Farewell From the Melville Cat

by | Oct 8, 2020 | The Melville/Brixton Cats | 86 comments

From the Melville Cat:

Good day, friends. I have sad news: This will be my final blog post.

I am writing to you from Beyond. I don’t know where I’ve gone, exactly. But all is well. I will try my best to explain.

The Melville Cat in the lounge
My favorite photo of myself.

Yesterday began as usual. I conducted my morning explorations and returned home at midday. Heather’s human friend Michelle was in the house, and she and Heather were eating a meal. I demanded to partake, using my usual laser stare. Heather offered me her plate but I didn’t care for the smell.

Heather received a phone call and went outside to speak. I followed. She sat down in my favorite chair and I hopped onto her lap. We remained there together, peacefully, for about half an hour.

When Heather hung up, we went inside and I again demanded food. Heather poured me some crunchy kibble, which I enjoyed. Heather and Michelle returned to work at the dining table. I returned outside to sleep on my favorite chair.

I slept, for some period of time. Suddenly I jolted awake. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t breathe. It hurt. I tried to cry out but no sound came. Then…blackness.

I realize I am a cat, and cats do not normally remember things from long ago. But I swear to you: After the black I remembered everything.

Playing with my siblings, a jumble of gray fur. Cuddling with my first human, Ms. M. Tussling with a fluffy dog. Racing up a tree, the feel of the bark, the leaves. Wandering in the road, far from home. The feathers of a bird in my mouth. The hot sun on my fur. The wind in my whiskers. The taste of chicken. The painful bite of a rival.

Smokey in flowers
Smokey on the roof

The double life I once lived. Climbing through Heather’s window, helping her mourn for Jon. Wearing the blasted cone. Moving to a new house. Running away. Coming home. Meeting Trixie, the Midget Fluff Ball Menace. Wandering the garden at night, singing the mournful song of my people.

Smokey and Jon
Jon and me.
Smokey in cone
The blasted cone.
Smokey and Trixie
Trixie the Fluff Ball Menace and me.
Heather and Smokey photoshoot 2
Heather and me.

Sleeping on warm bricks. Sleeping on the bed. Sleeping in a pile of leaves. Sleeping under a bush in the rain. Sleeping in a hedge. Sleeping on a blanket on the sofa, next to Heather. Sleeping on Heather’s desk atop a messy stack of papers.

I slept in many places.

The Melville Cat on the floor

The memories faded away. I felt myself rise above my body. I looked down and saw Heather and Michelle run outside. “He doesn’t sleep like that,” Heather was saying, staring at my body on the chair. My head hung at a funny angle. My mouth was open.

They stood next to my body. “Oh my god. What…?” Heather asked. “How…?”

“What do we do?” cried Michelle. “What do we do?”

They tried to move my body and it was limp. Heather sobbed. “But he was fine. He was fine he was fine. Twenty minutes ago he was fine.”

She ran inside, came back with the plastic box that I hate. Gingerly, gently, Heather and Michelle slid my body into the box. “He’s still warm,” Heather said. “I think he made a noise. Maybe he’s still alive. He could be alive.”

I wasn’t there anymore. Michelle knew but Heather didn’t know. I hardly knew myself. I had only been gone a few minutes.

They took my body to that place called the vet. Heather needed to do that because she needed to be sure. I understood. But I didn’t go with them.

I stayed in the garden, with the flowers and the trees and warm bricks and the sky. I looked at Trixie through the window. She was in her usual spot on the arm of the sofa, looking out. I think she saw me. She didn’t know what she was seeing but someday she will.

That is how I went. It wasn’t easy — it won’t be easy — but I think it is good. I was with Heather until I went, and that is all we really wanted.

Farewell, from the Melville Cat.

The Melville Cat

86 Comments

  1. Albert

    This is the saddest piece I have read in a long time.

    Reply
    • Vicky

      Me too, I am so sad. I am sorry for your loss, Heather!

      Reply
    • 2summers

      I seem to have a knack for writing painfully sad things. Ha! Anyway thanks.

      Reply
  2. Peggy Laws

    So sad for you Heather – but a beautiful blog. Hope I go as peacefully when the time comes. Special thoughts go out to you – and I am glad Michelle was with you.

    Reply
    • catji

      ^^You’re right, you’re so right. …Definitely. And I’m glad it was like that with my mother (few years ago) – no hospital etc. …As good as it gets.

      Reply
    • Katherine Kottaridis

      What a beautiful tribute to the Melville Cat, however heartbreaking the experience was/is to read about. Condolences and more good memories to you.

      Reply
      • 2summers

        Thanks so much Katherine.

        Reply
    • 2summers

      I am also incredibly grateful she was there!

      Reply
    • Dagmar

      So sorry Heather, he was a true character . I’ve always loved his posts. I am going to light a candle for Smokey, hope you feel better soon.

      Reply
      • 2summers

        Thank you so much Dagmar 🙂

        Reply
  3. Heather Smit

    So sorry for your loss Heather. The posts from the Melville Cat will be missed as much as you will miss him.

    Reply
    • 2summers

      I’m also going to miss the Melville Cat’s posts.

      Reply
  4. vvkae

    I’m in tears – keep well Heather xx

    Reply
  5. Wendy Isabelle

    Beautiful. We love you Melville cat. Go safely little one xxx

    Reply
  6. dizzylexa

    Beautifully written as always, I never met you in person but you now have the tears flowing down my cheeks, as I did know you so well from your writing’s. Fly free Smokey, we sure are going to miss you so much. Hopefully someday Heather will publish a book in your honour. By the way you were very photogenic, these photo’s are stunning.

    Reply
    • 2summers

      Thanks so much, Gail. xxxxx

      Reply
  7. www.travelwrite.co.za

    My heart breaks for you, Heather. I know how hard it is to lose such beloved feline friend. All I can say is that he crossed the rainbow bridge knowing he was deeply loved. Farewell, MC – you were a legend!

    Reply
    • 2summers

      He was a legend indeed <3

      Reply
  8. Nancy McDaniel

    Oh Heather, I am so terribly sorry. What an awful loss of your dear pal. He had such great adventures and stories and was always there for you, as you were for him. I know how hard it is to lose a long time fur-pal. The only positive thing I can say is that at least it was quick and he didn’t suffer. I ache for our loss and Ruthie, Juanita and I send love (and their purrs). Nancy

    Reply
    • 2summers

      Thanks so much, Nancy. I’m also so relieved he didn’t suffer (at least not for long).

      Reply
  9. Kim Penstone

    Sending love and happy thoughts of warm bricks and soft fur xx

    Reply
  10. Kyra

    I’m so, so sorry, Heather ???? Losing a pet is heartbreaking. Wishing you strength, love & light ????

    Reply
    • 2summers

      Thanks a lot, Kyra.

      Reply
  11. catji

    oh my god 😮

    Reply
  12. Catrina

    Oh no, Melville Cat! So sorry to see you go. I loved your posts!
    I’m glad you looked after Heather until your last moment. Take care!

    Reply
    • 2summers

      Thanks Catrina. xxx

      Reply
  13. Tenney Mason

    Oh no. I am so sorry.
    The passing of a legendary member of the Melville community and the Mason family is such a sad moment.
    I am in mourning.

    Reply
    • 2summers

      Thanks Dad. I’m glad you got to meet him.

      Reply
    • Claire

      Xoxoxoxooxox

      Reply
  14. Maureen Anderson

    So unbelievably sad for you Heather !!!! I know how devastating it is to lose a beloved pet. May God bless the Mellville cat up in heaven looking down on you, what a beautiful cat he was. He had a beautiful life with you. One day you will be re-united xxxxxx

    Reply
    • 2summers

      Thanks very much Maureen. I look forward to that 🙂

      Reply
  15. Dean Mahlstedt & Mary Lally

    Heather, we are sooooo sorry to hear the news! We loved The Melville Cat and really enjoyed “his” blogs. At least you were together until the very end. It really saddens us on his passing. 🙁

    Reply
    • 2summers

      Thanks so much, Dean and Mary. Miss you guys!

      Reply
  16. Patricia Lenz

    I so sorry you lost an important member in your life. Take care be kind to yourself.

    Reply
  17. Momo Street

    Hi Heather. I’m so sorry. One of our two cats went missing a few weeks back. I took solace in having read so many of the Melville Cat’s blogs with stories of him going AWOL for days. My daughter and I put “Missing Cat” signs up around our neighbourhood. Unfortunately, I received a call from a person who found our cat on the side of the road after she had met an untimely death–we were all heartbroken. But, as fate would have it, the person who called us told me that he was staying at a guest house where the owner was looking for a home for a 7 month old kitten. So we adopted the kitten. Needless to say, my heart broke when reading the blog. Farewell Melville Cat 🙁

    Reply
    • 2summers

      Oh Michael, I am so sorry for your loss. It’s just the worst. But I”m happy to hear you have a new kitty.

      Reply
  18. Di Brown

    Sobbing and smiling. Was ever a cat so loved, or connected to it’s human. The legend of Smokey will live forever, as will all your memories. A beautiful tribute to his lovely life. xxxxx

    Reply
    • 2summers

      He was a very special kitty.

      Reply
  19. Margaret Fauchier

    I am so sorry that Smokey had to leave and so happy you had each other for so many adventures over such a long time.

    Reply
    • 2summers

      I’m sorry he had to leave too. Thanks Margaret 🙂

      Reply
  20. Sean Unsted

    wow, this is so sad, sorry for your loss!

    Reply
  21. Sue

    So sorry to hear about this, Heather. He will be missed????

    Reply
    • 2summers

      He certainly will. Thanks 🙂

      Reply
  22. Jonnie Marks

    I am so, so sorry from faraway.

    Reply
    • 2summers

      Thanks so much, Jonnie.

      Reply
  23. Glynne Case

    Such sad news. What a huge gap is now left in so many lives that were touched by Smokey’s blogs. I reach out with a virtual hug to you Heather as I too know how hard it is to get used to the death of a beloved family member. Memories and photographs are precious but don’t make up for the loss of warm, furry, cuddly bodies.

    Reply
    • 2summers

      Thank you so much, Glynne.

      Reply
  24. Nancy

    Weeping. i have loved Smokey from the moment he entered my life. So glad that Heather was there. A t rue friend has crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.

    Can we make a dontation in the Melville cat’s honor?

    Reply
  25. SusanB

    This was a box of Kleenex while you wrote over a wet keyboard. Sweet post in memory of your dear furry friend ♡

    Reply
    • 2summers

      Thank you so much Susan ????

      Reply
  26. De Wet

    Sad sad news indeed but so well written. I feel the emotion and understand

    Reply
    • 2summers

      Thank you very much.

      Reply
  27. Margaret Urban

    I too am in tears. But a very good way to go … Beautiful post Heather.

    Reply
    • 2summers

      Thanks Margaret ????

      Reply
  28. Litza Karatzoglou

    I’m so so sorry to hear about your cat – how sad. I have two cats and I don’t know how I would handle this. May he rest in Kitty heaven xx

    Reply
    • 2summers

      Thank you so much Litza.

      Reply
  29. Pierre Coetzer

    Dear Heather, what a beautiful tribute. I can relate and I am so so sorry for you, having lost my own cat last week after 18 years of companionship. The sadness is hard to explain, and somehow you have made my own pain more bearable tonight. Thank you. And may you be surrounded by Smokey’s love for you.

    Reply
    • 2summers

      Oh, I’m so sorry Pierre. It’s so hard.

      Reply
  30. eremophila

    When it’s time, it’s time. So difficult just the same. Smokey had a life well lived, and Heather you translated his tales so brilliantly, thank you. We’ll miss him too, take care????

    Reply
    • 2summers

      Thanks Annie. Hello to all your crew 🙂

      Reply
  31. supersarahwhite

    I have had a cathartic cry after reading that and now I just want to send love to you xx

    Reply
    • 2summers

      Thank you so much Sarah.

      Reply
  32. Anriette

    Heather… this is so sad. But what a life he had! He gave so much joy and friendship to you, and indirectly, to all his followers. Loving him and losing him will be part of you forever. There will be a greyblue piece of furry, funny, adventurous Melville Cat in your soul and memories that can you can visit for the rest of your life, and it will, in the end, bring much more happiness at having so many amazing memories of him than it does sadness at having lost him.

    Reply
    • 2summers

      Thanks so much Anriette. You’re totally right.

      Reply
  33. Rachel Deming

    Lovely eulogy to your friend and companion. My deepest sympathy.

    Reply
  34. tetyanaloskutova

    So sorry to hear that, Heather, I loved your cat through your stories and am crying now, knowing that he’s no more. There were days when his virtual presence has given me consolation and just that little bit of faith in the ultimate goodness of this world. Love and hugs

    Reply
    • 2summers

      Thank you so much Tetyana. So many people are going to miss him 🙁

      Reply
    • 2summers

      Thanks Rebecca ????????????

      Reply
  35. Lani

    I hope you are not tired of hearing this, but I am sorry. A beautiful tribute. Take good care, xo

    Reply
    • 2summers

      Thanks so much Lani. I’m not tired of hearing it ????????????????

      Reply
  36. Ray

    So unbelievably sad, I had shivers reading this, Smokey dokey derrière, love you miss you, the most beautiful cat I had the pleasure of meeting.

    Reply
    • 2summers

      He was the most beautiful of all cats.

      Reply
  37. Geri Lawhon

    Such a wonderful post. I like to think that our pets are holding a spot for us when they leave.

    Reply
    • 2summers

      That’s a nice way to think about it 🙂

      Reply

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