On the heels of losing our Sara, we lost Bandit, a sweet, loving Siamese only 12 years old. He, too, was in renal distress. He, like Sara, deteriorated quickly. He was sick about a year ago. Went to the vet, got meds, got well…sort of. Never really came back to the way he was. And now we endure pet bereavement yet again.
Our boy Bandit
Bandit was one of two kittens born to Alisha…a feral who lived at a farm across the lane that I took care of for the owner. The elderly woman who had lived there had died and her son, whose property it now was, did not live locally. He bought the food and I fed the many sheep, goats, donkeys, geese and cats that lived there. But the cats were old and fixed. Coming home one day I saw a small Siamese kitten playing in a collapsed shed in the back pasture. Turns out, it was Bandit. I found him, his brother and his mom and started feeding them. Ultimately, I was able to catch all 3 and got them fixed (expect the vet clinic screwed up with mom…called me to say all were done…but mom was not...and she had 4 more kittens the next year! Then she got fixed!) Bandit’s sibling was Andrew…also Siamese but looked like their mom…the white/silvery body with black points and such. All had crystal blue eyes.
Bandit was a funny little guy. Andrew was much more relaxed and accepting. Not Bandit. We kept them in the tack room to teach them that this was now home and I made friends with Bandit by lying on the floor and placing him on my chest and stroking his back. Each time, he relaxed a little more, was quicker to purr and, instead of fleeing when I stopped petting him, got so he would stay. He was always a little skittish by nature but became a loving kitten…liked to get in our laps when we were outside and such. He wasn’t big on coming in the house but did occasionally. If he came into my room and I was sleeping, he would get up on the bed and onto my chest oh-so-slowly and softly and lie there…making oh-so-gentle patties. And when he was ready to leave, he would get up oh-s0-slowly and softly – as if not to wake me – then jump down and leave!
He was my muscle boy…lean and fit…and always – even when he was so weak in the end! – trotted very handsomely…to put it in equestrian terms: airy, elastic, elevated. He was also our “guard” cat…would hang out in the side yard to prevent any varmint from coming in! He was a character about water…wasn’t afraid of it..played with it…was always good natured when we “tricked” him…doing something that would make him jump and us laugh. He had great confidence and a good self-image but was not a fighter or a heckler (like his brother Wills from the next year’s litter!). He was simply a nice boy.
About a year ago, he got sick. Funny, I can’t recall what the symptoms were. Probably acting lethargic, off his food. We took him to the vet and meds were dispensed and whatever the ailment was, he got well. However, he was different. All of a sudden, he preferred to stay inside rather than go out..ever! He was a good litter box user so that wasn’t a problem and, oddly, he was not a sprayer! He chose my husband’s office as his favored digs and that is were he was 24/7, 365! Sometimes we would put him out just so he could get some fresh air and, man, he’d either turn on a dime and run back inside or would blaze around the house to the back to access the doggy door. He just had no time for the outdoors any more. And that was ok. He was a good boy in Bob’s office – until I would come and to talk…then he’d be on the prowl…walking on the keyboard, getting in Bob’s lap and such!
Not long ago, he started going off his food and the weight loss was getting noticeable – though, he was always “less than” since he was sick last year. He stopped sleeping in Bob’s office and preferred the counter by the stove – of all places! But we let him…had a thick towel for him there. And that is where we tried to feed him…making efforts to entice him with all sorts of different foods…cat foods, people foods, dog food (!). He sometimes would scarf up canned food but mostly he wanted crunchies…and would only eat various varieties of Part Mix and Temptations. Sometimes he would eat chicken like it was going out of style…then no interest. The lack of interest progressed and he got weaker and weaker. Again, it was quite fast. Interestingly, he was more interested in going outside in these last few days than he had in a year. We took turns letting him sleep on our chests in the evenings and gave him constant attention and love…probably to the point of being annoying for him at this stage. I had had him sleeping on me early in the morning then put him on the floor, snuggled in a towel while I went out to feed the other cats. When I came back in, he was gone.
Bandit was a very special kitty…to both of us and he is sorely missed, creating big aches in our hearts. However…Bandit is released from his limitations…he is restored to his handsome self…he is enjoying the company of his mom and brother Andrew and all the others. And will be there waiting when we get there.
Here’s to you, Bandit boy! We love you and miss you and will never forget you!
