I work overnights and came home this morning to find him unresponsive and cold. We discovered that he’d chewed the ribbons off of one of his spinny toys and it got lodged in his throat. That toy has been thrown out. I know it was a freak accident, but I still want to blame myself.

He was the one of the happiest, most loving, silly cats I’ve ever had the pleasure of owning in my life. He always reminded me when it was bedtime and had a special pillow by my head that he would sleep on every day. He was 12, I got to spend 10 of those years with him.

We buried him under the tree he loved to watch every morning. I wrapped him in the pillow case from his favorite pillow and gave him one of his (many) favorite toys. I’m so glad I took as many videos and pictures of him as I did, but man my heart hurts.

I’ve got two other kitties and I’ve been snuggling them as much as I can today. Please hug yours for me. Hold them close. Hug them tight. Love them unconditionally.