Strider, RIP, 2009-2018

Kim found Strider this morning when she checked on him at 2 a.m. 

He'd had a rough couple of weeks after we discovered a very swollen toe. The vet amputated the toe about 3 weeks ago and we thought he was healing. But, about a week ago, he stopped eating much. We took him to the vet yesterday afternoon and they gave him an antibiotic and appetite enhancer, but it was apparently too late.

I spent every night for the past 3 weeks sleeping in the same room as Strider, to keep him company while he healed. I'm not much company while I'm asleep, but I hope he knew I was there to keep an eye on him.

We picked Strider up from League City Animal Control in late 2009, I think. (He was known as Traveler at the pound.) I think as a companion for either Mercuri or Vlad. We brought him home and into our household, but shortly thereafter he had to spend some time at the vet because of kennel cough or pneumonia.

He was an even-keeled cat, not a real loverboy, but, as you can see by the picture, he liked to keep Ella company. He would also ride on my shoulders on occasion. I would also toss him onto the bed for a gymnastic workout from time to time.

On weekend afternoons, as I napped on the sofa, he could often be found on the window ledge behind the sofa, asleep. I'd reach up and give him a good belly rub from time to time.

His other names around the house were: Strider-Bug, Bug, or Bug-Bug.

I wish his last day had not been so stressful. He was the angriest at the vet that he had ever been. He actually hissed at the vet and the tech, something he'd never done before. He got two shots and a pill and was not happy.

I wish we'd known.

Kim and I are devastated.

He's buried in the backyard.

He was, and is, loved.