Ode to a Gentleman Cat…

Bullwinkle RIP 1986 - 2008

Yesterday my brother had to put his cat, Bullwinkle, to sleep.

Bullwinkle was old.  22, actually.  And he was ill.  On lots of meds.  It was time to let him go.

Bully was the the most dignified cat I have ever met.  I always imagined him in a little smoking jacket, carrying a pipe, as he always seemed to be thinking deep thoughts.

He used to sit next to my sister in law when she nursed her babies, and little baby toes would push into his soft fur.  He never minded.  Never minded little hands either (well, once, but the baby was teasing the heck out him, you would have scratched as well!).

The only sound of distress he would make, when little fingers or toes bothered him, was a great HURMPH of a sigh.  As if he was suffering the greatest indignity a cat could suffer, but that it was more or less okay since it was a member of his family putting him through it.

He was black and white and liked to have the top of his head scratched.

He was a grand old gentleman cat, and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

RIP Bullwinkle.  Give Rocky our love when you see her on the Rainbow Bridge.  At least the two of you can play together again.

Posted in daily.

5 Comments

  1. What a beautiful tribute and altho’ I never thought of him as dignified as you described him I agree completely!

  2. Beautiful, thank you.

    Bully became the older statesman, I agree, and he loved the girls. 8 years ago, when Sara had colic, and we would walk her around uselessly trying to get her to stop crying, Bully would stay right on our heels, keeping an eye on her and noisily offering “advice.”

    And even that one time he scratch Sara pretty bad it was an accident. He was just trying to get up & run away, and pushed off against her by mistake when he stood.

    The last 6 months or so weren’t easy on him, or us. I agonized over this decision, but once he was gone, I knew it was the right thing to do. It was, as you say, time.

  3. Thank you. This was lovely. He was a grand ‘ole boy.

    It is funny. I keep forgetting he isn’t here. Then I see where his litter was or where he used to lay…and I am startled. I almost bought litter for him yesterday.

    He was the first cat that let me play “with” him. He used to play catch with me.

    But as my family talked about him, I realized he hasn’t done any of that for some time.

    I will miss him terribly. I am glad he isn’t hurting anymore.

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