Goodbye To Another Old Friend

I was an active volunteer at the Animal Shelter in the Albany area back in 2008 and had access to many of the back rooms where sick animals or those on hold were kept. Every time I walked into what was called "the puppy room," a white cat in a high cage would reach out his long arm and pat me on the shoulder. He was deaf, but so handsome and friendly that I felt sure he'd get a good home. When he finally made his way to the adoption area, however, no one seemed to want him and he still reached out to me whenever I went by. So of course I adopted him:

Draco was a fully grown adult when I got him. The Shelter neutered him and I had some concern that he might retain some of his tom cat ways. But he was a lover of comfort and friendly to everyone. This old photo is one of my favorites, showing Draco happy and comfy as well as four of my dogs at the time, only one of which is still alive:

  When we moved to the farm, Draco continued to make himself at home:

 Draco had a few spats with Rocky, but was always best friends with Bramble. The two of them were often together:

And he was an expert at finding cubbyholes to hide in, often opening cabinet doors and crawling inside for a nap:

Mr. Personality, Draco was always the first to greet any guest in my home:

But as the years passed by, he slowed down and began sleeping more:

His two best buddies were Bramble and Snoozey:

And just recently he was still enjoying a bit of play with feathers tied to a string. He and Bramble batted it around vigorously:

  

Draco was almost everyone's friend:

But he began showing his age more and more. When he began wheezing, I rushed him to the vet, where he was diagnosed as having pneumonia and a failing heart. I nursed him for three weeks with several antibiotics and special foods, trying to get him to eat. But he continued to look worse and worse. One morning I decided that it was time to have him euthanized, but he walked out into the middle of the room and watched me with bright and alert eyes, seemingly saying "Hey, I'm still inside here." I relented, but the next morning he was worse. I took him to the vet to be put to sleep. I didn't want my old friend to suffer any more. He's now buried out beneath the hay bales, close to his buddy, Snoozey, who preceded him: