My beautiful, quirky, determined and very best boy James was gently pts on 2 June.
He came to me in 2010 from Paws Inn; Teresa had taken him in after he was injured in a RTA and was unclaimed. She squeezed him in by pairing him with Christopher and the two of them were a perfect fit for me.
James’s inquisitiveness was boundless. On his first full day with me he disappeared, only to reappear hours later from under the kitchen cabinets via a gap I didn’t know existed Once that was blocked up he took to hiding on top of the wall cabinets, emitting “I am watching you” vibes. After I cat-proofed the back garden he inspected the perimeter taking notes and the next thing I saw was him strolling through next door’s garden. Houdini-cat had found the only place where there was a weakness.
He wasn’t exactly thrilled when Eleanor arrived in 2013, although they did come to an accommodation, particularly around her hunting efforts when he would steal her prey so that he could wear a vole moustache. When George turned up in 2020, he just shrugged.
The after-effects of his RTA included damage to his right eye and arthritis in his joints. He refused oral Metacam so I tried him with acupuncture which he accepted without a murmur. He developed digestive problems and was on long term steroid injections – the vet agreed pilling really was not an option after he bit her.
In May 2022 he was found to have a large corneal ulcer in his left eye which was removed. Given the minimal vision in his right eye he became effectively blind although he would still follow my voice.
Over the last couple of years James had become increasingly creaky from his arthritis and then started to lose weight. His vet and I agreed that although his world had shrunk, he still had quality of life and was “himself” and that he would let us know when he had had enough. I found him collapsed in the garden, in the sunshine, and knew it was time for his final journey.
"You do not understand." The angel tried one more time. "They are so dependent on you that even the most well-made of them is not designed to outlive you. You are destined to suffer their loss."
The Loving Ones looked at the sweetness in their arms and nodded. "That‘s how it should be. It is a fair trade for the love they offer."
The angel just watched them all go, shaking his head. "You have chosen Tears," he whispered.
