Goodbye Sneakers

I did not think I would be writing this sad post today, but Sneakers my barn cat, friend, companion, is no longer with us in his physical body. I found his body outside today - no marks or anything like that. Prior to today Sneakers had been at the door first thing in the morning Thursday. He came in, had some breakfast and found a comfy spot on one of the dog beds. He stayed in all day and night and then stayed in again Friday. I noticed Friday afternoon that he did not seem quite himself, but his eyes and gums looked normal, he took interest in the feather toy, and he gobbled up cat treats. The only thing diffferent was that he looked a bit sad. Even when I was petting him and holding him he did not purr or knead as much into my clothing. Late afternoon Friday he was at the door to go out and I said - had enough inside time? Proceeded by the usual "be careful Sneaky - I love you - see you tomorrow", a last petting, and then I opened the door for him to go exploring or up to the barn - wherever he goes. Sneakers was always a free spirit - he adopted me - and I respected that he wanted to be able to come and go as he pleased. I noticed that shortly after letting him out he sat in front of the house and stared at it for a while. I saw him staring and waved to him from the window. When I went outside to do something he had already taken off from his spot. I thought his staring was odd, but now I think he was probably saying good bye to what he had chosen to call home. This morning when I went up to the barn to take care of the horses I called to him to come down from the hayloft, but he did not come down. Not unusual since he wasn't always up there and sometimes he would wait until he heard me heading back to the house. I proceeded to check in on the chickens and after gathering eggs I found his body. It looked like he was walking and just fell over. I think he wanted me to find his body so I had closure and not worried that he had been preyed upon by a predator. I grabbed his body and just held it - beyond belief that he was gone. I miss him so much. He had a huge personality. He followed me around the yard and the barn. I'd call him and he'd come running like some well trained dog. When you petted him he would climb up your leg so you would pick him up and then he was so overjoyed by you petting him that he would drool while he purred.

The reason for his death will remain somewhat of a mystery, but the kind neighbor who originally got him neutered and vetted told me that both his mother and sister (him and his family were a product of a different irresponsible neighbor) both had severe heart mumurs. She said one day she found his sister dead on her porch - no marks or anything. She just suddenly died - similar to Sneakers. In addition, Sneakers mother died in a chair inside the house one night - no evidence of being sick just went to sleep and never woke up one day. Having that information made me feel slightly better that there was a family history of this, but I find myself still expecting to see him on the porch wanting to come in and eat or hearinf him jump down from a hay bale in the hay loft and run the down the stairs to greet me while I take care of the horses. I think his spirit has already come back to me like other animals have done in the past as a final farewell. Shortly after burying him my cat Gumby (Sneakers best buddy) greeted me and climbed up my leg to be held and petted. He proceeded to knead me and look at me like Sneakers would. I truly felt I was holding Sneakers and not Gumby. I hope his spirit continues to roam the hayloft, the house, and the property. Sneakers, I love you and you are truly missed.