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Emily Would Have Hated This

8/22/2013

10 Comments

 
Typist: Bethany
Emily would have hated this blog, BlogPaws Senior Pet Month and this post about her. Yes, Emily was one of those cats. It's not that she really hated everything, She just wanted you to think she did. And she would hate that I told you that.

I met Emily the first day of winter break my first year of college, a few weeks into the first month in my first apartment. Bobbie Birdie lived with me but my mom and I decided it was best for my husky, Katie, to stay at my mom's house with her sister and a yard. Okay, my mom decided this. My mom was, of course, right. And continuing to teach me important responsible pet ownership rules I would carry with me my whole life. But that is now. Back then I was lonely for furry animal companionship. So I went to the Seattle Animal Shelter and there, in a top corner crate, was my first cat, Emily, hissing at me. I'm kidding. But she did bite me. It was a love bite. She and I truly had one of those magical love at first sight moments in the shelter... It makes my heart skip a beat to think about it even these 20 plus years later. She was my Emily, even though, when I was filling out the paper work to adopt her, they asked me her name and I didn't yet know it.
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Emily proudly loved Christmas but she would have hated anyone seeing this picture of her loving catnip.
Emily had been brought to the shelter with a litter of kittens. All of her kittens were adopted but she remained. I often called her a "Mama Kitty" even thought I never saw her be a mama. She had to be spayed before I could bring her home so she came home right before Christmas. I always wondered if Emily's lifelong love of the Christmas season was because of the extra joy shared in bonding with me and having a real home that one wonderful holiday years ago. It also could have been that I love Christmas and Emily really only ever adored two things; Christmas and me.

It wasn't that she was a grumpy cat. She was friendly and playful but she did it all under a "you mustn't notice me being friendly and playful" guise. I also had a "Dragon Kitty" nickname for her because I often had a feeling she wished she was invisible... and a very large fire breathing dragon. This was usually around dogs. Emily hated dogs. And I don't mean she sighed and tolerated them or that she ran the other way. I mean she chased after them full speed with the intent to kill. She escaped our apartment once to chase two passing rottweilers and I was lucky enough to grab her right before she jumped onto one of them. She bit my shoulder instead. Fortunately, as she aged and experienced kind dogs, she grew tolerant of them, but she would hate anyone except Tynan and, maybe, me to know that was how she felt.

Maybe it was because she was my first cat or that she really was the most wonderful furry black and white girl ever put on Earth, but I adored her. She always slept with me and she kneaded my head when we curled up at night in our younger years. I often feared I wouldn't be able to sleep without her. (And honestly, I don't sleep as well...) I still have a scar on my wrist from the time there was a fire in my apartment building and I had to evacuate Bobbie and her. I remember the feel of her silky fur and the sound of her dainty little meow.
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2006: Emily was very good about hanging around in the garden when she was allowed outside. Probably because she hated the rest of the world. This photo almost shows that she had gauntlets as opposed to socks. She was indeed that elegant. And she hated when I brought that up.
The biggest oxymoron in Emily's "I hate everything" attitude was that she didn't hate getting old. She totally took advantage of all senior privileges she could. When Jason and I would have people over or have a party, Emily wouldn't give up her chair. What cruel person would move an old napping kitty (who only I knew wasn't really napping?) All the other pets in the house knew she was boss and gave her plenty of space. The one thing about her golden years that I really disliked was that she mostly stopped using the litter box to pee. But when cleaning up yet another puddle of hers, sobbing with frustration, I stopped and began to laugh and enjoy cleaning up her urine. Why? Because I wouldn't trade a single moment that she and I shared to have not been on my hands and knees cleaning the floor. And after all that she had given me, I owed her this little piece of my time.

I knew she was going to die. I called in sick from work for a whole week just to lie in bed with her. But she was still eating a little and still walking about being bossy and she didn't seem to be in pain. When Jason, my mom and I left for our annual Thanksgiving getaway I asked her if it was alright if I go and she gave me her very typical "I hate everything" answer by turning her head and trying to get away from me. She hated serious talks. This was the last time I saw her alive. She passed peacefully laying in her cushioned box in the sunny french doors of our south eastern most room the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I wish my Christmas kitty had made it to see one more Christmas but we put a framed picture of her under the tree where she'd have set up shop for the month. And I think she might not have hated that.
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2003: As long as Emily was lording over Gryphon, she'd hate him a little less.
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2009: Maybe it was because she was too tired to resist, but Emily actually snuggled with Wilhelm a few days before she passed away.
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2008: Emily the Christmas Kitty's last Christmas season.
10 Comments
Molly The Wally link
8/21/2013 10:16:35 pm

Such sweet memories of Emily. We know there is a special place in your heart for her. have a tremendous Thursday.
Best wishes Molly

Reply
Bethany
8/25/2013 11:03:47 am

You're right, Molly. Besides Emily being my very first cat she was so, so special.

Reply
Emma link
8/23/2013 02:54:33 am

From a dog's point of view, cats really make no sense, but we have two and mom has had a cat since she was seven. She loves them and they have their place in her heart but they are so independent and usually not real needy, not like us dogs that do anything for our humans. Some cats do run the household too. What a sweet kitty story! I'm sure she is dearly missed!

Reply
Bethany
8/25/2013 11:06:29 am

You're mom is so lucky, Emma! I had always wanted a cat but my mom is allergic. It was very special to be an adult on my own and get my first kitty.. and to have her be my Emily.

Reply
Ann Staub link
8/23/2013 02:06:41 pm

She sounds like an awesome kitty :) My KKMM was also a Christmas kitty, she loved that season. I do wish she had lived for one more Christmas too. We found her breast cancer lump on Christmas day in 2011 and she didn't quite make it to the next year.

Reply
Bethany
8/25/2013 11:08:49 am

There probably never would have been enough Christmases and Christmas will never be the same without her. The fond Christmas kitty memories are so wonderful, aren't they?

Reply
Francesca Villa link
8/25/2013 12:27:34 am

I loved reading your story about Emily. I teared up a bit after reading about Emily snuggling up near Wilhelm before her death. Thank you for sharing your lovely memories. Have a wonderful day, Francesca

Reply
Bethany
8/25/2013 11:10:12 am

Thank you, Francesca. It was hard yet joyful to write about her. I am glad you enjoyed it... and maybe Emily would have been glad too.

Reply
Kitties Blue link
8/25/2013 11:39:47 am

We loved reading about Emily. Your love for her shown through your words; even though, you gave away all her secrets. What a lovely long life she had. Her death reminds Mommy of our Angel MacKenzie. He had inoperable stomach cancer (he was only 10), and his health had been failing. Our humans were going away for two weeks and had planned to help him to the bridge before they went. But when the time came, it just didn't seem right. They could tell he wasn't ready. When they returned from their trip, they arrived home at 4 a.m. and went to bed. The following morning MacKenzie begged to go outside. Mom didn't want to let him, but she felt bad as he'd been stuck in the house for two weeks. When he didn't come when called for breakfast Mom went looking for him. She found him lying peacefully under the deck. He had already gone to the Bridge. She couldn't believe that he couldn't give her and Dad at least a little time with him. Hope you didn't mind us sharing. Purrs and hugs, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

Reply
Kitties Blue link
8/25/2013 11:42:18 am

Emily was so beautiful. She looked so much like our angel Daphne. Thanks for dropping by our blog today. It is very nice to meet you. Purrs and hugs from the kitties at www.thecatonmyhead.com, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

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