My sweet but spicy and vocal Eddie came to me unexpectedly via my sister. Eleven years ago he showed up on their property one day in November. My young neice was afraid he’d starve or freeze and beg my sister to feed and shelter him. Knowing I’ve had cats for a very long time and was a long-time shelter volunteer and involved in TNR and had my own TNR colony she asked what she should do. I told her and she followed through.
A few days later she decided to take Pumpkin, as my niece named him, to the vet to check for a chip and and check him out. He had a chip but it wasn’t registered. He’d been neutered and was under 1 year old. She brought him home and put him in their large and beautiful bathroom in the basement (also lovely and furnished) to keep him away from their rescue dog Hubert who had a high prey drive. Also, they were all highly allergic except my sister and niece.
Eventually Eddie grew tired of being confined. The kids decided they should give him to me because I already had 4 rescued cats (long story on that!). So, Pumpkin, now Edwin came to live with me. I renamed him Eddie. Life after Eddie’s arrival was not the same. Not for me or my other 4 cats.
Long story short Eddie never got used to not being an only cat. The havoc he wreaked on my life and my house and the others is too lengthy to describe. He was also very very vocal and very very loud. So much so he hurt my ears. But there was something endearing about this little orange and white menace and I loved him to death.
Nine years later he was struck with cancer. It was awful. For him and for me. He was not a cat who could be treated. He was hyperthyroid at one point and because I couldn’t treat him with the transdermal he received the radioactive iodine which cured that problem. I thought that was it. He was fine and healthy. I was wrong.
After many visits to my wonderful vet and living with the knots in my stomach watching my once vibrant and unstoppable chaos machine lose weight, energy and his loud voice, I knew it was time. Thankfully I learned about Dr. Sandra. She helped Eddie cross over and me deal with it. His passing was beautiful and I was so grateful to her for making it calm and peaceful for him and me.
It’s just over one year since Eddie left and not a day goes by that I don’t miss that little screaming menace. He was a real character. I’ve had many cats over the year and I’ve loved and mourned each and every one of them. They were all special in their own way. But there will never be another Eddie Spaghetti. Which isn’t entirely a bad thing!
Until we meet again my love.
