"It's Just A Cat"

[Archae]

"It's just a cat."
When I first saw you, I held you in one hand, confortably, you looked up at me with those big green eyes, mewed and peed on my hand.
I named you "Erin," as Erin is somewhat of a unisex Irish name, and it was close to St Patrick's Day.

"It's just a cat."
As a kitten, you terrorized my legs, (as in wanting to climb my jeans,) and drove the resident Queen of my house, Lucky, crazy.
Yet you loved to snuggle up and sleep with both of us.
And you had a purr that said you were forgiven for all your trangressions.

"It's just a cat."
As a young adult you taught me to play fetch with tinfoil candy wrappers, you'd bring me the ball and faithfully I'd toss it for you.

"It's just a cat."
You loved being affectionate, sitting on my lap hampering my typing on the computer keyboard, purring away, licking me in the nose, and tapping my hand to play a little.

"It's just a cat."
You laid so regally on that cold steel vet's table, your poor little kidneys having failed and your soul gone over the Rainbow Bridge.
I cried and cried, and petted your empty husk.

"It's just a cat?"
Never.

(Damn it, I'm crying again...)

[BuelahWitch]

1. Never "just a cat"

They're family. Anyone who says Erin was "just a cat" needs their ass kicked but good. :hug:

[Amerigo Vespucci]

29. Took the words right out of my mouth.

Since moving out of my parents' house, I've had three cats of my own.

Two, exclusively "indoor" cats ("Zorro" and "Weasel"), lived to the ripe old age of 15 each (and sadly, I lost them as the result of "old age complications" within a couple of months of each other). They were fed, they were protected, they were loved, and I had to make that "final trip" to the vet with each of them. I've lost family members whose deaths didn't affect me to that degree.

My current cat, Seiko, is 8 years old. Spoiled rotten, but worth it.

All three cats wrapped themselves so completely around my life, changed the rules, broke the rules, wrote new rules of their own...and offered unconditional love.

Some people get it, some people don't. The people who do can never explain it to the people who don't. The people who do, in the presence of other such people, simply need to nod their heads and smile.

:grouphug:

[Arugula Latte]

2. Oh, Archae.

Boy, can I relate.

Our kitties are our family members. When they go, the pain is so intense.

Anyone who doesn't understand that ... they're not worth your effort.

:hug:

[TZ]

4. I couldn't have said it better

I have the ashes of my dear kitty Turtle on my mantleplace. I still miss her terribly and its been 5 years just about....My cats are my children..:hug:

[Arugula Latte]

8. Awww, sweet Turtle. Rest in peace.

I remember when you were turtlensue.

:hug:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Never "just a cat."

I've taken that last sad trip to the vet four times now, and it never will get easier -- but I can't imagine living without them. They are family -- absolutely.

Erin was never "just a cat." None of them are.

:hug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. Damn it, I'm crying with you! *hugs*

[graywarrior]

6. Oh great, now I'll cry all night.

[Bossy Monkey]

7. Never ever. Alice didn't quit crying over Madeline for a couple of months.

I didn't like Madeline as much as Alice did (they had been together longer than Alice and I had been), but was generally crying along with her. (Madeline was a great kitty, just a little irascible.)

[nuxvomica]

9. Spot-on, man, spot-on

Just a cat? I am grateful every day that they find us so amusing. :hug:

[Frosty1]

10. My "Just A Cat" has been gone for 13 years

I will miss him till the day I die. That's a lot of love for just a cat.

[Archae]

11. Thanks everyone.

I wrote this after hearing what one of my relatives, who flunked Tact 101, said about Erin.

[LoveMyCali]

14. I once broke up with a guy

who said my Cato was "just a cat."

I'm so sorry for your loss.

[pink-o]

12. I'm so sorry for the loss of your Family Member!

:cry: :hug:

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

13. Sooooooo sad

I was on a long break from DU - was Erin ill a long time, or was the kidney failure sudden?

NEVER EVER "just a cat" - I mourn the losses of our kitties every bit as much as I do human family and friends. In a way it's worse because our pets are so innocent and trusting and don't understand what's happening to them.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH RIP beautiful Erin.

[redwitch]

15. Aw, so sorry Archae. What a lovely tribute!

They do steal our hearts. And they give so much more than they get. A gentle hug to you in your sadness from me.

[EndersDame]

16. I want to punch anyone who says that, Grady (RIP ) was the heart of our family

one of the most loving souls I have ever met. It still hurts like hell but we should be glad these little furry souls came into our lives :hug:

[Flaxbee]

17. Oh, Archae, I'm so sorry. Erin was never just a cat...

he was a beloved companion.

They all are unique with magic souls. I know you miss him terribly, but he knew he was loved. Grieve, and remember him. And then if you feel like you can, save another sweet kitty soul and give him/her a home.

[ThomCat]

18. No pet that you loved is "Only" anything.

:cry:

:hug:

I have lost 3, and we are going to lose our oldest dog, Jack, very soon. There is so much pain from all that we lose ... :(

[mikeytherat]

19. A cat is many things, but never "just a cat."

:hug:

mikey_the_rat

[Jokerman]

20. Some of my best friends have been cats.

I've even allowed my employees to take "family leave time" to care for their pets because I consider them to be part of the family. (just don't tell that to the H.R. people!)

Your post brought tears to my eyes as well.

[myrna minx]

21. Oh - this made me cry.

I lost a kitty due to kidney failure too. :hug: I am so sorry for your loss.

[joeybee12]

22. It's NOT just a cat! He or she is part of your family!!!!

A very important part!

[Paper Roses]

23. Now I am teary. This brings such sad memories of my Kitty.

She has been gone 10 years and I still think of her to this day. Lovable, smart, funny and a great companion.

She chose us by coming to our door. We were truly lucky. The same horrible end as your kitty. She made it from a starved stray to a 14 year old before her little system gave way to age and other health problems.

[meow2u3]

24. She was not "just a cat"

Your Erin, Archae, was a life, a best friend, and a member of your family. AFAIC, cats are people, too--four-legged, furry people. :cry: (just look at my sig line)

[enigmatic]

25. .

:hug:

[Ikonoklast]

26. Never, ever, "just a cat".

Loyal friend, trusted confidant, cheerful playmate, long-time companion...but, never, EVER, "just a cat".

[fizzgig]

27. i don't understand people who think that way

i was heartbroken when we put our big guy down a few months ago. to say it's 'just a cat' belittles the relationships we enjoy with our feline friends.

[texanwitch]

28. It is never just a cat.

I lost my one year old Hurricane Ike a about a month ago.

I miss him so much, he was my cuddle kitty.

:hug: :hug: :hug:

[applegrove]

30. Great poem. Sorry for your loss.

[kiva]

31. No cat is 'just a cat'. Wish I could recommend this...

[hamsterjill]

32. We lost one of our rescues yesterday.

I work with a rescue group and we lost a foster kitty yesterday. Long story made short - - he became sick several weeks ago and just wasted away. There were endless trips to the vet, a roller coaster of one day expecting the worst and the next day hoping that something definitive had been found and that a miracle would occur.

Finally over this last weekend it became abundantly clear that he'd had enough and it was time to let him go.

I only had him in my household a few months, but he was already "mine" if you know what I mean. They all are...as they come to me...as they need a place to be.

So, just a cat? No way in hell. He was my friend. And I miss him terribly!

I'm so very sorry for your loss. Thank you for loving Erin!

[Withywindle]

33. I am so, SO sorry Archae.

I am sorry for the passing of your dear friend Erin.

I am sorry for all the sorrow you'll feel before you two meet again.

I am sorry you have such a soulless asshole in your life who would say such a thing.

No beloved companion is EVER "just a" anything.

I believe that if there is an afterlife paradise for humans, we only get there through the recommendations of the animals we've lived with who go on ahead of us. They are the best judges of character and they never lie. :hug:

[cherish44]

34. Awwwwwwwwwww

I have no words just tears ::hug::