We lost our precious Tori on the 29th of December 2009. Yes Tori was a cat, but he was a significant and constant part of all our lives for many, many years. He had a special personality that was unlike any cat we have come across.
Tori was a giveaway that I picked out from a farm hay shed in January 1995. I remember the first time I saw him, hiding in the corner of the shed with nothing to see but a big ball of fluff. He was a timid and scared kitten from the result of little human contact so he hid behind my brake pedal the whole way home.
It didn’t take long for Tori to settle in and start on his destructive war path!! Curtains, lounges and especially my feet hanging out the end of the bed was all the amusement he needed. He grew into the most adorable cat with a big fluffy white mane and the softest paws you could ever touch, he was so smart and at times you would think that he knew exactly what you were saying.
In 1999 I moved back in with my parents to save up money to buy a house, Tori settled in very well with the family and immediately became the centre of everyone’s attention. My mum fell in love with him and they formed a very special bond, dad would never admit it but he too couldn’t resist Tori’s unique personality.
In 2003 I bought a house and decided to leave Tori with my parents, he was getting older and I didn’t have the heart to move him again, he was home. Over the next 6 years he really did have the best life, hanging out under the palms in the warmth, cuddling up to mum in bed and laying next to dad on the lounge for “daddy time”. Tori was smart, he learnt things quite quickly and was able to repeat tricks over and over again. He used to roll over when dad told him to and head butt his leg in delight. He was such a social cat too, wherever mum and dad were around the house he had to be, even a trip to the toilet was not a tori-free environment, he would barge in for a quick pat and wait to see where you were headed next.
A few years ago Tori was diagnosed with Feline Aids after he was taken to the vet after a cat fight. We had never heard of such a disease and were told that there was nothing they could do. He could have lived for another 6 months or six years. Tori was with us for another 3 years and only really fell ill in the last 3 weeks of his life. He had sudden weight loss and lost his appetite for food but was still bright in himself. He starting having trouble walking and just wanted to be by himself. After many trips to the vet, antibiotics, x-rays and syringes of food we knew that we had to put him to sleep, a decision we just didn’t want to make.
It was traumatic for my parents to watch him be euthanized but mum thought if he can go through it, I can certainly be there. The vet was very good about all of it, she shaved his arm and put in an IV in, he layed down as if to say he was ready to go. Mum held him the whole time but did want to shout, “stop, I can’t do it but it was the best thing to do for him. And in seconds he was gone. It was so quick. And the vet checked his vitals and said, “he’s gone now.” Mum & Dad kissed him again and told him they loved him. I know he is a cat. I know he lived a long time. But somehow none of that makes it hurt any less. We loved him and that is it. We gave him so much love, and he gave it all back.
Forever in our hearts – We will love you forever.
To My Mom & Dad With Love
Don’t be sad you had to end my pain
And know that you will see me once again
God’s given me a place to wait for you
And you know what? He says He loves me too!!!
There’s lots of different critters all around
In Heaven there’s no evil to be found
So all of us just seem to get along
And Angels serenade us with their songs
People here are kind and stroke my fur
And they all seem to love it when I purr
I’m no longer sick so I am glad
Please don’t fill your days by being sad
I haven’t really gone that far away
And I’m really looking forward to the day
That we can be together up above
In this land of peace and happiness and love
