Tonight I lost a friend. His name was Peanut. He was a really sweet cat. His original name was Zero. But when I first met him I thought his name was Peanut for some reason. So, that's what I started calling him. He was actually my landlord's cat. I guess they named him Zero after a character in that "Holes" movie. Anyway, I just want to get my thoughts down on what he meant to me.
I've been living here on 2020 Hope St for almost eight years. For about half of that time I didn't even know there was another cat. Mary Jane had always been around but I wasn't sure this other cat was even theirs. Slowly he started coming around and I realized they did in fact have another cat. He was a bit weird. His tale was crimped like it had been in an accident. And he walked kind of funny. And he had the BIGGEST MEOW EVER. When he meowed you knew it!
So, of course I started feeding and petting him. He would come around more and more. I had to get him his own dish (courtesy of Annette). He was the most lovable cat you'll ever know. He could just hang on you like a little baby for hours. And purr away. Mary Jane didn't seem to like him much but when she saw that I was giving him affection I think she came around. Over the last several weeks we had a little routine where I would put them both up on the table and pet them while I watched TV. They would just purr and love it. And I did too.
Several months ago he started having seizures. I felt so bad when they happened. But I would comfort him and then he'd eventually be OK. Recently they started getting worse. So yesterday afternoon I finally took him to the vet. They said he was dehydrated and prescribed anti-seizure medication. They gave him fluids. I thought that seemed to help but he never purred in those few hours he was alive after that. I could tell things weren't right but just tried to comfort him the best I could. I fell asleep with him in my arms at around 11pm. Sometime after midnight I woke up and turned over. I turned him over too and felt urine on my shirt. He soon start writhing. I was hoping he was just having another episode. Then he went into the bathroom and pooped and threw up a bit as he died. I wasn't sure what to do. I started frantically getting dressed to take him to the emergency vet. I decided to wake Allisa up and tell her I think he's dying. When we got back to my bathroom he was gone.
I feel TERRIBLE right now. I know there's not much I could have done but it's obviously never easy to watch a pet die. I know those last moments for him must have been terrifying. And he was in so much pain I'm sure. I hope he knows how much I love him and that I would have done anything to save him.
Peanut was a really SWEET, LOVING KITTY. He was everything you could want in a cat. I will cherish all the memories I had with him forever. Rest in Peace my FRIEND. 😻
