Macky, Mowie, and Sunny

It’s been 2.5 weeks since we had to put Sunny down.

It feels like I haven’t seen him in 2.5 years.

It’s hard to imagine life ever being as good as it was 5 weeks ago before Sunny got sick. Mac and Sunny were together as brothers, Mowie was always screaming, yet enjoying their company. Now it’s like this big, fluffy, orange void. It doesn’t seem like it will ever feel better.

The hardest thing is thinking of how wonderful Sunny was. They say you don’t know what you have until it’s gone, but we knew. I never yelled at that cat quite like I yell at Macky or Mowie- he was just too damn sweet and cute. Whenever he jumped on my desk or on the bed, I took the time to hug and kiss him. Even when he scratched the furniture or spilled the water, we just couldn’t yell or stomp our feet at him, he was just too lovable.

It’s getting harder in that we’re back into a normal routine, yet it is still not normal. I no longer look forward to opening the front door and seeing a little orange face hanging down from his sleepy spot above the cabinets. In fact, I don’t get that rush of happiness I used to when approaching the front door.. nothing against Macky and Mowie. I realized a few minutes ago while sitting in the office that someday, I’m not going to find his insanely long orange hairs here and there. It’s been hard for me to sit in this office because Sunny used to lay on my desk with me whenever I did. Now it’s just me and the laptop (sometimes Mowie) but it’s not the same. I looked around my desk for a hair or two and I couldn’t find any. I feel like slowly little pieces of him are going to start to fade away, and I don’t like that.

Macky has been pretty lonely, to the point where we think he’s pulling out some fur out of stress. It got so bad the past few nights with him crying that we talked about getting another cat sooner than we thought. In fact, I’m not sure I want another cat at all. Sunny was perfect… and I’ve owned almost 10 cats in my life. I loved them all and they all have different personalities, like children, but Sunny was special. No cat could ever fill Sunny’s paws, but maybe he could become friends with Macky.

When I heard my co-worker tell me she had to put her 18 year old cat down, I immediately realized that I had missed the date of Romeo’s passing. 

To this day, I still miss that puppy.  It’s incredible how much an pet animal brother could mean to you. 

When I was living with Romeo, you knew you couldn’t laugh in front of him.  For whatever insane reason, he would get upset — maybe it was the high pitch of our laughter that annoyed him, or maybe it was just the fact that our attention wasn’t on him.  We’d hold in the laughter, or even the general chatter, because we’d know it would get to Romeo.

Till this day when I’m home, I still catch myself just before I laugh as to not upset Romeo, and to not bring upon his insane barking and craziness.  Fortunately (I’d still give anything, though, to have him back), those past frustrations that I couldn’t even laugh in my own house have passed — instead, after I realize I just caught myself holding back laughter, I begin to smile because of Romeo. 

I guess, in a way, that was his mark left on the world for us — sure, it annoyed you at the time, but looking back upon it, it’s quite hysterical.  But that was what Romeo was all about — he didn’t know any better, and because of that, he made life so much more enjoyable.  I mean, what other dog gets jealous when you’re not giving him attention and proceeds to bark your head off? 

But, it’s crazy that Romeo has been gone for a year — it seems like just yesterday, too. 

I still walk into my parent’s house expecting a 100 pound dog to come charging at me.  I know it won’t come, but it’s such a strong automatic reaction.  I feel almost let down that it doesn’t happen, anymore, too.  When Romeo would come charging, he had no idea how crazy excited he got to see us — he couldn’t control himself.  He’d jump, and back, jump, and back — then proceed to wipe his wet mouth on your hand or the side of your pants until you would take the time to really pet him. 

I miss that crazy puppy. 

My only regret was that I was not in the process of putting him down.  I wish we had his ashes as to actually be able to keep a part of him.  I didn’t know any better at the time, but I wish I did. 

Then again, Macky would probably want to play in the ashes as if it was his litter box.

We’re all alive, it’s true.  We haven’t dropped off the face of the earth. 

Everyone is nice and healthy, too.  Well, except for Macky.  Apparently he likes to injure himself every other week.  Just when we saw several large gashes on his face heal up last week, he goes and cuts his little paw.  We have no idea how he gets these mysterious cuts and bruises, but Sunny and Mowie are always perfectly fine.  Well, physically fine, I mean — Mowie has a few screws missing; she’s emotionally crazy. 

The babies love the new cabinets — eventually I’ll get around to posting pictures of their new habitat. 

MACKkY wauzzzzzzz hErE~~@~%

Macky played fetch tonight.  Really, he did.  Over and over again.

I noticed he dropped one of his many toy mice near my feet and proceded to just sit in front of me.  I picked it up, chucked it down the hallway, and he, like usual, ran after it.  A few seconds later, he ran back full force towards me with the toy mouse in his mouth.  He dropped it a few inches from my feet.  I picked it up, again, and chucked it down the hallway.

Macky proceeded to run back towards me, mouse in mouth, only to drop it near my feet, again.  This happeneded several times over.  We were clearly playing fetch.

I knew Rebecca taught her cat (and Macky’s uncle, Butchie) how to play fetch, but I never imagined that Macky would pick up this trait.

Now, I just need to get this on video so you all believe me.

We recently weaned the kittens (primarily Mac) off their water dish in the bathroom sink.  We only spent $40 on a water fountain….

Mowie seemed to be the only one actually using the fountain, as we never really see Sunny drink or eat and Macky preferred to jump in the sink and drink/play in the bowl we kept in there.  Why did we keep a bowl of water in the sink?  Because Macky likes to splash in the water bowl and make a mess.

I felt guilty for a while because Mac really enjoyed jumping on the sink and he drinks a lot of water, but the constant dirty paw marks all over the sink made us decide it was time.  Macky must drink out of the fountain.

The transition was easy, as I guess he was thirsty and decided to succumb.  Sunny however, has taken a different approach.  He drinks out of the opening at the top of the fountain where the water comes out, rather than the bowl part.  As if he didn’t want to share germs and had to get the water before it hit the pool.  The past few days I’ve noticed why he does this… he washes his paws in the bowl part.  Yes, he dips his dirty paws in the bowl then licks them.
This cat is so cute and perfectly groomed it is unbelievable.

Mac, Sunny and Mowie were definitely treated well by Santa Claws (or maybe it was all the grandparents and aunts and uncles they have).  They received a stocking full of toys, a bunch of random toys, treats and a petsmart gift card.  We can’t wait to go to petsmart and buy them random stuff to spoil them, like that water fountain we’ve been eyeing up…

Last night, the cats were each given a new toy, since if we gave them all of them, they’d be under the couch in .3 seconds.  They each got their favorite: Mowie a mouse, Sunny a giant fluffy thing and Macky a ball.  Mowie was so happy with her mouse it was adorable.  Sunny loved his giant fluffy/foofy thing so much he was panting and drooling.  Mac liked his ball, but he knew there were more toys.  So he quietly disappeared and I found him laying on the bed relaxing…with Mowie’s mouse.  I let it slide and went back to the living room, only to see Mac come out and steal Sunny’s toy and run and place it on the bed.  Then he came back out for his ball and we confronted the thief.  Sunny and Mowie are so used to his kitten immaturity that they didn’t even put up a fight.  They said he’s just so tiny and cute, plus he has the broken leg to factor in.  So Mowie and Sunny settled for the cardboard box…or so we thought…

I woke up this morning to find every toy scattered across the kitchen floor.  Someone found the secret stash of toys!  The only one who has ever been on top of the cabinets is Mowie, but I think there was peer pressure involved…

In other news, Macky was happy to hear that even the Terminator himself breaks his femur every now and then…

Mowie Christmas everyone!!

We were hoping to post a Christmas picture of Mac, Sunny and Mowie but telling 3 young cats with ADD to sit in front of the fireplace…together…while looking at the camera is no easy task.

Wait make that only 2, Sunny fully cooperated.  He’s on the good list for sure.