RIP, Snow

By , February 2, 2018 4:15 am

Snow wasn’t around for dinner Wednesday night or breakfast Thursday and I thought nothing of it – he usually goes exploring when we get warmer spells like we had on Wednesday.

So I was shocked Thursday morning when Steven called me shortly after leaving the house to ask if I’d seen Snow that morning, and to tell me he was pretty sure he found his body along the road just over a mile south of our house.

He wrapped him up in a blanket and brought him home. It was definitely him. I didn’t look at his face (the freezing temperatures really messed up his eyes and Steven advised I didn’t look) but I recognized his muscular body. I was glad to see it wasn’t mangled. I hope his death was instant and he didn’t suffer long. (And I’m extremely glad that Steven found Snow, and he didn’t just disappear with us wondering where he was forever.)

We buried him in the backyard. It was in the teens and super windy and the ground was frozen. But we started a fire to warm the ground and were able to dig a hole for him. I’m glad he’s close to home and I can visit him.

I’d like to write his name on the stone

Ugh.

I’m still in shock, when I think about how he won’t be living in his house anymore, or crying at the doors and windows of ours. Crying for attention and playing shy, then being a total lovebug as soon as he warmed up. I look outside and expect to see him. I keep thinking I hear him meowing at us.

Snow never wanted to live inside and we knew the risks of letting him be an outdoor cat. I just wish he hadn’t explored a road so far away from the home, where there’s a 55 mph speed limit.

But I’m glad for the short time we had with him. He showed up late September 2016 and was here until he passed away on February 1st, 2018. He was almost always around the house, and would come running and meowing if you opened any door to say hello. He let me hold him like a baby, and would purr like crazy. He loved his sister Khali, and liked Data too. A lot of our guests loved him because he was so sweet and friendly. He’ll be missed by many.

Baby Snow

I feel very matter of fact writing this, and like my emotion isn’t coming through. I’m horribly upset and look like crap from all my crying. I hate that our time together was cut short. I hate that animals get hit by cars. I hate that Snow won’t be visiting us inside anymore – that was new and becoming fun.

Ugh.

I’m very grateful to our supportive friends and family who’ve been consoling us. We feel comforted by them. Thank you!

40 Responses to “RIP, Snow”

  1. Erin says:

    Oh no! Such sad news. You gave Snow probably the best care he’d ever had while he was in your life and I’m sure he appreciated it. It’s heartbreaking that his time to experience it was cut short.

    • kilax says:

      It is heartbreaking! I thought he’d be creeping around the house for years to come! I do take comfort in knowing he had it good while he was here 🙂

  2. Xaarlin says:

    Hugs to you guys. I can’t imagine the grief you feel right now – but you definitely have him a great life.

  3. kapgar says:

    I’m so sorry, Kim.

  4. Heather says:

    I’m so so sorry Kim. Heart breaking 🙁

  5. Anne says:

    Big hugs to all of you! I can’t imagine the feeling of shock at how sudden this was and I’m sad that his time with you was cut so short. You gave him a great life and a wonderful home and he obviously loved being with you.

    • kilax says:

      Thank you! Hugs back! The shock is so weird. Like I don’t want to believe it Ugh. I do think he loved us though, and we loved having him around!

  6. Staci says:

    🙁 I’m so sorry.

  7. Kristina says:

    Kim – I’m so so sorry for you all. Take care of each other.

    • kilax says:

      Thank you! We are 🙂 And we are blessed by so many friends and family checking in. They know how crazy we are about our fur babies and how hard this is for us.

  8. Maggie says:

    I’m so sorry 🙁 Glad you were able to care for him when you could

  9. Courtney says:

    This makes me so sad Kim!! Heartbroken!! 💔 I’m glad for the short time that you had with Snow and that he knew what love was!

  10. Shelley B says:

    You wrote such a beautiful tribute to a great kitty – dang it, I hate when cats get hit by cars (it’s happened to one of ours as well). I’m glad you guys were able to know what happened, hard as that is, and give him a proper send off. He really had the best life with you, and the fact that such an outdoors-only kitty started coming in and sleeping with you shows how much he trusted and loved you.

    FWIW, I kept “seeing” our Kip for a couple of weeks after he died, and Jeff and I joke that we still have Kip PSTD when it comes to closing our garage door because just about every time, he’d run in or out and trip the light to make it go back up. It’s weird now when it closes the first time, every time.

    I will miss seeing Snow here and on your Instagram. He was beautiful.

    • kilax says:

      Thank you for saying that re: the tribute 🙂

      I am so sorry you had to go through this as well. Did it happen off of your street?

      We are glad we found him and have him here with us too. I just can’t imagine had we not, and I’d be wondering forever what happened to him. The closure is good for us.

      I think he was really starting to trust us too! He just LOVED being on the bed and would go crazy with all his cuddles and purring.

      Aww, Kip 🙁 It must be so weird now when the door just closes! We adapt our routines to them, then they feel so off!!!

      Thank you! Hugs!

  11. Kathy says:

    Aw no…poor Snow. At least you made the last year of his life amazing he could not have been more spoilt for an outdoor cat! I can’t even imagine how upset you must be, no wonder you had a crappy day. Cuddle those other babies close and take care of yourself and Steven x

  12. Kandi says:

    I’m so sorry for your loss, Kim. Your love for him really shone through.

  13. Oh, this is heartbreaking </3 I'm so, so sorry to hear about Snow 🙁 It's good that Steven found him so you could have closure, but that sure doesn't make it any less sad 🙁 Lots and lots of hugs to you.

    • kilax says:

      Thank you, hugs back. I feel so lucky that Steven happened to see him and that he’s buried here. But yeah, it was just WAY too short of a time he was our cat!!!!

  14. Beth Schwager says:

    I am so sorry for your loss. I am such an animal lover and I get a lump in my throat every time I see one hit on the road; especially if it’s a dog or cat because I know it was probably someone’s loved pet. Rest easy dear Snow.

    • kilax says:

      Thank you! Oh gosh, isn’t that just the worst thing to see? I hate to say that I often look away if it does look like a dog or cat, unless I think I can help. It’s too heartbreaking.

  15. Katie says:

    I’m so sad for you and for Snow. You were the best for him, and he knew he was loved.

  16. Chaitali says:

    I was so sorry to hear about Snow 🙁 Thank you for sharing these photos and stories, he sounds like such a wonderful cat and he had a great life ever since he met you.

  17. Karen says:

    I had to wait a few days before I could go back and read this. He is such a little darling, and you made his life happier while he was here.
    I had quite the pit in the stomach when I saw your post. I understand your love of animals and I tend to ruminate on things like this, I impose my own sad feelings, but i know you had enough of your own. I am glad he is at home in the yard. You should absolutely decorate his stone when you feel ready 🙂
    What a bummer the other kitties will be needing some meds it sounds like…is it something that goes away?

    • kilax says:

      Thanks for coming back to comment, and I apologize that it made you feel so sad, but appreciate that you care and love animals too 🙂 I will decorate the rock, for sure! It’s strange now, that it’s covered in the snow we got yesterday. I suppose that will help me – not seeing it all the time from the windows on that side of the house.

      I do think it will go away for Data and Khali! I need to call the vet and find out more today.

  18. Joanna says:

    I AM SO SORRY for your loss. I know that Snow knew he was loved by you and Steven and enjoyed his time with you.

  19. Alyssa says:

    Ahh Kim, I’m sorry to hear about Snow. It’s obvious how much you cared about him from the posts on the cat house to Snow’s visit inside. He sounds like he was a great pet to have around.

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