He was 20 years old. He lived a very long, happy life. Fluffy soft and cuddles, unending purrs. Soft as a cloud. Always waahhh-ing and talking. Singing us the song of his people for some food and yums. He was the most patient and tolerant cat I have ever known. Best stray rescue and foster failure I ever could have asked for.
Any of you who have known me any amount of time, know that he meant the world to me. I love all my animals, but my cats are my heart. Wawa was a rescue from a farm in Mississippi, where he had been shot. Some of you who have been around since the old days of LiveJournal will even remember when I caught him and brought him home. Befriended him with hotdogs. So many people in the community came together to help support efforts for his rescue and vet care.
He went on to become a therapy cat and Emotional Support Animal. He helped me through the most difficult moments in my life. He has been a constant source of happiness and laughs, always talkative with a wide range of vocals. Many of you over the years heard him, whether we were on the phone or playing video games with voice chat, and especially when I started streaming. He was our official gaming and raiding cat, always wishing good luck meows on big boss fights.
Everyone who met him loved him. Even people who didn't like cats. He changed the minds of many people about cats. He touched the lives of many. I owe a special thanks to Sherry and Marshall, and to Brian, for when you fostered him temporarily when we were in bad living situations. You helped keep our family together and gave us hope when we most needed it. I am eternally grateful to you all.
Wawa had been struggling on and off with health problems over the past few years, mostly GI and thyroid stuff. Every time I took him in for a new senior exam and bloodwork, I feared the worst. But the vets always remarked he was the healthiest elderly cat they had ever seen, besides the more minor problems he had.
He had his recent checkup a month ago and everything looked and sounded fine, besides weight loss. We had been struggling with keeping weight on him, just something that happens with geriatric animals after certain point. He was on a special diet later in life and medication to help.
Wawa had been improving and able to eat more solid foods again, and it gave me some hope that we'd get weight back on him and he'd be okay and I would be blessed with another year or more of time with him.
His mind and his soul were always willing, but his little body just decided it was time. He passed away safe at home, surrounded with love and comfort. Wawa is in a better place now, free and whole in spirit.
He will always be with us. Energy cannot be lost. It simply changes forms.
Thank you for everything. We love you. Rest easy now my little Wah-ling.
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" We'll be alive again in a thousand blades of grass, and a million leaves; we'll be falling in the raindrops and blowing in the fresh breeze; we'll be glittering in the dew under the stars and the moon . . . " - Philip Pullman
