Last Days with Rosie
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AppleTV (960x540) [1:58m]: Download (613)I met my cat Rosie in 1993. Friends had taken her in off the street when she was about 6 months old. They took her to have her spayed, and during the process discovered she was pregnant – her kittens were lost. Their friend Ai, a poet, decided the kitty should be named Rosie. I spent an evening at their house, and Rosie spent the entire time purring in my lap, which convinced my friends she should go home with me. So she did, along with a case of Fancy Feast.
She was my faithful friend, always happiest when sitting on me, as close to my face as possible, purring like anything. Last year, Rosie developed cancer in her jaw, and it spread to invade her nasal passage and eye socket. When she could no longer enjoy her life, her vet came to our home and euthanized her as she sat in my lap for the last time. I spent as much time with her as I could in her last days, and documented our friendship.
One good thing about knowing the end is coming … you can prepare, and spend time together. Looking at this video makes me cry, but I’m glad I have it. I’ll never forget the little whistling sound she made when she drooled and purred at the same time, how warm she kept my feet on cold nights, or the soft feel of her fur. Godspeed, my little friend, until I meet you again.
November 25th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
I love cats. My present cat, Peanut, is 9 years old. I lost a very old one last year. He was king of the roost for a very long time. He was near blind and deaf at the end and slinked around far longer than the vet had predicted many months before.
Rosie looks like a beauty. Elegant in her old age. Sad to hear of her loss. Warm thoughts form London town.
November 25th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
Ok, now I’m completely wrecked. Rosie was so sweet. I was crying and laughing in a roller coaster of emotion when she was purrring on your chest and then decided to stick her butt in your face. I have 3 cats and they do the same thing to me. I do not want to think of how crazy I’ll be once one of them passes on. So very very sorry.
November 26th, 2007 at 12:15 am
Aw, Nat! I wasn’t trying to wreck you. But it did kind of wreck me. Until my hubby took me out for sushi and saki. A lot of saki.
November 26th, 2007 at 12:22 am
Rosie was a beautiful cat. So sorry for your loss.
November 26th, 2007 at 6:12 am
Before I moved into the house I live in that moment, I had never had a cat or lived with them before and I couldn’t understand why people would go so crazy when their cat got lost or died. Then I moved in here and my housemates brought 4 cats along with them and suddenly I understood. Rosie looked beautiful. I’m glad you got to spend time with her.
November 27th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
I think I gotta stop watching this stuff. AGAIN, I cried and cried and cried. I don’t have a kitty. I have a doggie. My “Gizmo, Wizard of Wizzlewolf” has been my absolute, 100% best friend for 11 years. I can’t remember life without him. You said something like “you can prepare”. I have already practiced the “death scene”. Despite the rehearsal, I don’t want the curtain to open (or shut, so to speak). My Giz (despite his dogness) cuddles me and gently licks my face during nightly back rubs. Each and every one of those nights, I think about the coming days. I have to remind myself to be cognizant of TODAY and appreciate the experiences Giz and I have shared.
I can do that.