His final hours of life...

Over the past week, our oldest cat, Banjo, a red tabby that was born in Hawai'i, has taken a turn for the worse in his health. He turned 16 years old only three weeks ago, which is rather old for a red tabby American Shorthair from what I've heard. He hasn't eaten anything in over a week, his eyesight has been drastically declining, he's very boney and small, and cries out mournful meows when he's awake, seeking the compassion and love of his 'mama.

I feel so sad for him... I know that he's confused, scared, and in a lot of pain. We refuse to euthanize him, though, because we all agree that we should not have the right to take something's life... but it's just so hard to see him like this.

Banjo is our little piece of Hawai'i. He is the only cat of my generation that we have raised from birth (all of our other cats were adopted and saved from their unfortunate fates), and he truly is our little piece of Hawai'i: both of his parents were stray cats in Hawai'i, and he lived a good year in Hawai'i, outliving all of his other 4 siblings and mother, who each met an unfortunate fate of their own. We smuggled him on the plane we took back to the mainland when we moved to Wisconsin, stowing him in with Jason (another red tabby) and claiming that Jason was a "mean cat" to prevent the airport workers from taking Banjo out of the cage.

Banjo was, at one point, our heaviest cat, weighing 21 lbs! Over the last year and a half or so, he's slimmed down. He's truly a kind soul, and he absolutely adores his 'mama (my 'mum). Oh, so often he would follow her around. Just the sight of her drove him wild!

And, soon... he will no longer be with us. He will join Missy, Jason, Peppers, and Cinder (the deceased cats of both his and my lifetimes) in the great fields of catnip high above the sky. He has been a part of my life for 16 years - almost as long as my BROTHER has been a part of my life (16½ years). I will miss him...

I really hope that he is able to pass away before we leave to go on vacation. The thought of him dying alone is too dreadful to even think about. His final hours of life without the comfort of his own family. His 'mama. I really, really don't want that for him. We leave in three days. I don't really see any possible way he can live that long, but I wish that he can get his peace before that, as much as I don't want him to leave us behind - and I'm sure he thinks the same.

To honor Banjo, I am going to change my Featured Deviation to a picture that I took of him a few months ago that looks exactly the way I want to remember him by.

I will edit this when he passes... even though I know it's none of your problems, I just feel like I have to.

I was going to say some other things, like about how the Pokemon TCG Tournament went and about some crazy stuff with my Nintendo DS, but I think I'll do that tomorrow. I just want to leave this entry as is, for Banjo.

Rest soundly and peacefully,
dear Prince of the Island Paradise.

~ MY FRIENDS ~




[still reconstructing list - please post if you aren't included!]

~ CLUBS I AM IN ~