering. So, I guess I'm healing, yes? I still miss him, though.

[dragonfly-lily.livejournal.com]

Wish I could do something to make it better.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

The condolences help. Thank you.

[enchanted-jae.livejournal.com]

*joins in the bawling*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Man, it's been 55+ hours and we're still rubbish. I think we need to go and do something tomorrow to take our minds off it.

[lilian-cho.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

*hugs again*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Hugs are like salmon. Thank you.

[cloviss.livejournal.com]

Min must have been a fabulous, opinionated tough girl. You were very lucky she chose you to supervise.

You gave her a good life and a clean death - the best gifts you could give.

Also J? Well, a man who could not be moved by the loss of a loved cat - not worth having.

I am so sorry for your loss - and will be having an unfortunately infrequent drink to Min's life.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Supervise is the absolutely correct word. And yes, J is one in a million. Thanks for your kind words, I have been slamming into the grenadine and soda water -- the classic Min stolen drink.

[rocket62204.livejournal.com]

Awww. At least it was a good day. *hugs*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly. Thanks for the hugs.

[emerald-dragon8.livejournal.com]

*so many hugs* I'm sorry, hon. From the sounds of it, Min was the best damn cat an owner could ask for, and you gave her a great life.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

*hugs back* She really was the most interesting cat I have ever known, and for all her grump she was a sweet and loving little monster. She gave us a great life, too, and was extremely generous with the rats.

[novembersnow.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry. She sounded like a wonderful cat, a true character, and it's obvious she was well loved. *hugs*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Thank you. She was indeed, in every way.

[rhaniyago.livejournal.com]

I'm so, so sorry, dear. I lost one of my cats three years ago and still think of him very often and miss him. And do not want to think about anything happening to the other two, or to my dog. And I know that my rats are nearing the end of their lifetime. But we can only avoid the sadness and sorrow when they leave if we decide not to have animals living with us. And then life would be worth much much less. I hope that the good memories you have of your cat will help to sooth the sadness.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

They have been, we've been telling Min the merciless tales all week. And you are right. Everything we love in our lives carries risk, but it's what life should be about. Thank you for your kindness, and I hope the rats are of the extremely long-lived variety!

[spark-of-chaos.livejournal.com]

Oh, sweety. :clings to tears: I can't say much more than a worthless sorry, but really, I am. Imagine the ten cliches everybody has already told you, I am thinking them. :hugs:

You've got a good man there. And you are way too early thinking such thoughts!

[pinkdiamond.livejournal.com]

:(

Much love.