Grampa Nick

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When my 14-year-old female cat Marge died, her brother Bandit became extremely lonely. We hadn't planned on getting another cat but Bandit needed a companion. My husband and I set out to get a cat about 5 years old; however, we came home from the shelter with a 15-year-old cat named Nick who was emaciated and had arthritis, kidney failure, liver damage and anemia. Nicks owner, elderly himself, had a stroke and was unable to tell anyone he had two cats in his apartment. When the landlord finally entered the mans apartment, Nick and his sister had been without food or fresh water for two weeks. The shelter began treating them and the cats made some headway. Nicks sister was adopted and Nicks progress halted and began to decline. That's when we met him. Nick was on an examining room table at the shelter when we first saw him. He hobbled over to my husband and buried his face in his chest. My husband was smitten and wanted to adopt him. I was still mourning the loss of Marge and now here was Nick who everyone thought had about two weeks left in him. My husband appealed to me that if we took Nick home, it would be the best two weeks of his life. Four years later, Nick died peacefully. The four years we had him, he was the most amazing old cat we could ever own. We named him Grampa Nick because, even thought they were only one year apart, Nick looked like Bandits Grampa. The two old cats got along famously. Bandit would try to cuddle with Nick and Nick would tolerate it. Nicks favorite thing was to be held like a baby -- and held, and held. He looked like a grumpy old man, but inside he was a big mushy baby.

Cindy Circo Zahora
Chicago, IL

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