Cracker by Damian Christie

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Cracker: No Kitty Blues

46 Responses

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  • Robyn Gallagher,

    What a beautiful, lovely kitty. And when I see how fluffy he was, it makes me want to snoogle his belly. Yes.

    It sounds like Tonka had a really good life, and I'm glad you got to say goodbye to him.

    Thanks for sharing the story, and especially for the lovely photos.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Sue,

    oh mate

    loosing your kitteh is something i wouldn't wish on anyone
    :/

    couldn't imagine life without my cat

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 527 posts Report Reply

  • Michael Savidge,

    Hell Damian...you've just broken my heart a little bit more. What a beautiful cat he was....

    I don't know what more to say.

    Somewhere near Wellington… • Since Nov 2006 • 324 posts Report Reply

  • Morgan Nichol,

    I know what it's like to say goodbye to a furry little friend, my thoughts are with you Damian.

    Auckland CBD • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    Having and taking care and loving pets is the outreach of our kind of animal - but not exclusively (check out Koko.) And that almost inevitably leads to grieving for the shorter-lived kin - nice cat Damian.
    Sorry he's dead-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Deborah,

    Oh, Damian. I'm so sorry for you. I have mourned for cats like that too (NB the mourning is similar, not the cats, because clearly there could be only one Tonka).

    We have a nice-enough cat now. She's actually my daughter's cat, and she made the trip across the Tasman for that reason. If she had been mine, I would have re-homed her without sentiment, but given that we were asking our daughter to leave her friends, her home, her life, it seemed unfair to not take her cat. Besides, my husband's employer was paying...

    That said, were Rainbow to shuffle off this moral coil, or more likely, squish out her days beneath a passing car, I'd not mourn too much. My affections these days are far more directed towards my children. That's why I had them; they last for much longer than cats.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    I have great memories of that ball of fluff that used to spread itself across the sofa around at Ring Terrace. Tonka was not a cat you could avoid noticing. And you said he got larger in recent years!

    RIP Tonka

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    All I want to do right now is go home and cuddle my cat.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Damian Christie,

    All I want to do right now is go home and cuddle my cat.

    And make sure you do, Sir. I know a bunch of my friends' kitties have been feeling the love of their owners since Tonka got sick.

    Simon, I wasn't sure if you'd seen him when he was a kitten? I've got a few polaroids I need to get scanned - almost completely white with just a little chocolate nose. So cute. But yes, as I mentioned, he's seen a few sights over the years eh!

    Thanks for your comments guys. :)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report Reply

  • Rogan Polkinghorne,

    Sorry to hear about your loss Damian, but thanks for sharing...very touching post.

    A-town • Since Nov 2006 • 105 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    I try to have more than one animal, all at different ages, so they can be 'staggered' and we don't ever have an empty house. Last year we lost litte grey Shirley to cancer (sigh) and now Laverne has to carry the cat torch alone. She has to hang out with the two dogs for company now, which I'm sure isn't ideal for her!

    Condolences, anyway. He was very beautiful.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Irvine,

    Sorry to hear that - we have a Birman too, he's fantastic and I can't imagine not having him around. I hear what you're saying 'bout white fluff! You'll be still be finding bits for years.

    Auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 242 posts Report Reply

  • Damian Christie,

    Cute photo Richard - they're very hard to take pics of I reckon, more often than not you just end up with a big black triangle where their face is. Tonka made things harder when he was outside by always screwing his eyes up in the daylight - we used to call him Moley.

    And yes, I just can't commit to that final vacuum yet - even though I know there'll be bits of fluff on all my clothes for years to come, there's a few big bits lying around the house right now I feel comfort in leaving there, rather than sucking up out of sight.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report Reply

  • Michael Stevens,

    So sorry that you are going through this Damian. Our pets give us so much trust and love and ask for so little back.

    it is always a huge blow. I hope you are doing ok.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 230 posts Report Reply

  • jon johansson,

    Hey bro, very sorry to hear. Tonka would sure have loved all the kai you used to bring home when you were down on the Bay.

    Must have fancied you, too, coz Tonka's blackmail potential would have been quite the temptation me thinks.

    Take care man

    Wellington • Since Dec 2007 • 6 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Irvine,

    Thanks - here's one more. He hates that Mac and the attention it sucks that could be lavished on him. He's called Biscotti, and he's getting on a wee bit now, he's about 12.

    You should definitely leave the vacuuming for a wee while yet.

    Auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 242 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    Sorry to hear of Tonka. One of my brother's cats got hit-and-run earlier this year, and her twin littermate was pretty despondent over it.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    Well, if everyone else (Richard) is sharing their cat photos: here's Jedi.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Damian Christie,

    :) Yeah bring on the kitty photos - let's have a feline love-in.

    And yes, Tonka never seemed more affectionate than when I was sitting on the couch with my Powerbook out. Nothing said "come jump on my lap" more than a laptop...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Irvine,

    Heh yeah I've got one at home of me with a grimly determined cat wedged between me and the laptop :)

    Auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 242 posts Report Reply

  • Kim Wilson,

    So sorry to hear/read about Tonka. Your post made my eyes leak.

    I highly recommend leaving the vac'ing; I had to make The Decision regarding holidaying flatmates' cat several weeks ago after he took a turn for the worse one night. I've only just sucked up his hair from the sofa where we watched telly together and I found it definitely helped not tidying him and his stuff away immediately.

    Nice pics Damian, he certainly looks well loved.

    Nth Canty • Since Dec 2006 • 28 posts Report Reply

  • rightochaps,

    Tonka looks like he had a fantastic life - how many cats can say they've been on telly? We lost our precious dog and friend of nearly 12 years last weekend. Losing an animal friend is definitely one of life's more painful experiences. You'll be hearing Tonka's paws on the floors for a while yet, and I hope it's a comforting sound instead of a saddening one.

    the 09 • Since Aug 2008 • 2 posts Report Reply

  • Eric Olthwaite,

    That's terrible Damien. As a Ragdoll owner I know just how endearing those big fluffy white monsters can be.

    I am sure Tonka is at the Cat Pearly Gates meowing to be let in, or inside the Cat Pearly Gates meowing to be let out.

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 20 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    Ah, suck. We lost this guy about three years ago, and I still miss him. He'd been with me through uni and babies, been my companion longer than my partner. It was weeks before I stopped seeing him round the house out of the corner of my eye.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    Alright, that was weird, an m jumped out of the middle of my url.

    Ptolemy

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

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