Saying Goodbye to Eli

On September 16th, we said 'goodbye' to our sweet kitty, Eli.  He was 19 years old. We are thankful to have had so many years with him, but it still wasn't long enough. He was truly one-of-a-kind and the most loving boy. 

I remember the day we met. I had gone to a friend's parents farm to pick out a kitty, the same place I had gotten Zoe just 6 months prior. I had wanted a playmate for Zoe since she was home alone during the work day. The kittens were playing outside a shed, and I knew immediately which one was my Eli. He was the brute of the litter. Much bigger than any of his siblings. And with long golden locks. He was simply adorable. It would be a few more weeks until he'd be ready to leave his mama so I left knowing I'd be back soon for my sweet little fur ball. 

It wasn't quite time to pick him up yet, but I got an urgent call to come as soon as possible. A tom cat had gotten to the kittens and killed several of them. Thankfully Eli was not harmed. Shane was living in Burnsville at the time so he headed over to the farm to bring Eli home.

Eli was so tiny and fearless. A little bundle of full of energy - playful and cuddly with a healthy appetite which he'd need to grow big and strong.

He was also a sickly little guy (although you wouldn't know it by the way he acted) - dealing with chronic eye inflammation and rapid breathing. He'd eventually be diagnosed with asthma. 

Zoe, my calico kitty, wasn't sure what to think of her new brother but eventually she took him under her wing. Although once he got bigger and stronger than her, she mostly kept her distance. Eli played a bit too rough for her liking.

 

My tiny little active fur ball would grow up to be my big moose with the softest furriest belly that you simply couldn't resist burying your face in. 

He had the biggest cutest feet with long hairs between his soft pink pads and the most beautiful green eyes I've ever seen. 

For such a big guy, his meow was more of a "meep" so quiet and high pitched. He was a kitty of few words, rarely meowing. But he loved to purr. He loved affection so much that he'd seek it out by sitting at your feet, waiting for some loving. And if you didn't give him the pets he was waiting for, he'd stretch out his arm and put his paw on your arm or leg to make sure that you were well aware he was waiting for some affection. He was quite persistent until he'd eventually get his way.

Eli would greet our guests at the door, looking up at them with his big eyes, hoping to receive some attention from his newfound friend.  He was quite the social kitty.

Being 19 years old, he had slowed way down. His joints achy with arthritis. He found his favorite napping spots - sprawled out in a sunny patch in the family room, curled up on his scratching pad under the entry bench, or napping in the corner of the hallway next to Owen's room. 

Every night Eli could be found snuggled up next to Owen in bed or squished in with me and the girls. He loved his nighttime snuggles. Occasionally both Owen and I would be in the upstairs hall, waiting and watching as Eli would make his decision of who got first snuggles. We'd both call his name trying to persuade him to choose. He'd finally make his choice and swagger along to bed, following the lucky winner. He loved to lay on our legs or curl up next to our heads.

Eli was by my side through it all - from when Shane and I got engaged, married, moving 3 times, bringing home 5 kids, saying goodbye to two kitties. Those 19 years flew by in a blink.

He was so tolerant with the kids. They loved to play with him and weren't always the most gentle, but he rarely seemed to mind. 

He sure did love cuddling up with them for naps.

He'd often be snoozing away with his arm covering his eyes. He was such a silly, sweet boy full of personality.

He'd wait patiently anytime the kids were eating to snatch up anything dropped on the floor. He sure loved to eat! No food in the house would be safe. He'd jump onto the counters, rummage through the trash and scrounge through the pantry looking for any yummy treat that he could sink his teeth into.

In February, Eli's eye started to look odd. We took him into Urgent Care and he was diagnosed with Horner's Syndrome. We didn't know the cause, but he appeared to get better. Although our vet suspects that was the first tell of what was to come. In August, after getting home from our long 3 week trip in Colorado, I could tell something was off. Eli had lost quite a bit of weight. I brought him into the clinic and they found some swelling along his jaw. In just 3 weeks, the swelling would rapidly grow. We can only assume that it was some sort of aggressive cancerous tumor. It was too late to treat. Just 20 days after the tumor was initially found, he passed away. We had been taking turns sitting with him and thankfully Owen was by his side when he crossed the rainbow bridge. I still walk by his favorite spots and at times have to look twice, swearing that I see him, then realizing it's just a random shirt or Kate's Rapunzel wig. 

Rest in peace, Eli. We are thankful you are no longer in pain, but you have left a hole in our hearts. We will cherish all the memories. You will be forever missed.