It is the end of our Kali Yuga
At a bit past 4pm today, the grand dame of our felines, Kali, passed away. She went quietly, in her sleep, not 30 minutes after she was purring happily in Patrick’s lap. (Though, happily, not in Patrick’s lap.)
She had been in serious decline for about six months. Really, we thought we were going to lose her at the end of January. But after a round of treatment she had bounced back and was her normal, dairy product stealing, cat trouncing, human loving self, albeit outraged she was suddenly a strictly indoor cat.
I was hoping we’d have her ’til the end of summer, but suspected she might leave us soon when, last weekend, she slipped out of the house and was discovered about 5 blocks away from some very kind folks who returned her with the aid of the address on her tag. Before then she wouldn’t go more than a block from the house.
She quacked, screamed like a drowning virgin,* never met a cat she didn’t want to beat up, had clandestine friendships with German Shepards, was on constant patrol, collected people, terrorized mice, performed hammer locks on birds, was always dignified except when:
- - She jumped up on a shelf full of CDs which triggered an avalanche of said CDs. She immediately tried to run up the cascade to regain her perch. But she didn’t.
- - She’s found a particularly nice patch of sun..
- - When she met Crash, Jenn and Kevin Moore’s substantial German Shepard for the first time. She was sitting on the porch rail and, upon seeing Crash, arched up so high in rage and fear that she fell over sideways.
- - Being adored by the Boys.
- - More than once she jumped to the top of an open door and pondered vexedly how she was going to get down as she swayed back and forth.
And there’s lots more stories, she had been with us a long time. But here’s one last one: Kali never accepted the fact that she had to share her house with other cats. She tolerated the Boys, but never accepted the interlopers who lived downstairs. I reckon that with Cicely and Roslyn having finally moved out a couple weeks back, Kali figured her work was done and she could rest easy.
*Thanks for that always, Dylan.
additional
The cat page that Kip created a while back for Kali and Ranger
Christopher Baldwin’s collage of all our now ex-cats.
I am sorry to hear she is gone, but I am glad her passing was peaceful. She was a wonderful, silly cat. I’ll miss her. Crash will, too.
Aw, thanks dude.
Kali has always had a place high on my list of The Very Best of Animals, and Portland will not be the same knowing that I will not be intercepted by her confident trot down the street.
I have my childhood dog’s tag on my key chain, and what’s funny is that about 4 o’clock today, I heard it clink in a reassuring way, and I was struck by how blessed I have been in my life by these warm little emissaries of peace. I know that is very woo woo schmaltzy of me, but I am grateful to have known such a fine cat, and that is the truth.
I like that story lots, I find it comforting. Especially as I plan to keep here tag and collar out of schmaltz instinct. It will have to do in place of her constant patrol for her people.
I hope that somewhere at the bottom of some well I dug in some imaginary land of milk and cheese she is in a happy place.
Sorry to hear it. She’ll be missed.
And hopefully sushi, she loved sushi, rice and seaweed and all.
So sorry to hear of Kali’s passing. Cats know when their work is done, and when they can finally rest.
Thanks. I figured you could relate to that.