Rest in Peace, Phoebe Merz
I'm so sad to have to write this. Yesterday, our beloved cat, Phoebe, passed away. It seems her kidneys started to fail on her and in the last week or so she ate and drank less. It was getting harder for her to climb the stairs, and she just seemed to want to be alone. I knew something was especially wrong when in the past couple of days she stopped coming into our bedroom at night to climb on our bed and lay on my legs or pillow.
On the night before she passed she did manage to get the strength to come upstairs and join the four of us in the living room. She could only make it to the dining room though, but I'd like to think that it was her way of saying goodbye to us.
She really wasn't the same since Mimi passed away in March. We could tell her heart was broken and that she missed her "sister" so much. They were so close and losing Mimi was devasting to her.
We adopted Phoebe in October 1995, eight months after Mimi. She was also Jon's birthday present from me that year. At the shelter they told us that it'll take a few weeks for the girls to adjust to one another and to expect them to fight. They did a little when we brought Phoebe home, but by that evening they were already cuddled up in their basket sleeping and enjoying running around our apartment and playing with eachother.
Phoebe was on the shy side, but she was full of love and was the perfect lap cat. She was also the loudest purring cat I've ever known. She was the happiest if you patted her behind her ears, under her chin, or on her belly. And the minute she'd hear the utensil drawer open and hear us call "Chop chop!" she'd come running out of nowhere, ready for her dinner. And then the purring would continue. I remember being able to hear her from the next room.
She was also playful and we have a great picture of Phoebe playing with Jon. Jon is holding a bow, which is a long stick, and Phoebe's on her hind legs with her front paws wrapped around it. I remember her following Jon with it and actually walking a few steps on her hind legs. And she loved aluminum foil balls! She'd run around the house with them, batting it with her paws and having face-offs with them like they were her preditors!
We were so fortunate to have both Mimi and Phoebe in our family, and we'd like to think that they're together again, cuddled up in a basket taking a nice nap together.
Rest well, Phoebe.
We'll always love you and you'll be in our hearts forever.
posted by Merz&Nordstrom Family @ 5/30/2006 10:09:00 AM
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