Monday, March 21, 2011

Dylan . . .

Blogging will be a bit irregular for a while, but I've had a number of concerned emails  after I said  that Dylan had gone missing and then  - because of other circumstances - left you all in suspense about him.

I've been in suspense too, hoping and wishing that he would come home, sauntering into the house with the swagger he had even though he was such a small cat.  But sadly he hasn't been seen for over two weeks now. 

I've hoped that someone thought he was a stray and took him home. This has happened before when a group of schoolgirls saw how tiny and thin looking he is  - in spite of the fact that is wonderfully fed and spoiled -picked him up and were heading home with him. But sadly I also know that he was round about 17 - being a rfescue stray we never knew exactly how old. And elderly  cats do go away from home when their time has come  and die quietly elsewhere.

We asked everyone we could think  off, posted  flyers through doors in the nieghbourhood - nothing. So I'm very  sadly resigned to the fact that he's gone.  He was a free spirit, and as The Offspring said, always in charge of his own fate so I have to accept that he's  done what he needed to do.

We miss him  of course.  So much. He survived a lot - the most vicious dose of cat flu I've ever seen any cat suffer and still survive. The blindness in one eye and the way it had closed up so every time you looked at him it  seemed as if he was winking at you.

He was a literary cat,  one who once followed the Babe Magnet to a Poetry Class and ended up staying for two hours. He loved  writer friends - like Anne McAllister who had a generous hand with cat 'greenies' that he loved.    And he was a special favourite with my Mother in Law, always heading strainght for her lap as soon as she sat down. And that's made this week just that bit extra hard.   And if Biddy Coady visited then we had to check her luggage before she left just in  case it was purring . . . .


He also loved  workmen - plumbers, electricians,  repair men. He would supervise their work and get as many strokes from men with big hands as he could manage, purring his rusty 'doesn't quite work properly' purr as he did so.  And small cat he might be  but the first spot was HIS.  I'm glad that the last days he was here it was cold enough to  light a fire and let him snooze in front of it.

If you want to know any more about Dylan - or Dyl the Vyl as he was affectiuonately known - I gave him his special write up a  few years back that you can read here. 

11 comments:

Judy Croome | @judy_croome said...

Oh no Kate. I'm so sorry to hear about Dylan. But it does seem that he went off to find a quiet place to pass. At 17 he had a good life - including all the love from you - and that is most important. It doesn't make his absence easier for you, as that not knowing for absolutely sure where he is an awful strain, but it did make a difference to his life. I'm sure he's at peace and lying purring on a cloud somewhere, soaking up the sun and eating greenies! HRH Theodorable sends many purrs and meeouws of condolence. :(
((HUGS)))
Judy (South Africa)

Nicolette said...

Oh, Kate, you must be so upset. Poor Dylan. It's so hard not to know for absolutely sure, I know how I felt when Joey disappeared for two weeks.

(((((Hugs)))) to you all.

Anonymous said...

(((((huge hugs)))))Thinking of you,
Sue Child x

Anna Adams said...

Oh, Kate, I am so sorry. I don't know what else to say. Just, I wish you peace and acceptance, which you sound as if you already have--as much as you can.

Take good, good care.

Margaret Mayo said...

So sad, Kate. I'm allergic to animals so we don't have pets but I know how much you love your cats. At least you know he was happy and contented during the time he spent with you.

Summer said...

My thoughts are with you and Dylan.

BiteMeAsh said...

Kate, so sorry to hear this sad news. I lost my dog Apache earlier this month, he was nearly 15. It is so hard, but you can be sure that he lived a happy, healthy life, and will continue to watch over you.

As my 4 year old niece says "he has his wings now" ;o)

Hugs,
Rita from South Africa

Kaelee said...

Kate, As I was one the the people concerned about Dylan you know you have my full sympathy. It must be so hard not to know for sure but two weeks in the winter is a long time.
My sister's old dog went missing a few years ago. Her kids and grandkids still look for signs of him every time they walk in the woods on her farm.
Two of our feline companions are getting old. Saxon is on meds for an hyper active thyroid and doing okay. She's resigned to us putting cream on her ear flap twice a day. Amber has kidney disease and we are trying to stabilize her and get her to eat. It's going to be touch and go this week. We are hoping she will be okay for a while yet.

Julie Cohen said...

I loved Dylan. What a grand old man he was. So many hugs to all of you.

Anonymous said...

{{Kate,}} sending you big hugs from Wales.


Chris.xx.

Maria said...

Your cat isn''t that far away you know. He might be sitting right beside you as you read this. How do you know that he isn't? It's true you can't see him now because he's not in the material world, but the spiritual world isn't that far away really.....

You have some beautiful memories and shared a lot of love with your pet. I am sure he is still around....

 

Home Bio Books USA Readers Writers Contests Events Blog Links

Join Kate's Newsletter

Email Kate

Modified and Maintained by HR Web Concepts