Goodbye, Sweet Prince. Or: me trying to write a eulogy for Doctor Evil, the sweetest cat in the world according to pretty much everyone.
Summer 2019: I’m sitting upstairs at my desk, and finish work for the day. It’s been a long day; well actually, it’s been a long couple of days. I feel empty and tired because I haven’t slept well during the last week or so. I turn to my right. The light that’s coming in from the west-facing window is orange, no, a warm bronze color. This is where you loved to sit every afternoon. You would come up the stairs where you’d sometimes sit around noon, bathing in the sun coming in through the small window at the top of the stairs. You’d yell at me, telling me to give you my attention. I learned to wait for you, ready to take my afternoon coffee break. I’d pull up the Venetian blinds for you in advance to make sure that the daybed below the window was warm from the afternoon sun. You’d jump onto the daybed, and lie down, looking majestic as f*ck, waiting to be pet. I’d fill my mug with coffee, sit down next to you and start petting you. Purrr purrr purrr.
February 2015: I’ve visited and spent the night at Corinna’s new place for the first time. It’s winter and below freezing outside. Sometime last night, you jumped up the door handle, held on tight, and opened the door to Cori’s bedroom from outside to get in and sleep in your hammock next to the bed. I’m incredibly curious to touch and get to know you because I’ve only seen you briefly when I arrived yesterday; you were not interested in me at all. I’ve never met a Sphinx cat before. Now, you eye me with a curiosity similar to mine, stretch your long, muscular front legs, yawn some more, and get up. 2 minutes later, you’re sitting on my chest. Purrr purrr purrr.
Between these two points in time are so many memories, pretty much all of them happy ones, and I have a hard time picking another one or a favorite one in general. Initially, I wanted to describe at least three of them in this text but I think the two moments above cover my relationship with you, Doktor Evil, well. We just loved each other the moment we met. You always wanted to be the one to make contact, and the people who gave you enough space were always rewarded with your unconditional love. You were my first cat and you’ve just been the best at it. We had to let you cross the rainbow bridge today, and I’m incredibly sad, but also incredibly grateful to have met you.
I can’t thank you enough for your love and affection, and I miss you terribly, my little prince.
Your human, Ben.