Sunset.

A few weeks ago Red disappeared, which was not uncommon in his youth. But now he's a sweet arthritic old man cat and he stays close to home in Mom's sanctuary for animals on St. John's Lane. It's one of the things I think is neat about her. It's a habit I will gladly inherit and I can't wait until I have my own home.

Red wandered off, 2 weeks goes by. Mom repeatedly calling to him softly at night to see if maybe he was stuck somewhere, not quite giving up. Then she and my brother go out to a movie and just as the credits start she gets a phone call. Voicemail. Anyway it was our neighbor Velina calling to let us know that her son hears a cat calling from the sewers. Sure enough it was Red. He was stuck down inside on a ledge under the man hole. Velina's son had tried to get him, but he kept hobbling away. Mom was prepared when she got out to them. She had a little food and then Mom called out his name and he screamed out louder and more desperate. Mom took off her coat and handed it down to Velina's son and Red allowed himself to be caught. He was soaking wet and covered with dirt from feet to mid body. She held him until I could arrive. 

Together we've been trying to nurse him and make him comfortable, I got some milk replacement and he's been keeping that down two dropperfuls every 30 min or so. He's drinking lots of water but he just kinda collapses with exhaustion every time he does anything. He is literally skin and bones. We are talking him to the vet today and I'm pretty sure that the decision made will be to put him down. My little Red Man has had close to 17 years of adventures.

It was easier when we imagined him wandering off into the sunset having one last great adventure. The heart is spared the finality of death.We lost Bu in January and I didn't imagine that we'd be going through this again, it's too soon. On the heals of the news that Dad had a mini stroke has Mom and myself in super stress mode.

They are part of my family.