7 Lessons from a Cat’s Life: An ode to my best friend

It’s with great sadness to share that we’ve bid farewell to the beloved Green Philly mascot, Pounce DeLeon.

My life changed on January 12, 2013. One to never love felines, I brought home my furrrrever best friend from the shelter. A vibrant and social cat, he took his role seriously: greeting visitors at the door, playing the guard cat at the window and spending time by my side. He pulled pranks on exes, purred on my BFF’s laps and was always mischevious as a kitty could be. He even guest blogged – only once, due to his demanding sleep schedule.

Everything seemed fine when I took him for his annual checkup in January, he got glowing remarks from the vet. So by the time November rolled around, I was in for a shock when the vet called with concerning blood results for my five and a half-year-old cat. Before I knew it, we began an emotional roller coaster of theories and treatments: hospitalization, countless vets, and medications to help his health improve and feel better. Four weeks later, I went from a proud cat mom who thought her usually ravenous cat was a being picky to heartbreak.

To focus this post entirely on the past four weeks would be an injustice to the life of a remarkable buddy cat. I decided to do what I do best: turn my sadness into what I learned from his short time on earth by my side.

7 Lessons from my Pounce DeLeon

1. Greet everyone who walks in your home like a rockstar. Pounce ran to the door for a pet or to scope out the new person walking into his territory. Even when he was napping, I told him he had a visitor to fulfill his greeting duties.

2. Tell someone when you’ve had enough. However, when those receptions exceeded 7 pets, Pounce was the first to stop purring and give a gentle love bite. A good lesson for all of us who have played nice for too long…

3.  Appreciate each day with those you love. Sometimes, all you need to do it curl up next to your best friend and sit together in silence. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by life, but remember to take time to simply be present.

4. Life isn’t fair. In fact, it can be quite shitty. To think that my loving, laptop sleeping companion to a deteriorated version of himself was painful to watch. When the unthinkable happens, grief is painful beyond explanation and hits at unexpected times. But it’s important to lean on those around you and take time to process.

5. Find a schedule that works for you. As I worked from home this year, I got used to Pounce’s routine. Wake owner up at 5:45-6 AM for food, steal her warm spot on the bed when she had to wake up again at 7, sleep on her desk until 2, start getting antsy, start dinnertime calls circa 4:15 until dinner at 5 PM sharp. Then find new areas to nap in and play until bedtime again at 11:45, when you snuggle next to your owner. Obviously, he changed his weekend schedule to sleep in like we all should.

6. Never stop learning new tricks. When I thought I’d seen everything in my 500′ studio, the conquistador would find a new spot to sleep in to claim as his territory. Including high places, on top of dishes, the keyboard, you name it…

7. Cats are capable of love. Cat-haters, beware. As a self-proclaimed dog person, I had doubts about cats for a long time. Over time as Pounce DeLeon nuzzled and purred, he pulled at heartstrings I never knew existed.

I’ll always miss you, buddy cat. Rest in peace my best feline friend.