by Lynne Watson
Thomas, you came into our lives 16 years ago. You were a lost kitten. we found your owners, but by that time, (I was 14) I was too attached to you. The owners saw my tears of agony at losing you so they gave you up, and gave you to me. But now I am feeling that same agony all over again for 2 days ago you died.
You had slowly stopped cleaning yourself and your fur was becoming tatty and knotty so it was decided that you should be taken to the groomers to be shaved and cleaned and brought back to us as new. But instead of coming back to us all wonderfully clean and bright, you came back to us wrapped in a towel, your lifeless body wrapped up like a baby.
We were told by the lady at the door as she held back tears, you had accepted the bath so well, but the dryer was your fear. You had a very bad seizure and that followed by a massive heartattack took you from us.
The ladies there were all crying as they phoned to tell us you did not make it. You told us that you did not want to go that morning by clawing and trying to get out of the box, but you were forced into the cage and taken away. I pray to God that you did not think we stopped loving you. I pray to God that you did not think we had given you up.
It kills me to know that you were just a little old man who wanted to spend your time at home. It kills me to know that you died amongst strangers, in a strange place and not knowing why you were there and wondering if your family had stopped caring for you.
I do not remember a time when you were not in my life, I have to now force myself to come to terms with the fact that we let you down and you think that we let you go.
We love you Thomas the cat. We adore you and will never forget you. You are now hopefully giving our sausage dog, Sascha a few clips over the ears again as YOU chace HER all around.
I have so much to look forward to when I die. You may think that sounds strange, but when I die I have so many furbabies that will be waiting for me that I will feel I am home.
I love you Thomas, never forget that.