We lost our little Persian cat Utopia today. She had been fighting lung cancer since the beginning of the year, and today we decided that she had fought long enough. She was diagnosed back in April after several vet and vet specialist visits, and throughout the last 5 months, she’s had ups and downs. Through all that time, though, we got to spend some quality time with her, which I know helped her make it that long.
Utopia was always a peculiar cat. From the very earliest days, I remember her being both intensely affectionate and yet often standoffish, not an uncommon mix in cats. In her younger years before she was spayed, Utopia would subject us to her caterwauling while she was in heat. She even once mounted up on one of our Pekingese, obviously confused about both her role and her species!
Utopia was a long-haired cat, so we would often have her shaved with a “lion” cut. This gave her a very distinctive sleekness that we think she really enjoyed. Once home from the groomers, we’d find her galloping around the house like a tiny horse, free of her massive coat and ready to race! She was also partial to catnip, rolling around on our floors, even scooter herself sideways around the carpet to get her fix.
In her later years, she was fond playing “Danger Cat” outside, hunting lizards, and generally just exploring our backyard. Sometimes she would even find ways to escape her domain and explore our neighborhood, but we’d always reel her back in before she went too far. Her favorite spot had to be the bamboo garden in the back corner of our backyard. She’d spend long stretches of time just laying out there on the bench under the bamboo, completely relaxed and free.
That is where she lays now, under the gently swaying bamboo, free from her pain and able, at last, to rest.
I’m so sorry to hear the news.
I’m so very sad right now. I loved Utopia from the day she became a part of the family. I remember when you told me her name all I could think about was Fruitopia, that was a popular drink at the time. I loved seeing her when I came to visit. When you had her groomed to look like a lion, I thought it was the sweetest thing in the world. I always wanted to pet her, but most of the time she was too good for me! But I would get to pet her every once in a while, and I have to be honest, it made me feel special when I did. I’m so sorry you guys were going through this and I didn’t even know about it. I know all of your animals are not just pets to you, they are your babies. I know this must be very painful for you. I am thinking about you, and I love you.
Monica