A Sad Day

Polly
Originally uploaded by Pollianicus.

Today is the day I knew was coming. Polly was put down this morning.

We got Polly at the same time as our beloved Kiedis. Both from a friend and before that they had been rescued from a cat's home. In cat years Polly was now in her 80s - a grand lady.

Polly was always 'my' cat. Kiedis was always Martin's. Polly was incredibly shy and it was very difficult to find her sometimes. Despite that I loved her to bits. She was the longest cat I have ever seen - despite being so small she had incredibly long legs when stretched out. She had a pink nose and beautiful silky black and white her fur. She loved to sit on window sills sunbathing and in the summer her coat appeared to go brown. We joked that she went rusty in the summer.

The kids always liked her but never got near her as she was so painfully shy. Orla said last week that Polly was her best friend.

Over the last few weeks she stopped eating dry food and a trip to the Vets told us she was in the first stages of kidney failure and had a heart defect too. Since then she has got steadily worse and eating less and less. This week she stopped eating completely and the weight that was left on her was dropping off.

Ruaridh and I took her to the Vets this morning where I was told that it was for the best to let her go - which I completely agree with. Her spirit was going this week - every time I found her she was such a small shadow - nothing of her. Ruaridh waited in the waiting room (thank goodness for the packet of Maltesers in my bag) while I said goodbye to her.

I have yet to tell Morgan and Orla - will do that this evening.

Polly - I will miss you. You have been a companion to me for so long.