It’s been one year after his rainbow crossing, and I’m devastated. Time shouldn’t go this fast. It feels like just yesterday we had to say goodbye.
He was 11, I had him 7 years, and it wasn’t nearly long enough.
I met him visiting my best friend at his girlfriend’s apartment. She had 3 cats & a dog.
I sat down and one of the cats immediately presented himself, they said “This one is Rocky.” He was super friendly, he started rubbing himself on my pants and head butting my hand. My roommate had a sweet loveable cat, so I was familiar with cats wanting their scent on you. Then to my best friend & his girlfriends utter shock, he jumped on my lap. They said “You don’t know how big of a deal this is, he NEVER gets on anyone’s lap. He must really like you.” I replied quoting one of my favorite anime, “A good hunter is well liked by animals.”-(Hunter X Hunter.) And I spent my couple hours there petting the new friend on my lap, while he purred & head butted my hand and face. I already felt a deep connection with this cat. He was so sweet and friendly, I told his momma, if there’s ever any reason you need to let him go, please tell me and I’ll come get him right away.
Fast forward a couple months, I received a message from her, letting me know they were moving across the country. “I know my best friend told me, I’m happy for you guys and wish you guys the best.”
Then she said that she can’t keep 3 cats in a car for a week while moving across the country, and asked one of the questions that changed my life, “are you still interested in keeping Rocky?”
I told her yes I am, and she added the stipulation, “I’ll give you Rocky, only if you can also take Nicki, they’re a bonded pair and need to stay together.”
I caught a glimpse of shy anxious girl Nicki the night I met Rocky. All I saw of her was a fluff ball mid air jumping over the gate to the bedroom that was dividing the bedroom from the living room.
I wanted Rocky so bad, I said yes to keeping Nicki too.
I drove 2 hours from my place back to their apartment, and she had them in cat carriers. She said goodbye to them, and I promised her I would do everything I can to make sure they have a good home. And drove 2 hours back to my apartment, with 2 cats meowing the entire ride.
I got back to my shared apartment, went to my room and opened the carriers.
Rocky immediately got out, sniffed me, headbutt my hand, & started exploring his new room. While I was staring at Rocky explore, I caught a glimpse of a familiar fluff ball dart from the carrier to underneath the bed. I shone my phone flashlight under the bed, and saw the prettiest little fluff ball I’d ever seen, anxious beautiful little Nicki.
My life had immediately changed for the better having been gifted these 2.
The next 7 years were filled of Rocky greeting me at the door every day, trying to sneak outside like Houdini, talk my ears off (he was such a vocal talkative baby boy,) head butt me every chance he had, playing with toys, buying cat trees, kisses, cuddling next to me (as they informed when I met him, he RARELY gets on people,) and every once in a blue moon sitting on my lap/chest. While Nicki his anxious sister/wife (not sure which) waits in her safe space (the room,) for food, hunting (playing,) and cuddles (on my chest specifically.)
His final year, I took him to the vet because we noticed he was losing weight. I thought it was because we changed his diet from free feeding dry food, to wet cat food 3x per day. I truly was in denial he could be sick. When I finally accepted he had lost more weight than just a change of diet, I took him to get checked. Vet said all his blood work was normal, which relieved me. But scheduled a biopsy because she did think something might be wrong, and a little while later the results came, she informed me he had Lymphoma. I was in disbelief. I always joked about him living to 130 with me. I thought I would have much more time with him.
All I could do to help with limited funds, was change his diet again to limited ingredient wet cat food and a lickable high calorie sachet packet, which helped, he was able to digest & have normal poops. Those final months he was not okay, he would throw up bile regularly, and pee in the bed fairly often. Being in his final months I topped his cat food with boiled & shredded tilapia. He LOVED it.
He never lost his appetite after I changed his food to limited ingredient wet food, high calorie sachet & topped it with tilapia. I was happy he was still eating & eating a lot.
But that didn’t change that, he was still getting skinnier and weaker. He stopped climbing the cat trees, and eventually got so tired he stopped greeting me at the door. He could barely jump on the couch to cuddle next to me anymore.
At a certain point, I knew he was telling me, it was his time. I made the appointment. We spent his last week talking him outside to the park, he loved rolling in the grass, making his favorite food, and cuddling as much as possible. His last day, we had him say goodbye to Nicki. I feel like she had known he was sick, and nearing his end. And took him to the vet.
He spent his last moments eating his favorite food, and crossed the rainbow bridge with a belly full of tilapia, Koha cat food, high calorie sachet, and churu.
We left the vet, and my world was shattered. My bestest buddy, my partner in crime, my baby boy was gone.
It was hardest those first few months, opening the door, and him not being there to greet me with his meows telling me about his day. Not being next to me & following me everywhere I go.
I can’t believe it’s been a year already.
Thank you for being the best friend, and the bestest boy I could ever have wished for.
I miss you, and will miss you always and forever Rock, Rockaflock, Rockarock, flockarock, Rockaford Wellington III, ASAP Rocky.
We’ll continue to watch over Nicki for you, & give her the best life with all the cuddles she could ever wish for.
