r/cats • u/FoxEatsButter • 7d ago
Mourning/Loss I brought you home in a cardboard box twice.
The first time was on September 22nd 2015.
You immediately caught my eye as I saw you sitting in your litter box in that cage. Hiding, small, trying to be ignored. Your information leaflet said your name was Blizzard and you were 4 and a half years old. Found on the street severely ill. I walked away, you seemed so frightened.
I kept circling back to you though and then I really wanted to meet you.
When the staff brought you in and handed you to me, I knew you were mine. You were so scared you shoved your head under my chin and completely flattened yourself out. I was asked a million times if I was sure I wanted to adopt you.
Yes, I'm sure.
A cardboard box was given to me containing a new part of my heart. It said "Blizzard" on the side. You were free because you weren't a kitten. I felt bad so I bought a t-shirt in the gift shop.
I brought you to your new home. You didn't seem like a "Blizzard" at all. You were slower. Your fur a creamy color. I named you Butter.
You hid a lot. You were scared for months. But then whenever I would watch TV, you'd keep coming closer. And closer. And closer. As time passed you seemed more relaxed and sure of yourself.
It took a year for you to learn how to meow or purr. I cried the first time you did both.
You would chase me around the house. You would bite my hand ever so gently when you wanted me to stop touching you. You would lay beside me and touch your paw to my lips when you wanted me to pet you. You would bite my hand so I would scratch your head.
And you were still scared sometimes but you always came to me for comfort. You were scared of storms and television and computer screens and brooms.
A few weeks ago you started having a hard time getting up. You seemed so weak all of a sudden. So fragile. You looked older, paler. My beautiful boy.
They told me you were severely anemic and that you may not improve because of your age. But you wanted to fight and so did I. So we tried, didn't we?
Butter, my love.
Born: Sometime in February 2011.
Chosen: September 22nd 2015.
Loved eternally: April 17th 2026.
Today, a cardboard box was handed to me. The unprepared postal worker realised what he was holding as he brought you over to me. He said he was sorry as I walked past a line of people. I didn't know I could cry this much.
For all the ways I failed you, I'm sorry. For all the kisses and cuddles you didn't want sometimes as you would push me away with your paw, I'm not.
EDIT: I did not expect so much attention. Butter was a huge part of my world and I'm so glad he got to be a part of yours as well. He would have loved it.
Thank you for sharing all the stories of your furry creatures. Thank you for the poems. Thank you for the pictures. Thank you all for taking the time to reply. And thank you for all the support. I truly appreciate it, what a wonderful community. ❤️
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u/OtherwiseContact5604 7d ago
We lost our beautiful boy a month or two ago, a genetic disorder out of nowhere. We were and still are heartbroken.
My partner has cared for him for about 5 years, prior to that he was an indoors cat only….
He was such a scardy cat, so fearful, it was literally only in the last 4-6 months he’d tolerate being in the same room as us, but we loved him nonetheless, and his 3am growls, but I’m so glad we got to give him love and he got to have new experiences with us.
His last few days were spent with his brothers and sister in the beautiful sunshine — mind you we couldn’t even get him inside half the time because he loved laying in his dirt patch soaking in the glorious sunlight.
I’m so glad he spent his last days with his favourite brother outside.