Stinky the Cat

Sometime or Other 2008(?) - May 10, 2018

Goodbye My Goofy Friend and Writing Muse

This is hard to write, and I've been putting it off for awhile. That is probably why I haven't been on Steemit a whole lot lately. Just haven't felt much like writing, and it has been too fresh and new to deal with in this form. But I feel I owe a word or three to Stinky, since she added SO much to my life in so many ways.

She was ALWAYS around, usually poking into whatever business I was up to, and provided endless entertainment and a great deal of love all of the time. An incredible friend day in, day out, through thick and thin. So, it's with a whole bunch of sadness that I finally put down on official paper, and out to all my wonderful friends on Steemit, that Stinky the Cat has passed away.

She will be missed more than I can put into words. And every day suggests this more and more without her here to constantly 'bug' me ( :

One Of A Kind-Once In A Lifetime

My oh my, how we become attached to these little short, four-legged friends. It is truly amazing. From the first day she ran full speed into the front door, announcing we would now be living with her, to her very last day here on earth. Truly amazing little beings indeed.

There's a saying in life to the effect of: "they broke the mold. " Which means something is pretty darn good, and probably won't be repeated again. But I think Stinky surpassed this thought, and was more of a 'free form' cat. I'm pretty sure there was no mold, since this suggests possible repeatability. I know everyone says this about their pets, but I truly believe there was, and only will be, one Stinky in the universe.

And now she is gone. She had some sort of seizure, and then went down hill after that. So frustrating, watching your little friend pass on from a healthy, vibrant, nutty cat, into just a final memory. Unfortunately, I was not home when she died, which really breaks my heart.

I would love to have been there for her in the final hours, since I meant as much to her, as she did to me in life. How do I know this? When not in motion, Stinky used to sit quietly, purr, and stare at me with almost loopy, googly eyes. I don't think I've felt more loved by anything or anyone in my entire existence (Sorry Mom). I don't know why it transpired that way. I guess it just 'was'.

But in the end, she did not die alone, @haphazard-hstead was with her, and in that I can at least take comfort. Though I WILL say putting her in the ground at the end of the day, was one of the hardest things I've done in a long, long while. Something that has to be done, but truly breaks your heart.

Gone - But Not Forgotten

As I said before, it is truly amazing how attached we get to our pets, and how many things, places or activities around the house remind me of Stinky, and the fact that she is no longer here. A 'few' examples:

There is no cat in my lap as I write this, purring as loudly as she can, occasionally choking herself in the process
This morning there was not a cat sitting at her food bowl, looking up and mouthing an almost silent "aaak, " because she could not meow like a regular cat (never did know WHY she couldn't meow)
There was no furry, extra 'counterweight ' on my chest this morning, when I did my daily sit-ups
I did not have to fill the bathroom sink with water when I was done with it, so she could get a cold drink at any time of the day
There are no little padded, full-speed foot-beats of Busy, as we called her, running to and from the office, where I sit and write
While sitting at the computer last night - I heard no cat "drmmp drmmp-ing" across the outside roof overhead in the cool night air (I have NO idea what she was always doing up there, running around in the dark, before I let her in for the night)
Whenever I open the refrigerator door, there is no longer a short, brown cat running up at full speed, then peering inside at the shelves, no doubt wondering: "....snacks? "
There was no nutty cat this morning, pulling herself up onto the sill with front paws like a gymnasium pull-up, then climbing in through the bedroom window, inquiring about breakfast, before settling onto my pillow'd head to wait. (She would climb OUT the window first, while I was fast asleep. Probably to go back up on the roof, to see if anything had changed during the night) ???
There will no longer be a cat lying in the middle of the scene, whenever I set up a Steemit photo shoot
Finally -- I now have to come up with writing stories on my own, or from the other, less creative cats, which is just not the same -- without Stinky the Cat's incredible sense of humor and wonderment toward life

One of Many Un-Finished Stinky the Cat Projects

I was patiently waiting for her to finish 'opening' the latest bag of Kibbles -- For a future post

_{Stupid Kevlar Bag Anyway}

The Furry Muse

Stinky was a huge part of my daily life, and my writing and photography life as well. Always an inspiration, due to all sorts of goofy behaviors, she was often included in my posts. Below are the writings and things we put out together, in the last 18 months or so on Steemit.

Posts About Stinky the Cat

A Letter From The Cat
Cats Really Do Have It Made
A Brand New Bag
Stinky the Cat Learns To Post On Steemit
Tax Day Blues
Kevlar Stink
B&W Challenge Cat
Look What Came In The Mail-No. I
Kitty Furball Upchuck
Sublime Sunday-No. I
Sublime Sunday-No. II
Look What Came In The Mail-No. II

And of course, at the bottom of every post -- Cat Facts -- Often about and/or 'written' by Stinky the Cat

grandma cane airport Maybe reused Stinky typing 297kb.jpg

Stinky The Cat Memories

Though it was far too short, I feel more than fortunate that I was able to spend 10 years of my life with Stinky. There is a good chance you will see more stories put out about her, something along the lines of My Life With Stinky. It just seems like the thing to do.

She gave me SO much joy while living her life, there is no reason not to continue on with some form of this journey. At least in writing and photography. There are many memories still wandering about in my head. All asking, like a chubby brown cat sitting at the screened-in back door, to be let outside to the world.

Thanks for sharing her time with me, and for supporting both me and Stinky the Cat on Steemit. I know she greatly appreciated it, and if she could, she would no doubt eek out a resoundingly quiet "aaak" to you all, from Stinky the Cat.
Rest In Peace, my friend.

~ Stinky the Cat ☺ Gallery of Images ~

"Helping Out " During A Laundry-Sock Photo Shoot

Purr-rusing the Neighborhood With My Special Cat En-Shoulde're

_{She loved walking all around the place, draped as a mink-kitty stole}

A Bit Of Much-Needed Comic Relief

"Whaa-aaaat....?"

Christmas 2018 - Getting A Bit Gray - But Still Loving Life To The Fullest

The Smartest, Most Curious and Interesting Cat I Have Ever Met -- And I've Met A LOT Of Cats

In Unfortunate Conclusion

Stinky was an FIV cat (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus), which makes a cat susceptible to catching diseases or infections more readily than healthy cats. She probably picked it up at birth. Yet she lived a good, healthy life for the most part, for something like 10 years.

We don't really know HOW old she was, she just showed up one day, came in the house, and announced that we couldn't live without her. We thought she was nuts. Yet she proved us very wrong in the end. She is truly hard to live without. It still makes me very very sad, almost two weeks later. Thank you Stinky the Cat, for being a huge, very entertaining part of my life. Now, and until I leave here as well. -d.d.s

And, one more time: "What you up to, Stink? About one foot two?" Don't think she EVER got tired of that...at least I know I never did.

~ Finto ~

Thanks for stopping in, and reading a bit more about Stinky the Cat. And for once, that's all I have to say about that. Though I'd Still love to hear from you in the comments below.

P1000979-01 274kb.jpg
_{Editor's Note : These dividers are a close up, blur-motion photo of Stinky the Cat in action}

Saying Goodby To Stinky the Cat ~ Original Photography, and Original Discussion About Losing A Good Friend ~