Taki

  From the moment I saw this tiny little grey kitten being born to a feral cat I had rescued a week earlier, until the day he left me 18 yrs. 7 months later, I knew there was something very special about him.  I remember holding him in the palm of my hand, like a little baby bird, and falling asleep with him in my arms; all the while Taki thoroughly enjoying all the attention.  Some cats don’t like to be held, others do.  Taki was in the “I do” category, and couldn’t get enough of you.  If I moved off a chair while he was sleeping on my lap, he yelled with disgust at me for disturbing him and cried until I came back and put him back on my lap.  
Our bond was sealed those first few days of his life, and Taki never left my side; following me everywhere I went and poking me in the back with his paw (and crying) if he thought I was ignoring him.  I decided to name him Taki because he talked so much.  Taki in Arabic means talk, so it was a very fitting name for him.

I remember how we’d play hide and seek and how he would cry if he couldn’t find me.  We used to have such fun, especially when seeing him run away to hide and seeing his big backside sticking out a mile away—a dead giveaway.  During the night if I woke up, he would tap his paw on my face because he wanted me to tickle him under the chin.  If I fell asleep doing this, which I inevitably did, he would gently tap his paw on my face to wake me up to say “again.”  He was such a loving cat and just loved cuddling in bed with me and was always quick to chase my other cats away if they tried to get near the pillow or on my lap.  Those were his spots, and they weren’t allowed to get too close to me, not if he could help it.  He also loved when I kissed him under his belly...He was a little kinky, I think!  Taki also loved to eat (and sleep) and never left a morsel of food on his plate in all the years I had him.  He really lived the life of Riley, but he gave so much love back in return, that I would have done anything for him.  

Having to say goodbye to my little angel was extremely painful, since his death was not expected at all.  He had just received radioactive iodine treatment for hyperthyroidism, which had been successful, but something else was now slowly killing him.  I will never know what took Taki’s life, but as the days passed by, and  I saw him getting weaker and weaker, I knew then that I did not want to take him back to a cold, sterile hospital to euthanize him.  He wanted to be at home with me—I wanted him to be at home with me. I did not want him to endure the stress of any more trips to the hospital, something he hated so much.  

At this point, I didn’t even know if I would be able to find someone on such short notice that would come to my home, so I was pleased when someone from another veterinary clinic recommended Dr. Forslund for at-home euthanasia.  From the moment I talked to Dr. Forslund, I found her to be a very caring and compassionate person, and she didn’t rush me into making any immediate decisions about Taki.  She just told me that she would be there for me when I needed her.  It was so nice to know that I could call her when I thought Taki was ready to leave this earth.  It gave me such peace of mind and took the worry of transporting my very sick cat to place he did not want to go.  
When the day finally came, and Dr. Forslund came to me home, she still did not rush me and allowed me whatever time I needed to say my final goodbyes.  I held and caressed Taki, giving him lots of kisses and telling him what a marvelous cat he had been; how much I was going to miss him, but that I, too, would see him one day soon.  Taki felt no pain and peacefully passed away in the comfort of his own home with the person he loved, and who loved him so very much.
I hope others reading my story will do the same kindness for their beloved, loyal friend instead of taking their pet to a place they do not know or do not want to be.
Taki will always be in my heart forever, and I will miss him forever…
This is my final goodbye…
Love always…
Christine Kakour
Orange