RIP Muffles

The vet called Saturday and said Muffles was a very sick cat. He had chronic kidney failure and arthritis.

One option was to put him in a 24-hour animal hospital for at least three or four days and see how he responds to treatment - no guarantee that would work. The other option was to consider putting him down. So hard, since he seemed to get sick all of the sudden, rapidly declining in the last week.

L was home this weekend so she got a chance to say good-bye to Muff-Muff.

I spent the weekend holding him, petting him and taking pictures. He certainly was loved. He loved to crawl into our bed and head-butt Andy all night long. He'd lie down with me during the day and curl up on my neck but never bothered me at night. B named him because he wasn't with us when we adopted him. Andy picked him up and he immediately started purring and I knew we'd be taking him home. He was a good, loud purrer whenever we petted him.

L played with him so much and would hold him and he'd stretch, and carry him like a baby. He loved it. He was also a fan of coming into the bathroom with me. He would jump on the kitchen counter whenever we made a sandwich, hoping to get a piece of ham.

I think August will miss his brother. We adopted them together in August 2012. They thought they were three months old then so I'd guess Muffles was just over 12 years old. Muffles liked to groom August.

With his favorite toy. He would regularly bring this to our bedroom and then meow loudly when he decided to retrieve it and bring it to us in the living room. So proud of himself.

A pic with B. Of the two, Muffles was more social. August is notorious for hiding the minute someone comes over. Muffles wouldn't cozy up to visitors but he'd hang out with them.

He spent his last few days slowly moving around the house. Sitting and sleeping for hours at a time with his favorite spot being a dining room chair near the windows and by my puzzle area or the corner of the sofa. He was so still but we don't think he was in pain. He wouldn't eat and barely drink but he would lift his head when we called his name and seemed to react when we petted him.

It was sadly time to let him go yesterday. We'll miss him.

His last picture. He passed so peacefully. The vet will make a paw print for us.