Farewell to a loved companion

Yesterday, Katz died.  She had an aortic thromboembolism at 11PM. We rushed her to a vet hospital where we were told the diagnosis and the prognosis was very poor with lots of pain for our Katz.  So at 1 AM we had her put to sleep.  We are both very distressed over this loss.  It was so unexpected and fast.  A reminder that we never know the fate of anyone and how quickly life can turn to death.

We rescued Katz from a shelter on Lew's birthday in 2000. She was a present from Adam and Trista for Lew's birthday. She was at least a year old.  Cute and, we thought, cuddly.  The cute part was correct.  She was not a cuddly cat.  We learned right away that she liked our train!

January 2000

She was our alarm clock.  This morning it was 7:30 before I awakened.  Katz would never had allowed that!  Sleeping in meant 6:30 to her and she would hit us with a velvet paw until one of us got up!  Then she would "beat" me down the stairs nearly every workday.
She was our traveling companion.  She provided great entertainment as we went our way in the world.  Here she is her first year in Yellowstone, touching noses with a vole.  She had no idea that she was supposed to hunt them!

2001

She watched animals everywhere we went.

2001

Yes, that is a ground squirrel (2001).  

2001

She loved going for walks with us when she was younger.

2003

2002

2006

2006

Traveling with us became part of her life.  Upon returning home after the last couple of trips she refused to leave the trailer as if to say....lets keep going folks.

Katz's screen room, Summer, 2012

April, 2009
This is how she watched us set up the RV at a campground. Once the front jack was lowered she expected the door to be opened so she could watch.

2007

2000
Our first year of camping together in Old Dolphin. What a young (and thin) Katz!

2007 

                                       Prescott, Fall 2012

She really liked Florida on our last trip together.  She enjoyed the animals at Disney watching the birds with Lew (she never even thought of catching a bird) and sleeping in the new screen-room addition.

Fort Wilderness, January 2013

Next to traveling, her favorite time of year was Christmas.  She loved climbing the tree and hitting the train until it derailed.  She loved watching the sewing machine and getting right in the middle of what we were doing.

Christmas 2012

What do you mean I can't be in the thread box? I love thread!
2011

Fall, 2010
New material to get covered in cat hair!  Thanks!

2007
I love watching that thread move around!  Can I help it move?

2006

We sure are going to miss her.  A goofy cat who just fit our lifestyle and our world.

2002

Meeting Cordelia for the first time (2003).

2001

2003

2007

2000

2008

Farewell, fine friend.  It was a great journey.  You will be missed.