Expresso, February 2005 – July 2016
Personality? You bet. He loved to play, and would fetch a ball of paper over and over. He would romp around the house making delighted mewing noises, and if a cat toy was available he would chase and bat it ’til it wound up under the sofa. Then he would tell us about this tragedy until we fished it back out.
He loved water. He would stand in his wide, shallow water bowl, splashing and pawing at the water before taking long drinks. His paws were often soaked. He followed me from room to room. Wherever I was, he was there, curled up next to me on the love seat or sofa, stretched out beside my chair.
Every night, when I was sitting on the edge of the bed ready to swing my legs up and under the covers, he would come and stand between my ankles for a good-night skritch. It was a ritual. When I woke in the morning he was laying against my ankles. He hated a closed door if I was on the other side of it; he would cry until it was opened. Then he trotted along with me as I walked to wherever I was going. He was my pal, my buddy, my friend.
But after several months of battling illness, yesterday we had to have our Bengal cat Expresso put to sleep. Good night, sweet prince.
Tip the Wink 
Terribly sorry, Richard. Having lost one cat and had another face cancer (of the lip, so in the face) over the last two-plus years (along with other non-feline reverses, some more wrenching), there is such a tough sort of feeling about the loss of a non-human friend…particularly when euthanasia comes into the picture. Glad you had a good long time with the aquatic cat…and he was a handsome tom.
I’ve had dozens of cats, but never had a cat like him and don’t expect to ever again. He was very, very special.
Flights of angels bear thee to thy rest.
Amen
Sorry to hear that. He was a good-looking cat too.
Yes he was, Jeff, his coat was gorgeous.
All sympathies. It’s misery when you lose a cat.
It is, my eyes haven’t been dry much since.
I am so sad for you. We lost our cat of 14 years about 4 years ago.
Thank you, Tracy
What a handsome devil. So sad when one has to put down a pet as the only solution to its misery and illness. Joe has done it three times for various dogs since we’ve been together. One time it was very hard on both of us because we really loved his Australian shepherd named Sydney. What a fantastic dog she was. So I know pretty much how you feel right now. All the best to you, Richard, my heart goes out to you.
Thank you, John. It’s very tough, I can’t seem to concentrate today.
So sorry to hear this Richard.
Thank you. Sergio.
It’s amazing how a pet can infiltrate your life and become an important part of it. Cats are independent, dependent, quirky, personable, cuddly, touchy, sweet, empathetic, and damned good companions. Expresso sounds like he was a prince among cats. I am very sorry for your loss, Richard, but I’m glad you had eleven years with this little feller.
Right you are, Jerry. There’s a hoe in the house right now.
A cat like that is usually a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. You were lucky to have had one, and I sympathize with the tragedy of losing him.
Thank you, Bob, I appreciate that.
So sorry for your loss Rick. Know we are thinking of you and my mom and know it is not easy to loss a family member!
Thank you, Yo. It means a lot that you are thinking of us this sad day.
Sorry to hear this Richard. My thoughts are with you.
I lost a cat this year too, it’s tough. House seems a lot emptier without her, even though we have other pets about. She’d often just wonder about mewing to the world in general, and she always came trotting down the stairs to say hello when I got in from work.
Thanks. Yes, it’s tough. We have two ther cats (one failing) but I keep looking toward his favorite spot to curl up, or think he’ll join me on the sofa any minute, then I remember…
Sorry to hear this. Animals can become so much a part of us.
They really do. I haven’t pulled out of my sadness yet, may take a while.
Jerry House, I thought I had your email, but it seems I only have the addy. Shoot me an email, okay?
rkr10@comcast.net
Richard, I’m very sorry for your loss. Expresso was a good-looking cat. Pets make such good family and they are more human in so many ways.
Just returned to hear this. So sorry, Richard. I am allergic to cats but wish that was not the case.
I wish it wasn’t the case too, Patti, as then you would be able to come visit us (we still have 2 of the beasties).
Pingback: Current Reading: graphic novels | Tip the Wink
So sorry for your loss 😦 I can relate. I lost my little girl (19 years old) also this summer (in august 2016) just two days before my birthday. She had been fighting cancer and lived longer than expected but the time came when we had to call a vet and say goodbye to her in our bedroom. I have tears in my eyes just writing about it now.
Thank you, BC, I appreciate your comment. Sadly, 4 months to the day, we lost another older cat to cancer. The Bengal is the only cat I’ve had in decades that I got as a kitten, all the others are (were) shelter saves. All wonderful in their own way, but my gosh, Expresso was so, so special.