Well a few days ago we buried him, the big guy had gotten an infection in his cheek about 3 months ago and it never healed right and he was slowly going. So we've been making him comfy for all that time.
He was our big bad ass Tom cat who fathered many a kitten and would let any kitten do anything to him. He was even teaching his look alike from the last year's kittens on what he was doing. We don't know if he finished this amazing education, but I do know young Devil is very much like Crookie if Crookie never had his stroke.
Now for those of you who don't know anything about Crookie, back when he was 3 months old he had a stroke.
He could not lift his head for some time (a week or more) after the effects of the stroke went away. It gave him a permanent crook in his neck and he had to relearn to do many things.
An fyi, what we did after his stroke and he was able to see and speak. I make that statement because right after his stroke we went fully stiff for about 2 days and we had to work his muscles to get them to release. We started him on slightly watered down condensed milk, just watered enough to make it easy for him to swallow. then when he could move aside from not being able to hold his head up (points to pic of Silver holding Crookie up) we gave him bits of cooked pork fat to get him to try to eat. We fed him like this for a week before he could stand unaided for a few minutes. We had to show him cat food was food to eat after that, then Bandit the super mom took over and taught him everything else.
Then he grew up into our big beautiful orange cat. We had a few hiccups with him as he lived. He learned that "mommie" didn't like him spraying in the house (quick kick to his backside taught him that). He then learned that "mommie" didn't like him asserting himself to the other males in the house, seems when he does "mommie" steps in and picks you up by the tail and has a few words with you. That aside he was a very good cat and as I said would let the babies crawl all over him chewing their way along. One even tried to find a working nipple on him.
Well my pretty boy I hope you enjoy your spot in my flower garden overlooking the pond. We will miss you sleeping with us this winter and I will miss how you followed me all over the property as I did my work for the day. The kids will miss how you'd turn your head a meow when I'd say your name.
There is a few lines from Watership Down that I think have a moment here:
My heart is filled with sadness,
For my friend stopped running today.
Goodbye Crookie we miss you!
Be well, Be Safe, and Blessed Be...
Pets have a special place in heaven.
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