Two days ago on December 10, 2018, Boo passed away at the age of 15 years (roughly). He was my only true friend. The only one who didn't judge me for what I look like, what I did or didn't do with my life. He was my quiet companion who always was so willing to show affection to me when I would have him. I'm afraid that I'll forget the little things about him, so I've decided to write them here on my blog so I can look back and remember who he was, what he was like.
I got Boo back in my 2nd year of pharmacy school I believe. I found an ad on Kijiji saying he was free to a good home, that he was neutered and loved to cuddle and get brushed. I was lonely and isolated from people at the time and wanted a companion at home. He was delivered to me by the owner's son/brother? all the way from St. Albert?. The young man who looked and acted like he smoked one too many joints seemed almost hippy-like, insisting that my boyfriend and I give him a hug to finalize the adoption. Anyway, that's not really important. I first time I saw Boo, I was surprised by how big he was.. he was more like a dog than a cat. I then noticed how pretty his face was.. a small, dainty face with big blue-green eyes. Unfamiliar with the new environment, he immediately took shelter under my bed. That same evening, he was cuddling with me on top of the bed. Boo was always quick to warm up to anyone, as long as they let him sniff their hands to be familiar first. You reach your hand out, let him smell you, then he would rub his head on your hand as an invitation to start petting him.
The next morning, I immediately regretted my decision of adopting this cat. Boo kept on meowing repeatedly, and I had no idea why. Annoyed, I left my house to take a walk. I eventually learned that he just wanted to be coddled/petted. Boo was a needier cat than my previous cats, but returned the love with equal urgency in the form of cuddles and licks on your shirt. So curious.. I never knew cats kissed their owners. Boo was unconventional for a cat, and never distanced himself from me, but the opposite.
Boo would get excited whenever company arrived or when I would talk on the phone. I think he grew up in a busy household where there was alot of conversation because he would love it when I would turn on YouTube or talk to anyone. He always wanted to be part of the group whenever Choi would come over, wanting to know what we were doing.
Boo had a very faint voice, and the first half of his meow's were muted. The vet later on told me that it's due to old age, like what happens to humans. Also, the tip of his tail was crooked, probably from a past injury, but I managed to straighten out a bit over time by massaging and gently realigning the tail bone. Boo had a small black dot on the tip of his nose, and although he was a tabby cat, his fur was more faint orange/yellow. I always thought his fur was just greying from old age like humans did. I'd imagine his fur being more vibrant when we was a young kitten. He hated showers/baths but I made him shower with me occasionally. I would always be scared that the people living upstairs would think I'm torturing him and call the cops. Boo and I bonded the most through cuddling together, where I would sit crossed legged, and he would lie on my lap like it was a nest. He was heavy, but not heavy enough to cut off the circulation in my legs. Boo had lung and stomach problems. He vomited often if he ate food he was intolerant to.. and it took trial and error to see what he would tolerate. He once projectile vomited milk all over my stairs and couch. He would have occasional asthma/hiccup-like spells of dry coughing/wheezing where he could exhale forcefully over and over, like he was coughing up a hairball, except he wouldn't. These spells usually lasted for only 20 seconds. I always knew his bad lungs would be what would kill him.
Boo came to Calgary with me when I would visit my family, and my brother Jason would love to play with him. Their relationship was one-way. Boo even came with me and Choi to Banff when we stayed at a Moose hotel?
Through all the adventures we had together, I think we bonded the most through everyday interactions and quiet companionship. He would greet me in the mornings when i would sit on the toilet, asking for a pet on the head. He would ring his voice like he was singing whenever he was happily surprised, like when I suddenly touched him or called his name or opened a can of wet food.
He slept most of the day and cause mischief at night when he thought no one would catch him. I would find tuffs of hair and bite marks on the plants on my kitchen counter, and paw prints on the frying pan. If I got mad at him, he would crouch low like he was ashamed and quickly scurry away into hiding. He was sassy though, he would hiss at you if he felt cornered or afraid, and wouldn't be afraid to bite or scratch you if you came too close during these times or if you petted the bottom half of his body/paws. Later, I was the only one who he let do that to him. I established my dominance, and he was very passive and submissive to me from then on.
It's so weird how you continue to learn things from people/pets after they've died. Already, I've learned to not care about the small insignificant shit in life.. aka. What other people think of you. This is something I've struggled with my whole life, and the day Boo passed away, I've never performed better at my work (according to my boss). That whole shift, I was focused on my task, less worried about what people were thinking. In and out. No fuss no muss, no time for extra thoughts that served no purpose. I didn't want to be at work, but it kept my mind busy, away from my thoughts of Boo's death. Another thing I've learned (to remind you, it's only been 2 fucking days thus far) is to treasure the people who matter to you. Don't leave room for regrets. Love them now while they and you are still alive to do so. TAKE PICTURES of moments you want to remember. Pictures of Boo is currently helping Choi and I in dealing with our grief. Crying and laughing at the memories, sharing ones we didn't know before, and just knowing we are the only 2 people who were close to Boo during his last years alive helped us bond closer together.
I have so much to thank Boo for. He inadvertently made my life so much brighter and more peaceful.
I will always miss Boo. It all seems so raw still. He died only 2 days ago but it feels like a year ago, and I'm afraid that I'll forget how he was. I'll continue to add to this post as I remember more memories of him. I love you Boo, you're such a good boy. I love you! *kiss*
