It has taken me a week to build up enough courage to look through photos of Oliver to write this post. With each day, life is getting easier to handle as I move towards finding solace after the loss of my “baby cat” Oliver last week. Today I am remembering Oliver and all of the fun memories I have of my spunky little cat.
Oliver was always there. Wherever “there” was, that’s where Oliver was. He was always up in everyone’s business needing to be the center of attention, getting pets from anyone who he possibly could convince to love on him.
If I was making dinner, Oliver’s nose was in my face. When I sat down at the computer downstairs, Oliver would be right there ready for a cuddle. Like clockwork, when Alex and I would sit down at the table Oliver’s little face would pop up in the window next to the front door and he’d start meowing for us to let him in. in the middle of the night, Oliver would come and dig with his paws for me to let him under the covers so he could snuggle up in my arms and nibble on my cheek as he fell asleep. He was just always there.
One of the most challenging parts of moving forward is that since he was always so present in my entire day I find myself constantly looking for him and waiting for him to be there. I can still see his little face in the window. I can hear him meowing. I can feel him. I can hear the sound of him sprinting through the house. He’s still very much alive in my mind.
I have never met a cat who is as cuddly as Oliver. He was just the absolute best cuddle bug I could have ever hoped to have.
Some of my favorite memories of Oliver are of him showing off his acrobatic skills. He learned quickly that he could jump up onto a rail that we have running around our walls at about 8 feet off the ground – he would sprint around this rail and show off whenever we had company. Oliver loved to jump from our fence through the neighbor’s deck banister, which was several feet up and away from the fence. He was so agile.
Oliver and Henry had a heart warming brotherly bond. I fondly recall so many times whispering to Alex to come and look at Oliver and Henry cuddling together on our bed, or when one of them would be so gingerly licking the other one’s head, cleaning it, because it was out of reach. They loved to wrestle and chase each other around the house. They were just always together. They were best friends. My heart breaks for Henry’s loss.
I can’t even express how much I miss Oliver. My heart was shattered and it will take a long time to mend itself, but I’m working on it. It’s overwhelming, though I am comforted by these photos and the endless memories I have of my kitty, who will forever have a piece of my heart.
