Blacky entered my life when I was 9 years old.  She was a gift from my mother.  I had always wanted a cat and Blacky was my dream come true.



Blacky was already a year old when my mother gave her to me.  She was a petite cat, solid black with yellow eyes.  She was affectionate and sweet toward every human she got to know.



Blacky was an expert mouser.  I remember our first few years together she'd bring home a mouse for me every so often.  Usually the mouse was still alive and she would bat it around for a while before putting it out of its misery.  Of course, she never ate the whole mouse.  She'd leave whatever was left on my mother’s porch.  Naturally, it was up to me to clean up after her.  (Quite a nasty chore, at times!)



I think I will miss the way Blacky smelled and the sound of her purr the most.  Blacky always smelled good.  She was a clean kitty, always taking a bath.  And there were many nights I went to sleep listening to her purring next to me.  And if I didn't wake up when I was supposed to she always meowed right in my ear to get me awake.  Or she'd tickle my forehead by trying to smell my head to see whether I was awake or not.



Blacky was with me for 17 years.  I thank God for the privilege of having a friend like Blacky and for the time we were able to spend together.  After being together for so long we grew to understand each other and be bonded in a way that was truly special.  And only God can give a gift as wonderful as that.



In December 2003 Blacky developed chronic renal failure or kidney failure disease.  She had lost a lot of weight and wasn't eating because of this.  Her veterinarian put her on a catheter to put some more fluid back into her body so she would start eating again.  But he said that there was no cure for this condition and that he was buying us time.  And it worked for a while.  She started eating again and gained some weight back.  But in March 2004 she stopped eating again and she was really lethargic and weak.  I took her back to her veterinarian.  He said there wasn't much he could do except to try more fluids again but he didn't promise that it would work.  So we tried the fluids again.  She stayed overnight and the next day I was supposed to pick her up after work.  When I came to pick her up he told me things had gone for the worse.  She was getting fluids but her temperature had dropped considerably.  I was out of options now.  Her veterinarian told me that I could have her euthanized or I could take her home and she would probably die that night.  I chose to take her home.  I didn't want Blacky to die at a place she feared, around strange people and strange smells.



Once we were home I held Blacky for a few hours and then laid her on her favorite spot on the couch.  She seemed more comfortable there.  Eddie, my husband, and I stayed up with her all night.  She drifted in and out of a coma.  When she was conscious she would meow and I would tell her that I loved her and stoke her fur.  Finally, at 4:55 in the morning she took her last breath with Eddie and me right beside her.



This was the way I wanted Blacky to go.  I'm grateful that I didn't have to make the decision to have her euthanized.  I don't think I could have done it.  God knew best and he made sure that we were all taken care of.



I know that when we all get to heaven Blacky will be there too.  She was a minister of God to me and my family.  I look forward to the day when we will be reunited and be together for all eternity.