Saying Goodbye to Prissy

Sadly, it’s time for the post that I knew would one day have to be written. We lost Prissy early Sunday morning, between 1 and 2 am – she always was the dramatic type.

If you have pets, you understand that I am completely and utterly emotionally drained.  Of course I’m relieved and grateful that she didn’t suffer.  I’ve been praying to that end for over a year.  I also prayed that I’d be able to tell her goodbye, something that I was also able to do.  However, even though I’m thankful, I honestly just wants to lie across the bed and cry until I forget how to stop.

We had that beautiful little girl for over 20 years! It seems so out of the ordinary and so impossibly unreal that I can’t walk into the next room and hear her purr as I pet her head and kiss her precious little nose.

When she first came into our family, she could sit in one of my hands. Her little face was so full, she almost looked like she’d topple over face first. Her body caught up to her cheeks (did it ever!) and she became one of the vainest, most beautiful cats I’ve honestly ever seen.

She was extremely active, nosy, spoiled and pampered for 20 years. Well, active’s pushing it a little bit. This past year saw her slow down a great deal – plus she lost her sight entirely.  Right before her sight was gone completely, I got some catnip filled toy mice for our cats.  I didn’t figure Miss Prissy would be interested, so I just got her one of her favorite snacks.  She showed me!  She waltzed over to Alexa’s mouse and swatted it away from her (as you can imagine, Alexa bugged out and looked at me in shock).

Alexa laid down to see what Prissy would do next, and I plopped right down in the floor with them.  Prissy batted it toward me and I sent it back her way.

She sniffed it a few times then walked toward me, meowing  – pretty pleased with herself.  She ate her snack, then went back to the couch.  When Alexa was sure the path was clear, she gave the catnip mouse a workout he’ll never forget.

We had to move Prissy into our large laundry room so she wouldn’t hurt herself. The last straw was a few months ago when the little nut somehow managed to crawl up on a toilet seat to get closer to one of my daughters who was doing her hair. She carefully got her down and brought me my little mountain goat, planting kisses on her head the entire time. (There was something about that little head that made you want to cover it with kisses!)

The thought of her breaking a leg, after living such a long, pain free life killed me, so the laundry room became her bedroom. She had a huge floor pillow and a pink baby blanket for a bed, a basket with covers across it for crawling into – it was her favorite spot during the day.

When she first moved into the laundry room, I’d get her out a few times a day. She’d lie in a bean bag while I worked. But about 4 weeks ago, she lost interest in doing anything but sleeping and eating. Eating was the only thing she loved more than being told how beautiful she was! When I picked her up, she still purred, but somehow it seemed to bring her discomfort.

When she didn’t eat anything at all Saturday, I knew that Sunday would be my first day in over 20 years without my sweet, beautiful little Prissy.

My husband, who became a “cat lover extraordinaire” the minute he saw that little wide faced white kitten, built her a little brick memorial in the corner of our yard. Fitting for a diva! I’m going to plant the most spectacular flowers around it that you’ve ever seen. They won’t be 1/4th as beautiful as she was, but I think she’d be pleased.

Alexa always deferred to Prissy, even though she was twice her size and 1/5 her age.   If Alexa was eating or drinking when Prissy came into a room, Alexa would stop and walk a few feet away.  She’d honestly wait until Prissy was finished before she went back to eating.  It didn’t matter if Prissy was at her own dish or Alexa’s – Alexa would make way for her.

Alexa has seemed sad the past few days as well.  A cat that normally plays for hours a day, she has barely even looked at her toys.  She’s sitting quietly on the computer desk beside me, almost as though she knows what I’m doing.  I’m sure the tears are giving me away.

I think it’s time for Alexa and me to find a few catnip balls that need a little attention.

Click HERE to read my little tribute to Prissy on Self Help Daily. I’m trying to stay as busy as possible – to keep my mind on a million other things. Because the minute it pauses, the sense of loss is overwhelming.

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