Grab a Tissue

As you know, my brother's cats have been visiting for the past two and a half weeks while he went on a once-in-a-lifetime tour of Europe including Italy, Greece, Amsterdam and some other places I'm probably forgetting. The cats are used to being here, as they visit often and at one time they were even short-term permanent residents here on the farm. In fact I'd go so far as saying they like it here, even though their cousin, Ethel, doesn't return the sentiment.

Geo and Loki are the closest thing to nephews I'll ever have on my side of the family. They are very much my brother's children. The only children he and his late wife ever had. The cats are so attached to my brother it's crazy, especially Geo. When it's almost time for my brother to come home from work, Geo starts hanging out by the door, meowing. He can't wait for his Daddy to come home.

He takes great care of them and spares no expense for their health and welfare. This, in fact, has amassed into a rather large sum of cash over the years. One of the reasons they stay with me while he travels is so that I can take care of their medical needs. Loki has some sort of eating disorder along with a host of other issues and if his diet is not handled just right he will commence with projectile vomiting. As you can imagine, this makes him a less than desirable house guest for most people.

Four years ago, Geo was diagnosed with a heart condition. Most likely he was born with it. And it may even be part of what makes his personality so laid back and just plain cool. Envision Bob Marley as a cat. If you didn't know better you'd swear he must have just smoked a joint. You might even think he was spaced out with a case of the munchies.

His favorite activities include licking paper and curling up into a tiny ball in whatever out-of-the-way container he could find, box, bowl, teacup - whatever. Never mind that he is 14-times the size of the teacup. He just wants a quiet spot. A goofball with a capital G.

Over the past year or so, Geo's health has been deteriorating. Fluid continues to build up around his heart and he has undergone several procedures to drain the fluid along with taking daily medicine. Anything he needed, my brother would get. Yet each time I saw Geo I could tell just by looking at him he was getting a little worse.

This visit was no different. Several days after he arrived I noticed he had all but given up grooming himself and he started relieving himself in inappropriate places. Sure signs that he wasn't well. I called the vet and they politely explained that there was really nothing else they could do. At this point, it was only a matter of time. So I gave him a little more attention, sat with him and petted him longer than usual and tried to enjoy him as much as I possibly could, worried that this very well may be his last visit to the farm.

He wasn't content, I could tell. He wanted his Daddy to come home. My brother came to pick them up last night. Geo passed away early this morning.

He brought him back and we buried Geo in the meadow by the creek under the giant sycamore tree. I think he would like it there. It's out of the way and quiet.

There are pets, and then there are GREAT pets. But Geo was the best of the best. The coolest cat to walk this earth. His paw prints will remain forever on our hearts.