The end of another chapter

This is a brief post today to close a book with a sad ending. When I went to the vet yesterday morning it was clear that Baggins' condition had deteriorated over night. I talked to the vet for a while, but I knew it was time to say Goodbye, and the only kind thing to do was to let him go. I was very, very sad.

I have had so many cats over the years, and I didn't think any of them would replace my beautiful white Misty that I had for fifteen years in UK. But Baggins was something very special. 

When I took him on at the request of our vet, he was neglected, bug-ridden, underfed, his coat was awful, and he had 'haunted' eyes. But from the first time I met him he showed affection, and I knew I had to take him home.

With a lot of love and attention, plus guidance from Ellen, the vet, who also loved him, he turned into a beautiful cat. He was my shadow, and my constant companion.

I wish he could talk, then he might have told me what happened that night, two Saturdays ago. We will never know for sure, but it does seem most likely that he had a stroke, and fell from the table. The obvious injuries were to one eye, and a broken jaw, but there were other internal injuries that became apparent as the days went by. The vet was fantastic, and couldn't have done more for him. I took one last photo of him in his 'hospital bed' yesterday morning.

He will leave a huge hole in our family, and especially in my craft room where he spent so much time with me. I am so glad that I was able to give him two happy, comfortable years after his bad start in life. Rest in peace my beautiful boy.