In Memoriam: Sassy Fat Cat (1992 – 2009)
The year is starting off on a rough note, particularly for this Friday the thirteenth. Today we had to say goodbye to one of our oldest remaining cats, Sassy… better known to all friends and family as simply “Fat Cat.” (Pictured here in happier times doing her Yoda impersonation.)
I first met Sassy and her sister Spider while volunteering at a Humane Society animal shelter in 1992. As happened to many of the volunteers there, a time came when the shelter was at its maximum capacity for cats and I volunteered to take the two homeless sisters home “just for a while” until things eased up at the shelter. Of course, as everyone knows, once they come to your house you can’t take them back to the lonely nights at the cages. (You can see a picture of her sister Spider acting cute here.)
They were both small when I got them, but it quickly became apparent that Sassy was the essence of the “runt of the litter.” She was tiny and, while her sister quickly grew to normal proportions, she remained a runt. Spider was “fixed” on schedule, but our vet was worried about operating on such a small cat and Sassy’s operation was delayed for nearly a year. Finally we gave up and had them spay her. As sometimes happens with late spayings, Sassy became lethargic and became enormously fat. She wound up looking like a furry football walking on toothpicks.
While that may sound adorable, fat cats tend to develop health problems and about five years ago she developed diabetes. She nearly died from that, but the vet is a miracle worker and soon had her back on her feet. However, she had to be on shots of insulin twice a day for the rest of her life – a ritual which immediately shaped the lives of my wife and I for the years to come. Trips and visits had to be scheduled around Ms. Sassy or a sitter had to be found who was qualified to administer injections. We never resented it. She was worth every minute and each inconvenience.
This winter, her 17th, went hard on her. Complications from the long term treatment set in and led to other organ failures pressing in. Finally, it came time to say goodbye as her advanced age and complication conditions made it impractical to try anything else and her quality of life had faded and she was a shadow of herself. You can see a couple of other pictures of her if you like.
Fat Cat stealing our Bassett’s bed.
She’s gone now but, as I have in the past, I take advantage of my small bully pulpit here because I wanted others to know that she had been here and she touched our lives for nearly two decades. I suppose there was nothing all that unusual or special about her to the eyes of an outsider, but I just wanted you to know that she was a good cat. She was always a very good cat. Goodbye, Fat Cat. I will miss you.
14 Responses to “In Memoriam: Sassy Fat Cat (1992 – 2009)”
Jazz:
As one who loves pets—cats in particular–, and as one who has lost a couple himself, my thoughts are with you.
Dorian
Jazz, I was raised with cats and dogs (but am partial to cats) so I understand how much they become part of the family. I'm sure Sassy was quite happy that you rescued her from the shelter and I'd like to thank you for taking her and her sister in and caring for them.
My thoughts are with you.
They stay with us for years, then they get old, get sick, and leave it up to us to do the right thing.
You did the right things: chose her, cherished her, took loving care of her as she declined, and let her go when she was ready.
It still hurts, I know, but you did right by her all the way.
Aww, RIP.
She looks like my old girl who we had to say goodbye to last fall after 18 years. She had been with my husband and I since the very beginning of our relationship (I'm a vet and he told me that he was looking to adopt a cat- I told him to come by the clinic because we had a stray to adopt out. Little did I know that he was actually just trying to make conversation and hadn't been seriously planning to get a cat! )
My condolensces on your loss.
The girlfriend's cat is 23 years old…likely one of the oldest in the state per the vet, so if you come up with any tips for dealing with your loss, I may be needing the advice any time now.
Aw – I'm very sorry for your loss.
I have had 3 brown tabbies that look like your Sassy- all of them constantly pigged out and were porky, though none had diabetes. My latest one is 8 and he is totally fat and lazy- of course I adore him to pieces. He's always stealing food if we forget to cover it. Luckily we have a king-sized bed because he always sleeps right between me and my husband.
As one cat lover to another, I hope you put her picture where you can see it every day and cherish your memories. The kitties really do find their way into our hearts in a way that people can't.
If I may, I'll suggest a couple of tips, though everyone has to find their own way to deal with grief.
First thing though is to allow yourself to grieve- with pet loss, that can be hard because people around you don't necessarily know what you're going through (and don't always get it) so you don't automatically get that support.
Consider having some sort of service to say goodbye. Pull out all the photos and reminisce, as Jazz does here.
Consider posting a tribute on a website- google 'pet memorial' and you'll find several. I think this is particularly good for kids.
Consider making a donation in your pet's name to an animal related charity.
Then the question of getting another pet often comes up- that's very individual. Some owners need to another pet to fill the void, others feel that they'd be sort of dishonoring the memory or that they're not ready for a while. Trust your gut instinct, there's no right answer.
Be aware that any kids in the house may grieve pretty intensely, and other pets may as well. Sometimes getting a new pet helps, but that can vary too. If a dog or cat is grieving for a missed companion, they're not necessarily going to take to the new pet. If you decide to bring in another, see if you can do it on a trial basis first.
dear Jazz . . .Sounds like you had a wonderful unique kitty child and friend with Sassy. . .and truly she had a warm good human to taken her in when the chips where down and give her the best of care and love. . . So sorry for your lost. . .sending you a hug, for i know it is really rough to lose one so dear. . .
May she rest in peace.
So sorry for your loss Jazz. Like others here I've always had cats and/or dogs. They become members of the family and when they pass on it damn well hurts. I lost one of my dogs a year ago at the age of 14 and one of my cats at 18. I now have a calico and also a gray and white (who burrows under the covers in the winter after the light goes out) and an Aussie. I don't even want to think about them leaving. Best of luck to Fat Cat in the hereafter (hey, if they can have it for humans, then they can have it for our furry friends too).
I'm so sorry to read of your loss but touched by your words and pictures, Jazz. We recently lost one cat to cancer and are counting our blessings that one who is even older still seems to still be doing well. Of course there was something special about her. She was as unique and individual as any creature and your post makes it obvious how much she is loved.
I'm so sorry Jazz.
She was obviously well-loved. Thinking of you.
Sorry to hear of your loss Jazz, she looks my Leo, he's a big brown tabby tom cat we adopted in 2003.