He had multiple health issues this past year but remained his typical self until these past two weeks. Luke accompanied me and Ryan to the vet and together we watched him pass peacefully. Liam choose to stay home, but we all joined together in the burial and each placing a memento with him.
Many of you helped us in his care when we went out of town and I thank you for that. Considering all the changes in his life we count our blessings that he stuck with us for so long.
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| His first night sleeping in our apartment. |
In 1999 he somehow convinced us to take him in one snowy March night in Blacksburg. He would jump up on the window sill (pictured behind us) and meow to be let inside. His usual entrance into the apartment was through either the front or back windows. We named him Romeo as he would flirt with every college girl on our street. He then moved with us, staying at my parents house for two months as an indoor cat until we bought our current home. My parents grew very attached to him during this time. My mother noted that he would cry to her to come watch him eat. There was always food in his bowl but he just wanted company while dining and he was insistent to the point of belligerence.
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| Blacksburg Days |
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| One of my favorite photos of him as a youngster. |
In 2002 he was caught playing in traffic and was hit by a truck. A Good Samaritan, Brenda, his angel, rushed him to Animal Control who then took him to West Frederick Vet. I will always be grateful to Brenda, Dr. Mike King and the doctors at both the vet and overnight hospital who helped put him back together. Our Grandparents Collins came and stayed with us for a week shortly thereafter and helped with his convalescence at home.
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| Romeo recuperating after his accident |
He then survived the arrival of one puppy named Oszkar, as well as two babies, Liam followed by Luke. He put up with the daycare children for six years only ever scratching them when they pulled his tail really hard.
Romeo was the type of cat that loved to explore and we'd often get calls from people telling us this very skinny and friendly cat was visiting them at their house. We'd either go retrieve him or if it was a short distance we'd tell them just to send him on his way and eventually he'd arrive back home.
He spent most his life as an indoor/outdoor cat until about two years ago when he tried to move in with a neighbor who feeds strays. After numerous times retrieving him from the neighbor's porch we finally sealed up the kitty door and he soon became my lap cat. The past nine months he has shared a bed with Liam (Liam moved into the "guest room-Romeo's room").
Our family has taken this very hard. Romeo has been with us from nearly 17 years and our house will feel very different.
Here are two of the last photos taken of him on Thursday. I didn't have the heart to take any on Friday.
Peace be with you Romeo. You will forever be a loving part of our family.
