R.I.P.
Libby
(1997 - 2011)
We all know that life as we knew it can change in the blink of an eye. We experienced that over the past few days. Our oldest cat, Libby seemed to change overnight. She stopped eating and started sleeping most of the day. We were shocked to learn her weight had dropped to just 7lbs, 11 oz (her long fur and fact she didn't like to be picked up made this easy to go unnoticed). We took her to the vet Thursday evening and learned that she was in kidney failure and it appeared she had a couple of small masses around her kidneys as well. She was also riddled with arthritis along her spine. We asked if she was in pain, and the vet said that cats rarely show pain, but she most likely was suffering. We brought her home for the evening, offered her whipped cream which she loved (and lapped up), but made an appointment for the following day to say goodbye to a dear friend.
Libby, was the first cat my husband and I had together. She came into our life in the summer of 1997 when my husband stopped at a gas station and saw a sign "free kittens". He brought her home for me, but although I fell in love with her, her heart belonged to my husband. She adored him and he her. She didn't like to be held, wasn't a lap cat but loved to be pet and to rub up against you.
Libby lived in (2) states, (4) homes and was the best hunter ever. She graced our porches and decks with, mice, moles, birds of all kinds, chipmunks, baby rabbits and even garden snakes. After several of her housemates disappeared: Markie, Minerva, Frasier and Niles, on our last move, we decided that all of our cats would be indoor only. One year, we went to Aruba for 14 days, and when we came home our pet sitter said that she never came home after the first day we were gone. We were sure, we lost her forever, and then my husband called her name and she miraculously appeared on our deck --obviously she was waiting for him to return to come indoors. Although Libby tolerated the other cats, she would have been much happier being an only cat among us humans.
At 3:45pm yesterday, we gave her finals pets and kisses and watched her pass peacefully over the Rainbow Bridge. It was a hard thing to do, but the right thing for her. Despite our sadness, we feel blessed Libby graced our life for 14 years. We miss you Libby.
