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In January, I lost my dear friend and companion, Fleetwood, a truly glorious jet black cat. The day he passed, I wrote him an obituary:

This morning, just after 7:00, my friend Fleetwood, an enormous domestic shorthair black cat who had brought joy and peace to my life for 19 years laid down his noble head for the last time in this life. As a lover of animals, I have been blessed to know many fine creatures in this life ... but none to rival him.

He was, quite simply, the most extraordinary animal I ever have met. His devotion to humans in general and us in specific was unparalleled in my experience. It was not even necessary to pet him to bring him joy. Ofttimes he would sit in a chair where he could see us and just sit and rock peacefully with his eyes squinted (a cat's smile) and purr so loudly you could hear him across the room.

Or he would climb up on the couch beside me if I was reading, and just rest his head against me and lean into me and purr so hard that the vibration resonated through the upholstery. There can be no doubt that he truly loved people, and he loved my wife Suzanne by far the best of all.


It was a running joke between us that he would rather have her poke him with a sharp stick than have my best petting. It wasn't far from the truth. He worshipped the ground she walked on, and loved her fully and unconditionally every day of his life. We were leaving Suzanne's mother's house in a driving early spring thunderstorm when we heard a shriek rising above the din of the driving rain. In a low limb of an old silver maple by the driveway crouched a tiny little black kitten, so small you could hold him in the cup of your hand and with a tail longer than his body.


The instant that Suzanne touched him, he snuggled as close to her as he could get and purred more loudly than any cat we had ever heard. He spent as much as possible of the next 19 years in that position. He very nearly died over a year ago, and was saved (at insane expense) by a magnificent local animal hospital. Just after Christmas last, he suffered a stroke and was left unsteady on his feet and somewhat disoriented. I researched his condition on the internet and determined that there was no generally accepted treatment for this condition, but that most recovered as much as possible on their own and remained good pets.


This was proven out in his case, and the ensuing weeks showed gradual improvement until he had regained virtually normal function ... and there was NO personality change whatsoever. Just over a week ago, he was stricken by a series of strokes that gradually debilitated him, until by yesterday he was virtually immobile. By yesterday afternoon, he had ceased food and drink, and by last night was so weak that he was drifting in and out of consciousness.


Late last night, he had a moment of lucidity, looking me full in the face with clear eyes, raising his head and lashing his tail in a happy, languid manner. I just knew that I was seeing him for the last time in this world, and my tears made dark circles in his glossy, ebon coat. I gently laid him down and covered him in his favorite thing, a cashmere scarf that I had bought for Suzanne. She loved it and wore it all the time, and her scent on it comforted him in his final hours.


I buried him deep in the black river-bottom loam at the foot of a towering black walnut out back this morning. His like will not come again ... the most loving creature I have ever seen, period. I buried a big chunk of my heart with him. Goodbye, Sweetwood.


People do not behave like animals. Some of the best of us sometimes approach the simplicity, the purity, the honesty of our four-footed companions.


Gwhit

I only had dogs growing up - sometimes a whole porch full of them! Every stray in three counties found its way to me. I put up hay as a lad, working 14-hour days in the blazing heat to buy dog food for my boys!


Cats came with my wife. I had never really known one, and it has been a revelation. Dogs are unquestioning unconditional love. Cats are complex creatures who choose YOU ... or not. I love them so. Besides my bride, they are the best thing ever to come into me life.