Where I talk about Dakota

It’s been a week.  I wanted to write this post sooner but found it too difficult.  So here I am today.

I want to thank everyone for their kind words and support.  To the folks who say I talk too much about my cats, there are plenty of other blogs and twitter feeds out there for you.  I wish you well.

To be honest, Dakota the cat’s death hit me like a ton of bricks.  I’m shocked at how hard it hit me, actually.  Part of that is the speed of it all.  He went from his usual loving but cantankerous self to gone in a matter of days.  The last two days of his life were spent wrapped in a blanket being held by me.  He knew that he was loved.

The culprit here was a combination of age (18 years and change old) and kidney failure.  His blood was tested on Thursday the 28th and showed elevated kidney enzymes.  An antibiotic was prescribed for him but he couldn’t go to the bathroom & wouldn’t eat or drink anything.  The vet had very little hope he would recover.  By Friday, his kidneys were shutting down and I had to take him back to the vet.  I’m sure you can figure the rest out without my having to relive it here today.

Shadow the cat has been clingy ever since and I’ve been fine with that.  He sits in my lap every time I sit down.  He sleeps in Dakota’s bed when I am not sitting down.

The weekend was hard on me.  I expected Dakota to be there.  Shadow was hungry, so I grabbed the plastic/tupperware food dispenser thing I use to keep the food from going stale, and I shook it before I poured some into the dish.  I stood there for a minute and realized I was watching for Dakota, who always came running when I shook that damned thing.  Next, I was sitting on the couch, Shadow in my lap, and realized that my feet were cold.  Well, that’s because Dakota would normally have been sprawled on my feet, snoring softly and keeping them toasty.

Dakota was only in my life for 4.5 years, give or take a couple months, but what an impact he made.  What a character.

He is sorely missed.

~P