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Life on Earth, by Patrick

A Message From Patrick's Mom

As many of you have been following, my cat Patrick has been very sick lately and some of his experiences of having cancer have appeared in his diary here.

But sadly, in spite of the best efforts of Patrick's vet Dr. Stewart, after several weeks of brave effort Patrick lost his battle with lymphoma early yesterday afternoon. His passing was gentle and peaceful and, I'm sure, a relief to his weakened body and wearied soul.

On behalf of him and myself, thank you to all of Patrick's wonderful friends and well-wishers. All your kind thoughts, messages and prayers were felt and greatly appreciated by both of us these past few weeks and helped us get through some very tough times.

All you fabulous Catster kitties, give your moms and dads kitty kisses and head-bonks! And all you wonderful Catster moms and dads, cherish every single hour of every single day you have left with your feline loved ones, for every moment you have together is a wondrous gift.

And know that you are loved, and loved well, each and every single one of you.

the long road

my mom and i took that long car ride again today to see uncle doctor stewart. i felt very sick but i was glad to be in that big cool quiet place again. it is ever so peaceful there.

once in the little room, i got weighed (i lost another pound this week) and i was too weak to get off the scale. so i lay there and my mom petted me gently. i put my paw out to her to say thank you and i lay my head down. i purred, and my mom sang along with me.

first she sang the song of the green spring meadows, full of grasses and flowers, and ever so soft and warm.

then she sang the song of the midnight stars, stark and majestic beacons to guide my passage.

then she sang the song of my safe journey back to the sacred star fields where i once dwelled before coming here.

then she sang the song of "i love you," which was my song i was purring to her.

and i knew then that it was time for me to go, and i began to drift away.

soon i heard many more gentle cat songs being sung.

my mom once told me there would be many more cat songs, each one more beautiful than the last.

she was right.

some new secret caves

last night i ate a couple of pieces of kibble. my mom was so worried about me because i couldn't eat all day long. i was very hungry but my tummy felt so ookie. so in the evening i ate a couple of kibbles, then i decided it was time to investigate a new secret cave.

a paper bag has been lying on the floor in the bedroom for a couple of days, but i hadn't investigated it till last night. it was a snug little secret cave. every time i shifted position it made crinkling noises. not exactly secret. anyway, i spent the whole night in it, except when i had to go ookies by the litterbox and eat two more pieces of kibble during the night. i switched to my under-bed secret cave just before my mom woke up, and she had to go hunting for me this morning because i wasn't in my paper bag secret cave any more.

and this morning i decided to sit under my cat tree, because the base of my cat tree is carpeted and there is a little plant runner that comes down from the bookcase and across the floor right by the cat tree, so i was like in a little jungle lair, surrounded by greenery. it was pleasant, especially when my mom gave me some kibbles under there.

but then i had to go ookies on the bathroom floor a little while later.

then i went into my vacation home secret cave for a while.

i still wish i could get into that kitchen cupboard, though. that's where i really want to be. i'm sure that in there among the packages of cereal and bottles of juice and olive oil and cans of beans and some saucepan lids and stuff i can find the perfect snacks that won't give me ookies. and i can get together in there with the little dog who sometimes visits me in my dreams and we can go off on adventures together and stuff. maybe he can lead me to a place where i won't be sick and have ookies anymore. that would be ever so nice.