In Memoriam: Fatty

I hate that I'm writing this post right now while you're still here.

But I need to write this because I know that I will be an inconsolable wreck if I had to write this once you've left us. I'm choking up and tearing up as it is, typing this while you're still here. But I have to write this, I can't not pay tribute to my grumpy bundle of joy, who I've known since I first moved to Perth in 2001.

I always say I've known you for 13 years because you were never meant to be mine. You were just the neighbourhood cat who would come up to me, tail waggling hypnotically, for a little scratch behind the ear. You eventually graduated to emotionally-manipulating me with your utter cuteness to score some calamari or shrimp off my marinara pizza.

Little did I know that you were abandoned and that you would be the reason that I'd move out of my cramped Nedlands apartment (which I needed to move out of anyway) so that I could take care of you properly.

And gosh, were you a pain in the ass when we moved to our new villa. We had to keep you in the garage while we were out and every time I drove home and opened the garage door, there you'd be, sitting right smack in the middle of it, making it impossible for me to drive. You'd then take your own sweet time to saunter up to the car (because clearly, moving out of the way wasn't an option) and if I was lucky, you'd just jump in the car, sit on my lap (or the passenger seat) and drive in with me. Other times, you'd play hide and seek around the car and give me a heart attack trying to corral you into the house.

But you know what, despite all the heart attacks, you were worth every single one of them.

You were a mostly delightful cat when you weren't trying to steal my food. While I understand that most cats are generally inquisitive where food was involved, you seemed to have advanced skills at barging your way into my face while I was trying to eat.

You loved hanging around us hoomanz. Usually on your own terms, content with being in the same room with us, or subjecting us to being nothing more than an oversized pillow for your fuzzy butt.  

 

But that was just your way of loving us. I know you loved me for you were my constant companion, always sleeping by my side, keeping me warm in winter. Curling up next to me when I'd had a particularly bad day/night.

 

Even if I did subject you to ten million and one, unnecessary selfies.

 

 

It was devastating to receive your prognosis - hyperthyroidism and kidney disease. They said you only had a year, in the best case scenario, yet you outlasted that. You stayed feisty right to the very end... even smacking the kittens when they tried to push your buttons.

And that's the Fatty I know and love... and if I had to do it all over, I would have adopted you as my own sooner. I'm just glad I saved you from a life of withering away in the streets.  

RIP my little con artist. I'm sure you'll put your skills to good use over by the rainbow bridge. Thank you for choosing me to be your person.