Ernie the Cat went to Heaven on Friday, July 18, 2008 after a 3 month illness. He had congestive heart failure and respiratory problems, including asthma, and in his last two weeks he developed dementia. His passing was peaceful and painless. My dad was with me as Ernie drifted away in my arms. He is sadly missed by his owner, Brenda and his kitty brother, Bert.
Ernie often took the back seat to Bert. He preferred to be the observer rather than the participator. When it came to hunting the occasional mouse in the house or the once in a while millipede or spider, Ernie pointed them out and helped track them down then allowed Bert to do the rest. He was the perfect "assist" kitty.
Ernie (and Bert) came to me in June 1994 and have shared my home since then - their presence has blessed me in so many ways.
Ernie was diagnosed with hyperatrophic cardiomyopathy when he was a kitten and they didn't expect him to have a very long life. He certainly fooled us all and for that I am eternally grateful!
Ernie loved getting massage and we both enjoyed his one-on-one time with me every evening. He liked to sit on my chest and lick my face - he purred and purred (he was a very easy purrer), and sometimes drooled, and got this totally dreamy look on his face that I will never forget.
Through a lot of major transitions in my life Ernie was always there by my side to comfort and provide comic relief when things were really tough. If I was sick or had surgery, Ernie and Bert would "tag team" and make sure that one of them was always in bed with me, looking after me in their sweet little kitty ways.
He loved his sun spot in my massage studio and was actually attuned to Reiki. He would often hang out in my studio when a client was getting bodywork and he became good friends with many of my clients.
Ernie enjoyed playing "monsters under the covers" with my toes when I was in bed and "chase the feathers" with the feather wand before bedtime. He had his favorite squeaky mice and I would often hear him in the other room flipping them about while I was working in my office.
Ernie rarely ate people food although once in a while he would enjoy some rice or spaghetti from my plate. He loved steamed kale and collard greens, especially when they had a little rice vinegar on them. He enjoyed people canned tuna, especially the juice. Besides water he enjoyed his daily saucer of Silk Soy creamer. But for the most part, his favorite food was canned kitty turkey with rice and also canned kitty tuna. He wasn't the neatest eater and after his meals he would sport a little food goatee that he always allowed me to wipe from his precious mouth.
During the last 5 years, he often spent his day time with me in my office, watching me work and often napping on my desk, in his special chair or on top of the file cabinet. He loved watching the birds at the feeders from the studio window. He enjoyed belly rubs and we would often fall asleep at night with him beside me, my hand rubbing his belly. Once I was asleep he would get up to watch the deer in the back yard but when he heard me stir, he would dutifully run back to bed to cuddle with me. What a boy!
Ernie is survived by his "mom" Brenda and his brother and littermate Bert as well his grandfather Joe and many friends who loved him. I'm sure he is running free in the fields of Heaven, breathing easy and having the time of his life with his kitty friends who passed before him. Run free, Ernie - and know you are always loved and sadly missed. One day we will all meet again on the Rainbow Bridge.
To view more pictures of my beloved Ernie, click here.
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