Mushi

Ode to My Cat - My Friend

This is a picture of my friend that I was forced to put down after 30+ years; human years.

In 1982 while working at the Calgary Herald a friend asked me to come with him to the SPCA to get a dog. While he was viewing the dogs, I chose to venture into the cat den to kill some time. Having two mature dogs of my own I was only there for my friend. He found a dog and we were leaving the premises, when out of the corner of my eye I noticed a long-haired orange cat with a tag reading “my name is Mushi, I’m 11 years old, neutered and declawed and I cost $15.”  First glance I had to take the little guy. So began our journey together. I paid my fifteen dollars and took him home. About a week later he was losing his hair so I took him to the vet. The vet informed me that he had lost his taste for food due to some kind of buildup of fatty tissue somewhere. At any rate I would have to feed him with a syringe for six weeks or until he got his taste back. This was done by wrapping him in a towel, opening his mouth and slowly forcing the special food in. Needless to say it forced us to bond. To this day I still remember the day about five weeks into this regimen when I opened the can of cat food and he ran out to eat on his own. From that day forward he was an eating machine matched only by the Great White Shark. Years passed and he outlived both my dogs, one 15 and the other 17. When I came to the Yukon, I had to leave him behind until I got settled and did at last move him up here about seven years ago. Soon after being here he picked up the name “Dude” as he was just too cool for words, like a dog in a cat’s body. Over the last year or so he started to deteriorate as cats do, and quickly, but still had his attitude and lust for life. But last Friday, after going home for lunch, I noticed he could not get up and it was time for we two friends to part. I called the vet and had him come to the house, well worth the extra cost if one truly loves their pet. When the needle went in, he looked up at me and then did his typical face rub with his mouth to mark his territory one last time and meowed. I am indeed marked for life by this gentleman cat and will no longer be the same.

I Love You Pal, and Always Will In this world and the next
Kevin Sinclair