I tried to keep my voice calm and soothing, as I gently stroked your soft glossy coat, whilst choking back a sob.  You looked at David and myself with your wonderful green eyes, and slowly blinked, confirming your understanding that this will be our final goodbye.  It was as if you were trying to reassure us that everything will be ok….

Our beloved cat Blue, has moved onto a better world – but she has left us behind.

From the moment that she was born, a tiny mewing bundle of black and white fur, I knew that she was special, and that I would always love her.

Even though she often looked at me with contempt, and on occasions would barely acknowledge my presence; I knew she loved me in return.  Every now and then, the “what on earth do I need a human for” cat mask would slip, and I would be left with a purring, dribbling ball of fur, plucking and snagging my T-shirt with big, clumsy paws.

I won’t pretend that you were perfect, because sometimes you were a little devil. You ruined several of my carpets, curtains and sofas – you’re breath could strip paint and you had a tendency to break wind when sitting on my lap.  You caught and killed numerous small rodents and birds, proudly leaving them in my kitchen or lounge for me to find half chewed.  You even left my brother’s fiancée a little “stinky present” on her jeans, whilst she was asleep in bed.    But despite your minor flaws, I wouldn’t have changed you for the world.

At the lowest points in my life you never left me.  When my marriage turned violent, and eventually broke down – you stuck by me like glue.  Unlike my ex-husband, you never judged me or stopped loving me if I put on weight, or if I didn’t wear make up – you simply accepted me for who I was and you loved me all the same. 

You could sense a nasty person at 100 paces – so when you accepted David into our family, I knew he was a keeper, so we got engaged.  As a new family; you, David & myself, spent 5 wonderful years together.  We grew so close, that we started to interpret your mews, (short mews – can I go outside please; long insistent mews – feed me now!) and we could even hold full conversations with you!

Again you were our rock, when my father passed away after a 2 year battle with cancer.  You didn’t need calling or encouraging – you could sense the grief and pain we were both suffering, and willing came to offer multitudes of cuddles, purring and dribbles. 

Just as the pain had started to subside after the loss of my father, you suddenly became ill.  You had never been a poorly kitten or cat – you had never needed many visits to the vet.  When you started to yowl inconsolably, and suddenly were no longer able to use your back legs, we knew that something was seriously wrong. 

By the time we had got you an emergency appointment, the vet confirmed our worst fears – there was nothing that could be done, other than to stop your suffering.

We sat stroking your fur softly, and your pain ended as you slowly slipped away into a peaceful sleep.  As you slipped away our pain began.

Our beautiful, funny, stinky, naughty, black and white bundle of joy has left a cat shaped hole in our hearts.  Rest in peace Blue – we love you and miss you.