We’ll Miss You So Much More Than A Lil’ Bit
Today is an extremely difficult day for the BIYFamily, and especially for BIYM. We had to put down our beloved cat Lil’ Bit early this morning. She was a 16-year old Cymric (long-haired Manx), who BIYM’s had since she was a kitten. We discovered about three weeks ago that she had a tumor near one of her shoulders, and sadly her health deteriorated very quickly. She will be tremendously missed.
I’ve never been a cat person, but not long after BIYM and I started dating, Lil’ Bit won me over. BIYM named her Lil’ Bit because she was so incredibly small. For most of her life she weighed somewhere between 4-6 pounds. I couldn’t help but love it when my new girl’s precious teeny-tiny little Tribble cat sidled up next to my leg and purred. She was as sweet as they come.
Lil’ Bit was no delicate flower, however. She may have been as tiny as Tom Cruise, but she could hold her own. When we got our dog Peanut a few years back, BIYM and I thoroughly enjoyed watching them test each others’ boundaries. Let’s just say that when the bell rang, Lil’ Bit was Sprint’s Mobile Broadband to Peanut’s Cingular EDGE. In fact, she was the most dog-like cat I’d ever encountered. I tried throwing her a frisbee once, but the abilities didn’t extend quite that far. I’ve never had more fun with a laser pointer in my life. And watching her pounce on dust-balls, or box a feather-on-a-string was non-stop entertainment. She was so full of energy and spirit.
Lil’ Bit had some endearing little quirks as well. Cymrics have no tails, so to compensate for balance, their back legs are a bit longer than other cats. When they walk, they have a funny swagger about them. I always expected to hear a burlesque-like ba-dump-chhh ba-dump-chhh drum beat every her little hips swayed back and forth. When she ran, she looked like a bunny rabbit.
She was allergic to EVERYTHING. When I first met Lil’ Bit, she had an inverted mohawk straight down the middle of her back. The cat would literally lick her hair down to the nub, so she could get her little sandpapery tongue to the epicenter of the itch. After a few visits to the vet, he concluded that her problems were primarily food related, so he started her on a special diet: Duck and Venison. Thankfully, he assured us we would not have to prepare any kind of orange-almond glaze, or mint jelly as a side dish.
As we sat petting Lil’ Bit last night before we went to bed together for the last time, BIYM fought back tears and wondered aloud why we keep pets, knowing that we will ultimately lose them in such a short period of time. I didn’t have a good answer at the time. But I think it is because we crave the love they have to give, just as much as they crave it from us. The relationship we have with our pets, just as with our children, is based on pure, unconditional love and loyalty. And that is why losing them is so hard.
The comfort for our pain, of course, is the lasting memory of our beloved. We will miss you more than just a Lil’ Bit sweet girl, and will remember you fondly, always. May you frolic freely in the green grass, and have all the chicken and tuna your Lil’ heart desires until we meet you there.
I’m not a cat person either, but that’s the saddest thing I’ve ever heard.
Hope ya’ll are alright!
I’m sorry. Losing a pet sucks. I’ve had to put a cat down before and it was one of the hardest things I had ever done.
Buddy, I’m really sorry. Give my best to BIYM and the rest of the family.
So very sorry to hear of the loss. It’s always hard to lose a special family member.
Dear Lord in Heaven,
Thank you for giving us our special little pets to love. As you know, there is no better example of Your unconditional love, than that shown to us by animals who cannot speak to us except by their eyes, licks, rubs, and purrs. They don’t care that we are not perfect. They forgive us in all situations and allow us an unembarassed request for affection. At the end of a really bad day they are so happy to see us no matter what. In caring for our pets’ daily needs, we are taken away from our own daily needs and learn to serve one another. Death comes to all of us, animal and human, and that is the natual passage for all life. May Lil’ Bit sleep on in an eternal slumber in Your Godly care as all creation awaits the joyful fullness when we are together without fear but know pure joy! Thank you for the pure love of L’il Bit!
Mom
So sorry to hear this. We too have a cat that has us wrapped around her little paw. I so dread the day when we’ll have to say goodbye. But all those times of receiving unconditional love makes the short time we have them worth it.
Best to you and your family.
Although I never saw Lil’ Bit when we visited due to the Bugs and Big Daddy Dr. Dave having allergies to those precious purring creatures, I felt as if I knew her. Having lost so many loving and wonderful pets over the years, my heart goes out to you and BIYM, not to mention Albert and Peanut. She needed you and you needed her. May the Lord bless Lil’ Bit and all the BIYF family.
Im really sorry and we hope you and the BIYF gang will remember Lil’Bit as a cool kitty. We understand what you are going through.
I’m so sorry….It’s one of the hardest things in the world to do – even when you know you are doing the right thing. Working for a vet, I go through this almost daily. Many many times we cry right along with the owners. They do give us unconditional love and we can learn so much from them. She was a beautiful little kitty and now even more so…she has wings….Steph
We had to put ours down over a year ago, it was hard…and sometimes I still look for them in their “spots”…
- Jon
- Daddy Detective
- http://www.daddydetective.com
So sorry to hear that. in the last 6 months we lost 2 kitties. one got hit by a car and the other was just old. 16 or 17 and she went in her sleep. It is so hard, but like you said, the amount of love you share with your pets is awesome.
So sorry to hear that. It happened to me a couple of years ago….it’s just hard to deal with. What an adorable cat too. [{}]
I’m sorry about your cat. Putting down an animal is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It’s so hard–like losing a family member.
I enjoyed reading your post, and the last two paragraphs made me hold back tears.
Hugs to BIYM.