Bruce Died
Bruce Died
July 18, 2003
Bruce died today. It was a shock. I am out of town, at my parent’s house to stay while my father is in the hospital for heart surgery. My husband called me to tell me that when he came home from work and went to say hello to Bruce, Bruce was dead on the bed. Jim said Bruce seemed fine this morning. Bruce was found on the little cat mat bed at the foot of the bed with his eyes closed, looking like he was sleeping, so we hope that he passed in his sleep, hopefully peacefully. His final resting pose looked peaceful, my husband said.
My husband did not take him for a necropsy, so we won’t know why Bruce died. My husband buried Bruce in the yard. Seems like it must have been something with Bruce’s heart. I don’t think it would be due to Bruce’s FIV positive status.
I will miss my dear friend. I feel bad that I have been out of town these past few days. But now Bruce can come see me, not being hindered by his body.
July 20, 2003
Bruce and I bonded very quickly and strongly. He was so happy when I came in his room to spend time with him. He did this funny thing where he would circle around me, headbutt me and purr, then grab some of my hair, and give a little tug on it. I will miss having my hair pulled. I’m glad he sprayed my hamper/cat scratcher combo, so I can still smell him when I finally get to home, which won’t be for another week.
I can’t grieve properly here at my parents’ house since I have help keep my mother’s spirits up about my father, who is in the hospital. I don’t have anyone to talk to about it either. Not much anyway.
I think I felt Bruce in the breeze today, rustling through the trees while I was still outside the hospital . I pretended it was him, anyway.
I feel bad that he had to be away from me some of the times he wanted to be with me. I wish I had been able to be with him more, but then that would mean I was with the other cats less, so that wouldn’t have been good. I guess it was all ok and that Bruce didn’t feel too alone. Cats do sleep 15 or more hours a day, so he wouldn’t have felt lonely for so many hours. I did sleep in the room with him. Funny, though, he didn’t sleep on the bed with me, that I know of. After he “tucked me in” by headbutting, purring, getting some pets and giving my hair it’s one hard tug, he got off the bed. He was always under the bed when I woke up and other times when I came in to see him. That seems to be where he slept mostly for his big sleeps.
It is nice that his final resting place was on top of the bed, where we had out pet and purr sessions.