In loving memory: Nikita

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 19:14:09 GMT

Around this time yesterday, we found out that our cat, Nikita, had Acute Kidney Failure. At about 1am this morning, after most of the day keeping vigil at the animal hospital, we got a call from the doctor that they had done everything medically that they could and that her kidneys just would not re-start. We let her go about 2am.

We had adopted Nikita about nine months earlier when I saw a flyer at work that listed "Loving Kitty Needs Tranquil Home." After visiting with Nikita's owners, we found that Nikita had Bronchitis and took the same drug for it that I had been on when I was a kid for stomach problems. We decided Nikita was our cat and adopted her about a week later. Nikita was my first pet (aside from some goldfish as a kid) so I guess I was more attached than usual for a twenty-something.

Nikita marked her territory in our home including peeing on my tax forms...twice. :) H remakred that we could probably send them in since the IRS had probably seen much worse. Nikita also pooped on H's PDA which was covered and safe but a source of humor. After four litter boxes, two brands of litter, and two bottles of carpet clearner, we got the routine down.

As H's dad remarked, Nikita was a great cat. She came when called, liked to sit and be petted or brushed, and was warm and friendly to guests. I remember many nights sitting in front of the computer and Nikita would come over and meow and I would reach down and pet her. While H was in the middle of finals, Nikita would go to bed with me while H would stay up for another few hours. She would wait for me to fall asleep and then go back to where H was studying; driving her crazy with another one of her antics: eating paper.

Nikita loved to eat paper - parking tickets (civil disobedience we called it), bills, cards, tissue paper from gifts. If it was paper she had to have a crack at tearing it apart. No document was safe if it was within reach of Nikita. And she preferred bath water and puddles of dirty rain water on our deck to her carbon-filtered kitty water fountain. And cheap grocery store treats to her all-natural, home grown, Mudd Bay food and treats. She did not do much during the day aside from stalking paper, drinking dirty water, and asking us for treats. She had about a dozen of kitty toys that she mostly ignored unless we were playing and then she would sometimes ignore and then (uh) fericiously? swat or grab for it. Nikita was more of a napper than a doer. She was a great, calming companion after a long day.

I am thankful for the encouragement and sympathy of Dare, Deepa, and Jason who I saw briefly on Friday and to MG who comisserated with me yesterday evening after having recently lost his dog. Also, my officemate, Eric, who pointed-out Asthmatic Kitty Records which has been a source of humor for H and me.

H and I loved Nikita very much and we will miss her warm softness and friendly smile.

Rob Dolin's space: Personal

In loving memory: Nikita