We miss you buddy
So, I’ve been putting off writing this post for exactly one year today. In the fall of 2013 we got some bad news about our cat Pepsi. They’d found a lump that turned out to be cancer and the operation to remove it was unsuccessful. The mass had grown too large and entwined in his abdomen to take out.
We embarked on a fairly aggressive schedule of chemotherapy for him (yes, they do that for cats too!) and he responded remarkably well to the treatments. Danni doted on him day and night hand feeding him to make sure he kept his strength up, and her efforts resulted in him gaining over a kilo while undergoing his chemo. Our vet was amazed at his recovery and how fast his lump was shrinking, and it wouldn’t have been possible without such incredible, round-the-clock care from my wife (and a touch of help from this).
Unfortunately, after 6 months of excellent progress his cancer came out of remission and we had to say goodbye to Pepsi on May 15th, 2014. I don’t want to talk at length about that day, but our vet came to our house and I got to sit on our bed in the sunshine and hold on to my best friend of the past 17 years while he peacefully slipped away.
Even now, a full year later I’m writing this with tears welling.
I’ve always thought of people so overly attached to their pets as a bit off, so if you’re reading this and not much of a pet lover allow me to try to explain where some of that attachment comes from.
For the entirety of my adult life, this “cat” has been my singular constant. He joined my family shortly before I moved away from my home town for the first time to go away to college. He’s been with me for every single move I’ve done spanning 5 cities, 3 countries and 2 continents. He’s been there for every new job, ridden in every vehicle I’ve owned, met every girl I ever dated from my first real girlfriend all the way to my wife. He was with me in every 4-plex, duplex, apartment, house and flat I’ve rented and he was with us when we celebrated purchasing our first home.
Every time I came home miserable from a bad day at work or arrived through the door elated to be back at the end of a long holiday, he would run to greet me with his quiet, chirpy meows and happy head-butts. After the better part of 2 decades, not having him around now has left this perfect, cat sized hole in my life.
We’ve talked about getting a new furry friend, and we likely will someday. We’re just not quite ready for that yet. Part of me writing this has been a bit of a cathartic exercise to get these thoughts out of my head so I can let go of them, and while it’s taken several hours to write this short post I feel like it’s helped.
I think one of the big reasons I haven’t updated this site in so long was because I knew I had to write this post. Hopefully now that I’ve managed to do this I can start paying some more attention to this site again!
We won’t ever really say farewell to our little man, and we miss him every day.
May 15th, 2015 at 13:38
Beautifully written Kevin. It’s amazing to think of Pepsi’s incredible journey. I am saddened to hear the sense of loss in this piece, but touched to know that Pepsi occupies such a special place in your heart.
May 15th, 2015 at 16:24
This makes me cry, he was part of our family. Arnt we lucky to have had such a wonderful, loving furry person in our lives. We are also lucky to have Danni and the love you share, just makes life so much better. Love you Pepsi always in my heart.
May 15th, 2015 at 17:05
Sad to receive this Blog, mate. Time heals all, for sure, but with all great love affairs, time takes forever. Don’t forget the Head-butts, Kev. Best of Luck & Health to all the Leitchs. Murray.
May 21st, 2015 at 13:39
Dear Kevin and Danni,
So sorry for your loss. Pets are family to anyone who has ever suffered the loss of one. After the loss of Randy’s mother we inherited her little yorkie. The joy and love that little dog gave us was unbelievable. We had him for 9 years before he passed away at age 17 as well. It took us years to get over it but now can talk about him and laugh about all his antics. I had never had a pet of any kind until we had ” Kippi” so I can relate to you losing yours. \\\so take care both of you and time will heal.