Owning a pet is guaranteed to end in heartache, simply because they don’t live very long. At some point in the life of a pet owner, you will have to deal with mortality.

Saturday, we said farewell to our beloved Daisy. She was an 11 year old sweetheart of a cat who loved nothing more than to curl up under your arm and sleep for the whole night. Daisy had been sick for about a year. In that year, I had cleaned up more animal liquids than one person should have to for an entire lifetime.

I never actually thought about the end of my cat’s life. Cats are pretty low maintenance and ours had always been healthy…until this past year.

My cats Daisy and Darla were both diagnosed with cancer within two weeks of one another. I should have seen this coming but I didn’t. I can’t believe I didn’t but I didn’t. I fully expected to have both cats until they were 20. Fresh off the intestinal cancer diagnosis for Daisy, Darla woke up last week with a severe limp. Three x-rays, one biopsy, and $3400 later, she has some –noma ending bone cancer and now needs her leg amputated.

I have made a bad joke here more than once that I see the writing on the wall, $6K in vet bills and no cats left. Although I don’t think that will be the case. Darla is healthy otherwise and I see a few more years of life left in her.

I remember hearing long ago that once you have children, animals become less of a priority in life. I didn’t find that. I had less time to sit on the sofa on a Saturday to be a lap to curl up in but I always had time to pet a cat as I rushed throughout my day.

Five or so years ago I had said that I always wanted two cats. When one goes, I want another right away. Now I am here at that junction and I can say, I don’t think I ever want cats again. Although, maybe five years from now I will change my mind once more.  Taking care of living things is a big responsibility. It has wonderful rewards but also comes with sacrifice. My high energy three year old son takes up most of my time these days and dare I say, if I have a free moment once or twice a week, I would like to actually sit to enjoy a meal. I also feel that is important to feel Daisy’s absence, to reflect on all that I loved about her. She was so good to us, she deserves at least that.

So, here’s to Daisy. You will be missed and remembered for all of the joy you brought to our lives.