Goodbye Zoe

Zoe came to live with us in 1996 as a 9 week old kitten. From the start she was a very timid cat, and I used to coax her into coming to me by putting cat crunchies in my hand which she would come over and eat. We developed a real bond, although I didn't realise would pretty much spend the next 16 years feeding her like this (a big game on her part as she would eat happily enough whenever I was away)! Whenever we got any other kittens, they would end up mothering her, rather than the other way round - Kyla and Leia in particular!

Despite having suffered losses when other cats have wandered too far from the house and been hit by cars, I never worried about Zoe too much as she was quite a homebody. Happy going for a wander in the garden and driveway, but she chose to spend most of her time just pottering around indoors and loved nothing more than a cuddle on my lap.

When Ethan was born nearly 4 years ago, she adapted really well to having a baby in the house and he grew to love her too.

A few years ago she was diagnosed with a thyroid condition and got quite thin, but continuted to stay healthy. However about 6 weeks ago she started having violent siezures and I really thought she was going to have to be put to sleep. But a cocktail of daily medication seemed to have them under control and over the past few weeks she has seemed on great form. Then 2 days ago, out the blue, she stopped eating. I have hardly been able to coax her into eating anything at all and was getting really concerned.

Today, the worst happened. While I was at work, my parents witnessed her having another siezure, being sick, then she went to sleep ..... but she never woke up. I'm absolutely devestated and telling Ethan was such a hard thing to do too.

She was 16 years and 9 months old. I'm going to miss her so, so much.