Teddy, my cat and companion for over seven years, passed away last night. His death was sudden but not unexpected as his health had been deteriorating for the past month. He had lost a lot of weight and recent blood work had shown problems with his kidneys, liver and blood cell counts. It was time.
I met him around 2017, when he was still a stray cat frequenting the area. A neighbor named him Teddy Bear, and as he became more comfortable and cuddly with me, it was clear the name suited him. He and my rabbit Ani got along well, and he would sometimes groom her, which she welcomed.
He became more comfortable visiting me until one day he walked in, sat down, and looked at me as if to ask “we’re good, right?” I sat down with him and that’s how it began.
We had problems in the early years, including a long hospital stay that many readers of this blog helped pay for, something I’ve never forgotten. His cheeks and neck were thick from scrapping with other cats, but once neutered he mellowed.
This is the very last photo of him, taken last Wednesday. If I have any regrets, it’s that I didn’t meet him sooner. I would have loved to have known him as a kitten. He was always gracious, affectionate, and easygoing with everyone he met. He accepted everything life gave him without fear or complaint. I was there when he ended, but I’ll always wonder how he began.
