Pets
Related: About this forumMy sweet Don Bosco died last night
He was my cat even though he hadn't lived with me for 16 years. (It's complicated.) One day when I was living in Richmond I went grocery shopping, and when I returned I found this handsome tabby and white kitten, about half grown, sitting on my stoop. I opened my door and he walked in, explored, then sat down in the kitchen like he owned the place. I'd always had cats, so I figured that was his signal that he wished to stay. I opened the door, but he didn't leave, so I went out and purchased a litter box and some food and dishes. Once I had determined he was a young gentleman kitty, I named him Don Bosco after the patron saint of street kids, and the following week I took him for vaccinations and the necessary surgery he would have to have if he was going to live in my house. I notified the apartment manager and uncomplainingly paid the increased rent. He was a delightful companion who ate like a horse, played like a puppy(in his defense, he did seem to be largely Maine Coon), cuddled aggressively, and loved a laser pointer, jumping 3-4 feet off the ground in pursuit of it. He got to be very big and quite furry, and adamantly did not like to be brushed. I learned that he would tolerate about 5 minutes of it before turning around to swat at either the brush or me, so I would brush him in small increments.
Unfortunately, my now-husband, who was courting me seriously at the time, turned out to be seriously allergic to The Don, and would break out in sneezing fits when he came to see me. I would shut The Don in another room but it did no good, and I figured I would have to re-home him, which broke my heart. A friend who lived on Staten Island volunteered to take him but was unsure how he would get along with his own two cats; he actually flew down to meet him and they liked each other a lot. Then another friend who lived much closer said she would take him. She has always had a lot of cats and figured, what was another one/ The Don would bring her to 6 as she had recently lost one. She met him and it was love at first sight. Took him home and he found a buddy with her big orange cat Sunshine. She sent me updates on him and considered herself his foster mom. He grew to be a monster 22 lbs until the vet advised her to trim him back and he became a svelte 19. Yesterday she found him crouched by the baseboard heater, shivering. She took him to the vet, who said his kidney values were very low. He died during the night. They think he may have thrown an embolus. We think he was around 17, which is a good age for a cat. See you at the Bridge, Don Bosco!
sinkingfeeling
(51,493 posts)Diamond_Dog
(32,168 posts)I am so sorry.
Deuxcents
(16,441 posts)Sorry to hear about The Don.. 🐾
DarthDem
(5,257 posts)What a beautiful, well-written story of your loving relationship. I hope you got to see him again. Thanks for sharing and I'm very sorry. RIP, Don Bosco.
irisblue
(33,053 posts)maspaha
(225 posts)TygrBright
(20,779 posts)Jilly_in_VA
(10,045 posts)Thank you, Susan, for the pictures.
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[url=https://postimg.cc/bDcRCbJD][img][/img][/url]
[url=https://postimg.cc/jDfw81Jc][img][/img][/url]
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brer cat
(24,646 posts)I'm sorry for your loss.
KS Toronado
(17,447 posts)For some reason he liked the neighbor lady better than us and she loved him and lived alone,
so she adopted him. Sorry for your loss.
Archae
(46,373 posts)Rebl2
(13,587 posts)cat. So sorry for your loss. His name is interesting. Didnt know that was the name of a Saint.
There is a community center in our city named Don Bosco. Always thought it was named after a local person that started it many years ago. I am in my sixties and can remember hearing the name of that center since my teens.
Jilly_in_VA
(10,045 posts)There was at one time a more or less inner city boys' high school in Milwaukee named for him. It's been absorbed by a nother school now. But it's been a popular name for Catholic boys' high schools, especially in the inner city.
niyad
(113,853 posts)SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)gademocrat7
(10,682 posts)on the loss of your kitty, Don Bosco.
yonder
(9,685 posts)calimary
(81,587 posts)Don Bosco sounds like a great one. Hell be meeting new friends at the Rainbow Bridge.
virgdem
(2,129 posts)RIP Don Bosco
littlemissmartypants
(22,853 posts)IbogaProject
(2,854 posts)JudyM
(29,294 posts)in all the ways you (and Sunshine's mom) did. I can imagine the fun bond he had with a big orange boy
My heart goes out to you, Jilly, and to your friend who creates such a welcoming home for our stray kitties.
niyad
(113,853 posts)and comfort to his grieving loved ones.
I am so very sorry for the loss of your precious Don Bosco.
3catwoman3
(24,106 posts)I really enjoyed the picture of him sitting with his paws crossed. Two of our now-departed cats, a brother and sister, used to sit like that. It looks very regal.
ProfessorGAC
(65,381 posts)We're bracing. Our Greta is pushing 20. Although she's still pretty spry & alert, she's very old.
Are you going to get a new kitty?
Jilly_in_VA
(10,045 posts)I had to re-home Don Bosco because my now husband was horribly allergic to him. The Don's foster mom, who is also getting up in years and has had health problems, has only senior cats and says she isn't adopting any more, although I wouldn't be surprised if she ends up with another senior.