Good-bye to Katie

We got them the same time in 1994. We had no idea how old either of them were. Pumpkin was terrified when we brought him home - stayed under the bed and howled like no cat should! Katie, that lovely calico, though, was afraid of nothing. Out she got and started exploring. And over the years there'd be no place she couldn't get herself into. Who would end up trapped on the ceiling tiles above Lauren's room? Katie. Who would end up trapped above the bathroom's ceiling? Katie. When Delmar was at work fixing up our bathroom, who climbed the ladder and got into the attic? Katie. Who liked to sit on the top of the refrigerator, looking down on the rest of the world? Katie. And was she ever a lap cat! Her terms, though. SHE wanted to be the one who chose to sit in your lap and expected you to pet her.

After Lauren went off to school, she decided that she needed a warm body to sleep with and often spent the night on our bed, curled up at my feet. That is, when she and Pumpkin weren't romping at night, hissing at each other, and fighting.

When we had to put him down, she changed. She's not been the same since. Her last months were pretty miserable - we had to keep her confined due to litter problems, some sores that wouldn't heal on her legs, and one on her stomach that looked bad for a while. She had trouble jumping and walking. It was time, though very sad. Lauren and Cindi rode with me to the vet. Lauren held her all the way, but opted to stay in the car and not see her get the shot. Tears and yet relief. And the promise of the Lord is sweet: "Behold, I make all things new." Even still it felt like more than just Katie's passing; rather, the passing of an era in our family. Fourteen years she'd been with us. Now the only inside critter is Lucy. Well, that's not counting David and Bekah. :)