Thomas... 1995-2008

Thomas came to live with Rex in 1995, along with his litter brother Fir. From the beginning Thomas was one of those kitties that always fought over weight. From early kittenhood if his bowl was empty he would push it around the floor as a signal that something was drastically wrong here, there's no food in this thing.

Though Thomas was the larger of the two, Fir was most definitely the Alpha male, a fact they re-established on a regular basis. Not that they fought a lot -- they were close brothers and would sleep and eat together regularly.

Thomas was a shy fellow -- while Fir was on the shoulder or lap of just about every stranger who came through the door, Thomas was hiding in the closet, sure that something dire would happen if that monster ever found him. He had no favorite toys except his food bowl and was not blessed with a roaming or curious mien. He preferred warm spots, soft pillows, and full bowls. He was easy going, affectionate, and given to regular rituals of petting, cuddling, and grooming.

There is a cat-shaped hole in the house for now. Two days ago Thomas went to the vet for teeth cleaning and care for an eye infection that had resulted in a blocked tear duct. He never woke up. Autopsy showed that he had lymphoma, carrying an excessive amount of fluid around. We never knew he was ill. He gave no sign of anything wrong other than a very mild weight loss which we attributed to age and careful monitoring of his diet. He seemed quite normal; but he was not. Fir seems to miss him, but is not seeking him. I think perhaps this is because he spent some time with Thomas after he died. I don't know what goes on in those little kitty minds.

Losing pets is a regular part of the life of those of us who choose to live with animals. It never gets easier, but the pleasure and joy of their presence and the sweetness of the memories makes it all worth it. Goodbye Thomas.