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Henry was put to sleep this morning. Im thankful for the wonderful vet who administered the final shot. She was the one who had taken care of him through his illness and she was truthful yet caring.

He passed peacefully at 9:35.

I'm sorry I didn't answer when some of you asked about him. I guess I just didn't want to face the inevitable so I didn't discuss his condition much although it's been on my mind every waking moment.

Henry was my first real pet but pet is such a common word. He became one of my best companions. My buddy. My cuddlemeister. He was placed in my hands as a ten week old kitten and proceded to spend the rest of the day crying and searching for his mom and his littermates. Finally, I had to go to bed so I moved him to my bedroom and closed the door but he continued to call for his mum throughout the night. Just when I wondered if either of us would get any sleep, I heard his little claws grappling my blanket. He made his way to my pillow, curled up on top of my head and proceeded to suckle on my hair until, finally content, he fell asleep.

I was completely in love.

He was a coltish kitten, all ears and legs. He had a fetish for shoes and would drag them between his legs like a leopard with an antelope to remote places in the apartment. There were many mornings when I'd have to search frantically for a matching mate.

Henry was always contemplative cat even when he was young. He had large eyes that seemed to scan everything, taking in every detail and he would look at you as if he were ready to discuss the meaning of life or recite a Shakespearian soliloquy. It was like an old soul was coming through those eyes. Even as a kitten I started calling him "Old Man".

When he was about six months old, he slipped out of the apartment without me knowing. At the time, I lived in a third floor walkup. I was reading the Sunday paper and I started to hear a cat crying somewhere in the building. I just assumed it was one of the neighbors' cats because, of course, Henry was in the apartment. Then it became more and more plaintive so I opened the door and immediately recognized his voice. The poor thing had gone exploring but couldn't quite remember where he lived. He was on the second floor sitting at the door of the apartment directly below mine wailing to be let in.

During our first years together, I was working two jobs so it wasn't uncommon to be gone for fourteen hours some days. Henry hated being left alone for that long and my vet suggested getting a companion cat. "Even if they don't get along," he said, "they'll still appreciate the company." So Henry got his own pet when I adopted Khashka and later in his life when Piper and Hogan joined our family. They did help take care of his loneliness even though he mostly just tolerated them. It was fun though to see him put a cocky kitten in their place by simply staring them down then walking away with a top cat swagger.

Henry was always ready for a good snuggle. He'd settle onto your lap and nudge your hand or drape himself so that his paws curled over your shoulder with his head nestled under your chin. Everything just melted away when I held him. Someone once referred to him a big orange ball of love. I can't think of a better description.

Rest in peace, Hen.

Thanks guys. Gigs, I'm so glad that you got to meet The Old Man. He loved the attention.