He was big. He was red. He was our cat.
He gave great tail-hugs, twining it around your leg like a vine, especially, let it be noted, at dinner time. His purr was like a bus rumbling by and could be heard through walls. His green eyes glowed like he was lit from within. My brother called Chester the most charismatic cat he'd ever met, and he wasn't alone in that assessment.
He died today at the ripe old age of 15. We'll miss him terribly.
As will we all. Sorry for the sad loss of the charismatic one!
ReplyDeleteThanks, my dearest. He was a magical guy.
ReplyDeleteI am new to your blog and I didn't know Chester. But having lost China and George, and being the proud "co-habitor" of Samantha and Tomato, I give you my most heart felt thoughts and sympathy! It's never easy because it's a love like no other.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind thoughts. They do share our lives in a special way!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry. You can tell he was a lover.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Randall. He was indeed.
ReplyDeleteSorry for your loss, Kathleen. Big hug!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Peter. It's comforting to know you're there!
ReplyDeleteOh Chester...I loved him so. Not to mention the love he and my little missy cat had together. The cutest thing I ever saw was the two of them giving Kitty Kisses to each other in the raspberry patch.
ReplyDeleteOr the Raspberry Hotel as it was known! And, as you know, he loved you back. Thanks for being there.
ReplyDeleteOh my KITTY GOD. When I looked at your Chester, I did a double take, because he looks so much like MY Chester. My Chester was born in Newfoundland and lived with me there for a year, and then went on to live with me in Nova Scotia, then numerous places back here in the good ol' USA. He was also a big orange Domestic Shorthair with big green eyes. He was VERY snuggly, since when I met him I informed him that he had to be one of those cats that lets you hug and cuddle him, and NOT one of those stand-offish ones. He agreed and then spent 11 years with me. He was a good, basic cat, hence the name Chester. He enjoyed sitting on tops of things, such as car roofs and house roofs. When younger he used to play mouse acrobatics. He came running at the sound of any can opening and LOVED fish. He went to kitty heaven on January 10, 2007, but I will always miss him, and I still have dreams about him. I am so sorry for your loss...and I can TOTALLY relate. take care, Fran in Mansfield, CT
ReplyDeleteThanks, Fran. I've heard that "marmalade" cats are quite special, and it sounds like your Chester, like mine, are proof of that particular pudding.
ReplyDeleteWe only had him for the last seven years of his life, but we were grateful to have had that.
I'm sorry to hear of Chester's passing on to his better pasture (where there will be no street traffic to worry about or certain rambunctious Corgis chasing him down the hall).
ReplyDeleteI laughed at his desire to 'take a walk' with me and the pups around the block. He'd always be just far enough away to think he wasn't noticed, but close enough to feel part of the pack.
He was a wonderful addition to your home and surely will be sorely missed.
Sympathies,
'The other' Kathleen
Thanks, Kathleen. They were always in good hands with you!
ReplyDeleteoh no! I just caught up with your blog after nearly freezing to death in New York (man, living in California weakens you to things like 6 degrees) and I am SO DANG SORRY about Chester! Even though he was at times a torment to both my husband (highly allergic yet so very appealing to felines) and my corgi (who saw him more as a ninja master out for blood), I adored him and always will.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for your loss, he was one fine cat.
Thanks, dear Loo. He was a fine fellow and it's been hard to be without him. Hope you stay warm!
ReplyDeleteYou don't know me, but I've been enjoying your blog for a while, via a pointer from Bruce's (we live near Sellwood and have been to his shop). I'm a cat-lover, too, so your post about Chester touched my heart. We said goodbye about a month ago to our dear ol' boy cat, Abbie. He was born in 1989, in Berkeley, where we lived at the time, on the day Abbie Hoffman died. He was far less of a rabble-rouser than his namesake but, like your Chester, fearless when the occasion warranted, and a real love.
ReplyDeleteMy gosh...you were so lucky to have known him for so long. Would we have had Chester from kittenhood! But maybe he wouldn't have been the same guy who drank his water by dipping his paw into the bowl and licking it off like a raccoon.
ReplyDeleteI share your grief, as well as your joy in having shared your life with such a special creature!