Do not mourn the day of death; celebrate the days they lived

Seldom far apart
Felix in front, Buster up high

My boy, Felix cat, was hit by a car. He did not survive. They drive pretty fast on the roads. Monday, a holiday, the traffic was fast and furious, with people passing constantly and dangerously. The sound of unmuffled motorcycles was awful, as well as racing youngsters and wannabe youngsters.

Felix was not yet a year and a half. His twin brother, Buster, is ever so mushy. 

The late Oliver was killed in the same spot.

 I phoned the local Lanark Animal Welfare Society (LAWS). Yes, they'd had a log-haired black cat brought in. A couple had picked up this poor cat, struck by a car and left to die on the side of the road. It was taken to Merrickville, to the veterinarian who was on call, where the vet put him down, as he was beyond help.

I asked if we could view his body, to determine if this was our Felix. Yes, it was.
I'm so sad.


This is what I have learned.

Many of us look at where we failed, not where we succeeded. As a cat parent, I did the best I could at the time. I look at my cat who insisted on crossing the road, despite us going over, bringing him back, and putting him in a time out room.We put collars on them. Still, it did not work.

Felix, his first month with us last year.

I just didn't want to treat them like dogs. I gave up. They would drop, stop, but not roll, when on leash.

I thought Felix was staying on our side of the highway. My mistake. I laud the days he lived, and do not mourn the day on which he died. I refuse to put a memorial by the side of the road. I have to say that I am against roadside memorials. I am. I believe that a memorial where a person died focuses too much on the death, and not on the living. You give power to the place of death. It isn't fair, either, for neighbours to drive past it every day.

We gave a donation to LAWS for taking him in and getting him to the vet. The vet will send us the bill for euthanasia and cremation, adding to the irony.

The Ten Best Things About Felix
1. He was the most purry cat I've ever had. You just looked at him, talked to him, and he would begin to purr.
2. He loved 'walkies', walked and ran for miles in the forest with me. Meowing for me when I went too fast and he would lose me.
3. He groomed his brother with great attention to detail. They loved each other, getting those hard-to-reach spots.
4. He happily took all the treats our granddaughters wanted to give him.
5. He was happy for me to brush him, purring madly.
6. He loved playing 'snake.'
7. He respected his big sister, Sadie, unlike Buster who provokes her!
8. I loved how he always got burrs, and brought the forest home with him.
9. He was very affectionate with us, always snuggling in the night, often on my feet.
10. He loved exploring the wetland as much as I.

He'd launch himself up the tree

Always helped me when I worked clearing paths.

Followed me all over the wetland

He loved walkies!