I have the unenviable task of taking my sweet Pepper to the vet one last time today to have her put to sleep. I thought that this format would be a fitting tribute to her.
Here is the pic of her being pretty, and here is a pic of her in her favorite place.
I found her three years ago, just before moving to Vermont. She was a rescue kitty who at that point was living in a house with about 35 other cats. She had such a sweet disposition that I was hooked.
The first few weeks were challenging - I have two other Kitty Overlords that she had to charm. That, and she had the bad habits of hopping on shelves and getting into trash. But she lost those habits and soon became the “dishrag” cat I had never had before.
It’s funny how people will talk about liking dogs over cats - that dogs are friendlier and more loyal. I rather think that Pepper was a bit of a dog in a cat’s body. She would greet me at the door, follow me from room to room and “chat” with me. She liked hopping in the shower and licking water off the tub or off the tile. And, she slept with me, taking to curling up by my chest at night and usually staying throughout the night. In short, she was my baby (much to the chagrin of the other Kitty Overlords).
Unfortunately, she developed fibrosarcoma, the cancer that kitties get on occasion from vaccinations. She had surgery once, and the cancer came back before the incision was even healed. Given the dismal prognosis, I decided against further surgery and to help her enjoy the rest of her life until she was uncomfortable and had little chance of improvement.
Well, after three trips to the vet in less than a month, and my learning how to give her subcutaneous fluids, she is listless, not eating well, and not chatting much. So, I have a final appointment with the vet today to take away my dishrag’s suffering.
Farewell, Pepper-corn. I’m glad that I was able to provide you a loving home for the past three years, and I will miss you greatly.
Bud
