By Sheldon Greaves

I am writing this in the wake of the dreaded diagnosis of “late-stage kidney failure” for one of our beloved cats, Demosthenes (“Demi” for short). We got him and his sister Sophia as rescues when they were only two and a half weeks old; much too young to adopt out. My spouse took on the job of mama cat, bottle feeding these fierce little lives every three to four hours for over a month until they were weaned. It was a lot of work, but the result was a pair of truly bonded furry friends. We’re their parents in a very real sense, and they our close companions for the last thirteen years.

The bond goes both ways; some years ago, I got hit by a severe case of pancreatitis, which I rode out for nine days on the living room couch because we were broke and didn’t have any health insurance. These two cats, plus one other we had then, coordinated so that there was always at least one cat with me at all times. I don’t know how they arranged it. I would wake up and one or more of them would be there. Whenever one jumped down, another one jumped up immediately to take its place. Experiences like that make Demi’s illness all the harder. This is not the first time we have lost a cat to the ravages of old age—all of them made it into their teens—but it never gets any easier.

The bond between pet and owner can be deep and multi-layered, but even after years of living with our cats it still astounds me that such a connection can even exist between members of different species. I have also observed that when our cats reach the age of about ten there is a distinct change in their personalities. We see it as a softening, a mellowing, but also what I can only describe as an increased depth that seems like, for lack of a better word, wisdom.

Demi’s decline comes at a time when I just happen to be preparing a lecture on what the creation stories in Genesis have to say about the role of humans in the created order; the “Dominion of Adam” and all that. Genesis teaches that humans have responsibility for the animal world, to ensure that they can realize their blessing to “be fruitful and multiply” and fill the world with their abundance. Clearly, our species has done very poorly on that point. Bear in mind that the Genesis creation stories serve as a prologue to the rest of the Jewish book of the Law, The Torah. They lay out core ideals and values believed necessary for a just and humane society.  It’s sometimes said that the moral strength of a government is seen by how it treats its lowest members; the poor, the criminal, the indigent, and so on. Genesis goes further to include non-human lives.

Of course, like most other ideals, it doesn’t quite work that way. Humans, it turns out, are carnivorous by nature, which is why the terms of humanity’s dominion were changed after the Flood, but that’s another story. The bottom line is that death is part of life and, when our Demosthenes eventually deteriorates to a certain point, the vet’s gentle syringe will release him.

Until then, we continue to enjoy his company, his affection and attitude. His body trembles, but for now, the spirit within shines bright.

Addendum: 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟖—𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐

Only a few hours after I posted a short tribute to our cat Demosthenes, his condition suddenly worsened rapidly. By late afternoon he was unable to eat or drink. By evening he couldn’t stand and had basically lost the use of his limbs. He was understandably confused and terrified by what was happening to him. Demi seemed most afraid that he would be left alone.

Through that night we took turns cradling him, telling him he was loved, and reciting to him in great detail all his qualities that made him a truly fine feline. He managed to sleep a little, as did we. We administered some subcutaneous fluids to keep him hydrated and more comfortable.

That morning I had some work issues to attend to and my boss—who is truly one of the best people I have ever worked for—gave me the rest of the day off to take care of Demi. We made the appointment with his veterinarian and at 1:58 PM, he gently eased Demosthenes out of his fear and suffering.

I want to thank all of you who lent your support and good wishes for all of us. Losing furry family is a hard, hard thing, and we appreciate your kind words and good thoughts. I’ve included some photos from Demi’s thirteen years with us. I hope they will convey his personality and zest for living.

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