Kyrgizion

Here she is enjoying today's afternoon autumn sun.

She was diagnosed with lymphoma in late April, and given weeks to days to live. She said fuck that, I'm not done here yet, and promptly added the entire summer (and many, many bbq's, which were her absolute favorite for obvious reasons) to her lifespan in spite of her condition.

After returning from the vet, we laid her to rest in the exact spot she had chosen in the picture.

My heart is in a thousand pieces, but most of all I remember the good times and the 15 years of loyalty and love I was privileged enough to receive. It was never going to be long enough even if she lived to 30.

Goodbye my sweet angel. Thank you so much for all the joy you brought us. I tried my best to repay you in kind, because you deserved it. Now there will forevermore be a small cat-shaped hole in my heart that I don't quite know how to ever fill.

Yes, he's every bit the goober he seems in the gif.

Ten years old. Found as a kitten while picking up our son from preschool.

He's the clingiest cat I've ever known and is a formidably flamboyant lover. He'll forcefully shove his snoot into your face as he learned that's what "kisses" are. He'll even do it on command.

Apart from that I've never known a cat who loves belly scritches as much as he does. He's also as vocal as a Siamese. Doesn't shut up for a minute, nor would I want him to.

Despite all this, he's kind of a shadow in the sense that almost no one except my SO, my kid and myself get to see him. He hides from anyone else, no matter the circumstances.

When we first got our own home 15 years ago, the very first thing we did was adopt two kitties from the same recent litter.

Throughout those 15 years, both sisters have cemented themselves as my personal lares. Think of it as my soul cats if you will.

About two months ago however, we got some horrific news about Terra's health. I had found her collapsed and feared a stroke or spinal injury, but the bloodwork and echo at the vet were clear: cancer, already spread, suspected lymphoma due to the excessive fluid in her lungs. Red blood cell count on the verge of death - highly anemic.

The immediate prognosis was grim. The vet decided that it would be best to drain the fluid on her lungs with a syringe, though she warned us it was a stopgap measure and the fluid would eventually return. We were looking at days to a few weeks at best there.

It probably started in one of her toes because she, well, eventually self amputated that toe. The vets couldn't help with it because she was too weak for anaesthesia. So she got cortisones and painkillers instead. No use worrying about the long term effects.

Remarkably, she has since improved much beyond what we dared hope for. Two months, and she's still eating, grooming, cuddling and stealing food. Her favorite pastime these days is joining me for barbecue. While the meat cooks, she gets all the leftovers as treats. You can imagine how crazy she is about that.

I made a promise to her that if she's ever in more pain, or doesn't want to fight anymore. I would let her go gently. I wouldn't want her to suffer needlessly.

But for now, she is still here, because she still wants to be.

Two of my furry children. Terra is unfortunately very ill. She has terminal lymphoma and there's nothing we can do anymore but make her comfortable.

I just wanted to celebrate them while I can. That little furry creature saved my life on more than one occasion, and she knows it. I owe her a tremendously great deal and my life was immeasurably richer for having her in it.

She turns 15 this year but doesn't look a day over 2. Hoping to have many more healthy and enjoyable years with her, her sister and the other kitties.

She's 6+ but kitten-sized. The coldest days are her favorite, as you can see why.

Poor Terra has an inflamed toe she can't leave alone, so the vet fitted her with a collar for a few days. The bloodtest showed that she's reacting great to her hyperthyroidism-medicine, and the doc even commented on how her kidney, liver and bone marrow values were almost perfect, wich isn't all that common in 15 yr old senior kitties.

Hoping to have my lamp with me for many more years <3.

Was the best moment of the day by far. Thanks for the li'l boost, fluffy princess!