Here It Is, Your Moment of Zed

Today we said goodbye to our beloved kitty Zed. He came to us in November of 2016 as Felix, along with his half-brother Oscar (who unfortunately developed a blood clot in the move and only lasted a few days), courtesy of my work colleague who could no longer keep him as her husband had become allergic. He never responded to Felix, so we tried different syllabic combos and he brightened all the way up when he heard "Zed." Over the last six years he's been Zebedee Q. Nibblington III Riggs Esquire, Mr. Nibbles, Mama's Zed, Zeddy Boy, lots of combos, but mostly the very best boy one could hope for. Robin's spent the last year and a half making sure to click his luxated right patella back into place whenever he had the post-litter box zoomies, and he kept clambering on boxes and such right up until a week or so ago. Then he went downhill fast, getting to the point where he wasn't eating or pooping. The vet did all sorts of tests on him yesterday, including bloodwork, but he got worse last night, was in considerable pain, and neither he nor Robin slept at all. We were right back at the vet today to say our final goodbyes. I am firmly of the belief that our beloved "furbabies" tell us when it's time to go, and we're so grateful and relieved he's finally pain-free and "over the rainbow bridge."

Of course we have big Zed-sized holes in our hearts and our apartment. He made quite the impression over the last half dozen years. He became a minor Facebook celeb over the pandemic, as I would post daily "moments of Zed" photos. I keep expecting him to interrupt me as I type, with his signature "eh" breath that was his version of speaking, or greet me in the bathroom first thing in the morning, or come round the corner and jump on our bed (which he did for the last time yesterday). But we know we did the right thing, and tomorrow a local friend will come and take away all the cat stuff we've accumulated so it can go to neighborhood shelters. And then we get the apartment thoroughly cleaned for the first time since before he came into our lives, and then we rest and recover for awhile.

The condolences from coworkers and Facebook friends have helped a lot, as has the knowledge that he lived a very loved life, and he gave as good as he got. He was my best boy, and I will miss him for the rest of my life, as I've missed every other cat I've had. Goodbye, my Zeddy.