Sam

Our 22 year old Cat died on March 17th at 5:06pm cst. Sam has been with us for around 16 years. We were married in 1994 and he has been our cat since we moved into the house across the tracks from my parents. He didn't like all the competition with the other cats that my Mother had. Before that, my sister Clarissa brought him home from Transylvania University when she was still in school. He was a full grown cat when she brought him home to Eastern Kentucky. So the estimated 22 years old is only a guess. He might be older but probably not much younger. He was a smart cat that knew how and when to use his charm. He could be kind of annoying because if he didn't get what he wanted he would definitely let you know it. He meowed really loud, knocked on paper bags, knocked things onto the floor to let us know he wasn't happy. He also talked to let us know he was happy. He loved to talk. Sam thought he was a person. I don't believe he ever knew he was a cat. Sam was not a lap cat or especially loving like some cats. He did like for me to hold him a certain way. He did not like to be ignored. When visitors came he would meet them at the door and talk until spoken to. Sometimes, I would have to ask the guests to say hello and acknowledge him and then he would go on about his business. Mike and Sam were the best of friends. Mike worked at home for over 10 years and Sam was known by his company as the office manager. He was paid in tuna and canned food. He had used up all 9 lives while we had him. He disappeared for a week in San Antonio, was attacked by neighborhood dogs several times, had cancer in his eye, and some intestinal problems. The doctors told us several times that he wouldn't live much longer. The last time he would press on for another six years. He loved to eat. At one point he weighed over 21 lbs. The vet told us we had to get it under control. We tried diet food and he wouldn't touch it. He would meow all night as loud as he possibly could until we would break down and feed him Cat Chow. The only food that he loved. We finally told the vet if we were going to keep him he will just have to be fat. Because we might kill him ourselves if we keep trying to put him on a diet. He did lose his teeth later in life and ate only canned food. But occasionally I would grind up his Cat Chow and put it on top of his wet food. He was our only cat for years. We adopted a stray in 2004. By that time he had started to slow down. He loved Reagan and her kittens. I guess he forgot that he wanted us all to himself. Sam lived in Lexington, Allen, San Antonio, Miami, and Fort Worth area. He made friends everywhere we went. I look back at old pictures and he is in most all of them either by accident or on purpose. I was in Puerto Rico for a mission trip when he started to get sick the final time. Mike was working in Arlington and getting ready to start a new job. On Monday he wouldn't eat, Tuesday he had seizures and couldn't hardly get up. Our neighbor Pam came over to watch him while Mike was at work. I had a hard time concentrating on my work and Mike stayed home on Wednesday to be with him. We thought we were going to have to put him down after work on Wed. At 5:07 pm I called Mike from PR and he just said, " you are on speaker phone and you need to say goodbye to Sam." I told him how much I loved him and that he was the best cat ever. Mike was crying and telling me that his heart had stopped but he was still moving a little and he was reacting to my voice and his touches. It was one of the most emotional moments of my life. Mike buried him that evening and we both took pictures of the sunset. Mike talked me through the whole thing. I am so sad that I wasn't home to touch him one last time. Sam had a great life and a family who loved him. But, I believe we were the fortunate ones to have a wonderful pet who showed us unconditional love for so many years. I will never forget you, Sam