Farewell to our Funny Feisty Feline, Annie…

~ Ellie

… from her friends, servants, and admirers – John and Ellie

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”… the best were the 10 years we had with Annie. The worst, without question, was saying goodbye to her today.

After the weekend during which her appetite dwindled to almost nil – she had always loved pushing her puzzle food ball around the floor so the pellets would fall out the holes – her laboured breathing alarmed us! We took her today to our wonderful vet, Dr. Lissa Altschuler, and her team. (Their office had been closed for the three-day Canada Day weekend.)

At one point we’d actually thought – hoped! – she was doing a bit better! She still came up on my lap whenever I sat on our loveseat recliner. She stalked a bug! But no, then she got worse.

If you’ve ever had your heart ripped out, then you’ll understand how we felt when Dr. A. gave us the sad news. After she examined Annie, then took an X-ray, she came to us in a corner of the waiting room. (No one else was close by.) The prognosis was poor, she said. Her lungs were full of fluid, and there was some fluid backed up outside too. Hence the very heavy breathing. Even if she would draw out some or all of it, she said her lungs would most likely fill up again. The cause? No way to know without more extensive tests; she’d suffer that much more. Tumour? Congestive heart failure? We’ll never know exactly.

John and I spent time (no rush, they said!) crying and talking and soothing and petting our little girl in the consultation room. Finally we had to make the terrible decision to let her go. Dr. A. and her assistants were the best, most compassionate people. It was painless for Annie, as peaceful as can be.

We are wrecked and the apartment is so so empty. I cannot believe she is gone.

But oh! Thank you Annie. Thank you for your furry warm body on my lap every evening while we watched TV. Jeopardy won’t be the same without you! You’d come running up onto me when you heard the theme music!

I will miss saying “Sorry, Annie,” whenever I had to get up, disturbing her from her usual perch on me. She’d jump off me instantly, probably grumbling to herself.

We’ll miss her talkative nature. We’d have actual conversations with her. Too bad we didn’t understand “Cat-ese” very well, though; she must’ve thought we weren’t very bright.

We’ll miss being greeted by her turquoise toy at the door, whenever we were out “too long” (by her reckoning, probably anything more than an hour)! I included her little magical thinking habit in my blog post here.

Farewell beautiful girl! I will love you forever!!! John will too! Even though he came into the picture after I’d had her for four years, they had a bond. Some of my favourite photos of my girl…

Checking you out.
Annie on lap
Her Highness, Annie, on her fave spot. My lap.
On lap
Annie asleep… on me.
Bye sweet lil girl… we love you so much! 😍😻💔

28 thoughts on “Farewell to our Funny Feisty Feline, Annie…”

      1. Eventually. I had to put down a cat and 4 dogs. One of my dogs was stolen when I lived in Ste. Sophie. You will remember Annie with a smile and maybe a laugh.

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  4. Always a tough one….I know how it feels and send you my heartfelt condolences. I had to make that decision for one of mine in November last year. You loved her and I’m pretty sure she love you back.

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    1. Oh thanks, Matthew! I didn’t message you earlier because I didn’t want to rain on your (amazing!!) parade. Yes we’ll miss her terribly! She really reigned in this place, and over our hearts. 💔

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  10. To lose a four-footed best friend is to lose a piece of oneself and of a highlighted feature of daily life. I have a black and white photo of my first dog, Gamine, on a shelf in the kitchen. She’s always there with me and I lovingly remember so many things about her when I look at it (frequently!). All good thoughts in your direction, Ellie.

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    1. Thank you so much for this, Mimi. My condolences on your loss of Gamine. Lovely idea, the photo! Now I’m inspired to do the same. I have probably hundreds of photos of Annie but they’re all in my phone. Time to liberate some of them!

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  11. I’m very sorry to hear about Annie’s passing. I loved your stories about her and the photos of her sweet face. She was so lucky to have found a good home with you and John. She’ll always live on in your hearts and memories. Rest in peace, little girl. Take good care of yourselves.

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    1. Thank you so much, Anna, so sweet of you to say. We are carrying on, albeit in a much emptier apartment and with lumps in our throats… 😞

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