(Originally posted on 27 August 2007.)
In loving memory of Tinuviel
- born around 14 May 1988
- adopted 7 January 1989
- died 27 August 2007,
age 19 years, 3 months, 2 weeks
Tinuviel was a faithful friend and companion, who loved snuggling up on my lap while I read a good book. In her youth, she loved to climb and hunt. She once caught a squirrel half her size, by sneaking up on it while it was busy annoying a different cat. I tried to keep the birds away, but was quite happy to find half-eaten mouse carcasses in my basement when I lived on the prairies in the mid-1990s.
When Tinuviel first came to live with me, she was quite a nervous cat and didn't like to go outside or to have visitors, especially children. If even one visitor came, she would crawl under the covrs of the bed and hide, certain she could not be seen. So she was rudely surprised once when an unsuspecting visitor made to smooth our the lump in the blanket, and saw a disgruntled cat emerge instead.
In the Clover Street house, she would hide in the kitchen cupboards among the pots and pans. Once when Little D (age 3) came to visit, she took up her hiding spot. I heard her rustling in the cupboard and told Little D there was a ghost in the cupboard. He heard the noise, too, and cautiously opened the door to see if it were really a ghost, only to jump back, startled, when Tinuviel sprang out past him and ran away! We both enjoyed a good laugh.
As she aged, she mellowed, and soon she was happy to investigate the visitors, though she still made herself scarce when they were too small. But no matter what, if she was outside and I called or whistled, she would come zooming back to greet me.
Tinuviel had been showing her age the past two years. She had arthritis in her back legs and was no longer able to jump and run the way she used to. She spent more and more time just sleeping. When Giggles joined the family, she found there was less and less time to snuggle in my lap, as my evenings spent reading in the chair were few and far between. And with Giggles spending so many nights in my bed, her position of favour was usurped there, too. But she djusted well enough, and was quite patient with Giggles when she took kitty for "walks" and snuggled her.
In the past ten days her condition deteriorated noticeably. Her hindquarters were almost not functioning, and she walked very unsteadily, almost sideways at times. She was barely eating or drinking, just lapping up a bit of water. Her weight had already dropped significantly, and by now she was little more than skin and bones. I was sure she wouldn't last more than a day or two, so Giggles and I laid out my soft sheepskin for her to sleep on and put her water dish close by so she would be comfortable. But she hung on much longer than I expected, even climbing the stairs a few times and into our bed at night.
I found her lifeless body in the back hallway when I returned from work this afternoon. Laolao and Giggles had gone off to run errands and for Giggles' swimming lesson. Before they left, Giggles commented that Tinuviel looked like she was praying - her front paws were folded together as she napped. Laolao said, "Maybe she's asking God to take her home to kitty heaven." And he did. When I found her, she was lying in one of her favourite places, over the air vent in the back hall - a good place to keep cool on a hot summer day. As sson as I saw her I seemed to know she was gone. I said her name, but there was no response. I leaned down and touched her, and she was already a bit stiff. So I laid her body on the soft sheepskin and went upstairs to the sewing room. There I found a piece of white cloth and sewed two strips together to make a gravecloth for her. I found a small box, placed the cloth in it, curled her body up inside the box, and folded the cloth over her.
After supper our good friend M came over and we all headed into the small woods close to our house. Laoye found a secluded spot just off a side path and dug a deep hole. We placed her in her coffin box in the hole, said a few words, and covered her up. Over the dirt we placed a few large rocks and branches, to help keep the fox and any other scavengers out. And then we walked home. On the way home I saw a rabbit bound from the path into the woods, and over the houses the full moon shone brightly in the sky, as if to say, "I'm looking down on you from on high!"
It is a sad day, but also a peaceful one. Tinuviel had a long and happy life with people she loved, and now her pains are over.
May she rest in peace.
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