P.B. Maxx Hill 10/14/96 (adopted) - 10/14/05

[jeriendhal]

I popped a can of tuna for Maxx before heading out to work this morning, and he didn't come out from his usual hiding place under the dining room table. He wasn't there. We searched up and down the house, and ended up breaking out the flashlights. We found him underneath Tracy and I's bed. He'd gone up there and died sometime after Tracy petted him goodnight at midnight. He'd lived with us exactly ten years.

I drove Steve into work, after we took Maxx to the vet to be cremated. We were all crying, and Steve was utterly distraught. It's his birthday today, and Maxx was adopted on his birthday ten years ago.

Maxx was a rare cat. He had what Steve calls the Spark. Every cat seems to chose a person they love most, but Maxx loved everyone. He wasn't needy or in your face, but he was always most comfortable sitting within petting distance on the arm of the couch, and purred like a motor when you did pet him. When Thomas was born, Maxx 'adopted' him, sitting on the edge of Tom's floor mat when he lay there, just keeping watch over him. Once Tracy had to go into the kitchen for something, and she told him, "Maxx, watch Thomas," and Maxx got up, sat on the edge of the mat, and then moved away when Tracy came back into the room.

With me he liked face rubs, me rubbing my chin on his forehead, and him rubbing my cheek in return. Until he started getting sick last March, he'd even tolerate me cradling him like a baby and rubbing his belly.

I think he chose to die today, because Steve had already made the decision to take to the vet to be put to sleep on Saturday. He didn't want Steve to have to make that decision, and last might he seemed perkier than he had for seveal weeks. I think he was taking the time to say goodbye to us.


Have fun playing at the Rainbow Bridge, Old Man.

Comments

[jvowles.livejournal.com]

Oh, man. I'm sorry, Royce. Pass along a hug to Steve for me.

Maxx was a pretty cool cat.

I have this bizarre idea that our cats are somewhere in the afterlife, comparing notes on us and exchanging bitchy comments about our bathroom habits. :)

[jeriendhal.livejournal.com]

"They keep sticking themselves in giant bowls of water! On purpose!!!"

[cynthia1960.livejournal.com]

May the Lady Bast skritch him in his favorite places. My condolences to all of you.

[hornedhopper.livejournal.com]

You all have my deepest sympathy on your loss. Maxx sounds like he was a great cat.

[sabledrake.livejournal.com]

Condolences ... it is always hard to lose a loved pet. :(

-- C.

[prodigal.livejournal.com]

My condolences for your loss.

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

May your memories be sweet and your sorrow easy to bear.

[ndrosen.livejournal.com]

Please accept my smpathies. Maxx sounds like an exceptional cat.

[chaypeta.livejournal.com]

I'm very sorry to hear about Maxx. I hope Steve will be okay. At least Maxx went on his own terms in his own way and spared Steve that. *Hugs* I hope you guys are alright.

[jeriendhal.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Steve is doing okay. Friday was a very wierd day for him. It started with the discovery of Maxx, and then when he got to work, he found out he was being offered two internal promotions, either one of which would be a signifigant (20%) boost to his salary. By the end of the day he was feeling a bit more philsophical, as we all figured Maxx wanted to spare him from having to take him to the vet the next to be put to sleep as he'd intended.

Saturday Tracy's mom came down to watch Tom, and we all went to the theater to watch Curse of the Were Rabbit. Steve spent most of the movie laughing his head off, so I think he's past the crisis point now. :)