This post is both difficult and joyous to write. Difficult because I miss my little cat Opal, joyous because she taught me a wonderful lesson about life.
This picture does not do Opal justice as it does not show her lively character and affectionate nature. She was friendly to people and cats alike. She was born 16 years ago in April with a very loud heart murmur, but it was impossible to hear over the constant purring! She was affectionate at the vets office, even when they took her temperature! She would let you know with a loud meow if you needed to pay attention to her, or if she felt that it was time for bed!. She could pick up on our emotions, and would react accordingly by snuggling up when we were sad, and bouncing around when we were happy. Opal spent a lot of lap time with a friend visiting over New Year's Eve. We were surprised as she had been friendly with him before, but over New Year's Eve she was on his lap constantly. We all feel that Opal sensed he was going through a very difficult time (he was) and needed extra kitty affection (he did).
Mid-January, she started hiding in the closet and did not want to eat. The vet found she had a tumor in her abdomen the size of a small orange. The tumor responded to oral pill treatment and within a couple of weeks Opal was back playing and eating and not hiding.
Opal lived in the present. She did not know that she had limited time, Opal only knew that today she liked having food (especially bananas and tomatoes), today she relished being petted, today she loved being brushed. Those days when she did not want food she still enjoyed being petted and brushed and was always ready to purr.
As a human, I knew that Opal had limited time and that she was going to die. I knew she would pick up on my grief and sadness and I realized that grieving her death while she was alive would taint the many good moments she had left in this world. I made a conscious decision to always approach her with happiness. By embracing that today she is purring, today her fur is soft, today she is affectionate and enjoying being brushed, was the best way to honor her and to treasure these good experiences. Opal enjoyed the time she had with us and we enjoyed the time we had with her. She was purring up until the day she died in mid-May.
I grieve Opal's death and I rejoice in her life. She was a great kitty and we miss her. Opal taught me to keep present in the here and now, to enjoy the sunshine and the touch of a loved one.
Thanks Opal!
This picture does not do Opal justice as it does not show her lively character and affectionate nature. She was friendly to people and cats alike. She was born 16 years ago in April with a very loud heart murmur, but it was impossible to hear over the constant purring! She was affectionate at the vets office, even when they took her temperature! She would let you know with a loud meow if you needed to pay attention to her, or if she felt that it was time for bed!. She could pick up on our emotions, and would react accordingly by snuggling up when we were sad, and bouncing around when we were happy. Opal spent a lot of lap time with a friend visiting over New Year's Eve. We were surprised as she had been friendly with him before, but over New Year's Eve she was on his lap constantly. We all feel that Opal sensed he was going through a very difficult time (he was) and needed extra kitty affection (he did).
Mid-January, she started hiding in the closet and did not want to eat. The vet found she had a tumor in her abdomen the size of a small orange. The tumor responded to oral pill treatment and within a couple of weeks Opal was back playing and eating and not hiding.
Opal lived in the present. She did not know that she had limited time, Opal only knew that today she liked having food (especially bananas and tomatoes), today she relished being petted, today she loved being brushed. Those days when she did not want food she still enjoyed being petted and brushed and was always ready to purr.
As a human, I knew that Opal had limited time and that she was going to die. I knew she would pick up on my grief and sadness and I realized that grieving her death while she was alive would taint the many good moments she had left in this world. I made a conscious decision to always approach her with happiness. By embracing that today she is purring, today her fur is soft, today she is affectionate and enjoying being brushed, was the best way to honor her and to treasure these good experiences. Opal enjoyed the time she had with us and we enjoyed the time we had with her. She was purring up until the day she died in mid-May.
I grieve Opal's death and I rejoice in her life. She was a great kitty and we miss her. Opal taught me to keep present in the here and now, to enjoy the sunshine and the touch of a loved one.
Thanks Opal!
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