Goodbye, Sweet Merlin

It was inevitable, but I had hoped and prayed it would be many more years before I had to say goodbye to my sweet baby boy, Merlin. His long-term kidney issues finally took their toll on his body and I had to have him put to sleep today. He had been doing great for years (wouldn’t even know he had kidney disease), eating slowed down for about 3 months (and he loved to eat), little rocky for the past month or so, then crashed in the last couple of days. I’m very sad, but I know it was time. In many ways I’m glad the end did come swiftly. I’m also relieved I’m not going to be in Kaz with my new baby boy, yet worrying about my furbaby boy at home.

Merlin was a pound kitty that I adopted nine years ago as a playmate for Callie. I got him after a “disruption” – he had been adopted out, but his fur fell out from stress and they sent him back to the SPCA. That’s when I found him, no fur, kink in his tail, but the cutest little trill, chatter, and cock of the head that won my heart. He came home with me and it has been true love ever since. He was the perfect cat for Callie and for me. I already miss his talking, his head butts, and his otter-like tummy. He dragged his favorite toy up the stairs and dropped it by the bed every night, then would drag it down to my office every morning. He was loving, playful, curious, adorable, fun, sweet, talkative, and spoiled. Callie and I will both feel his absence. My heart hurts to have lost him, but will always have a special place in it just for him.

So goodbye, sweet Merlin, as you journey to that cat tree in the sky. That warm and wonderful place where Grandma will give you way more treats than you need, serve you “lunch” every day, brush you on command, always have the perfect sunny spot to nap, and play dot with you for hours. We will love you forever.