It is now almost a month since the vet advised me that the time had come to put Rufus (age almost 18) to sleep. We miss him, but it is good to know that he is no longer in any pain. It was sad to see how difficult it was for him to walk, and to hear him wailing during the night.
Rufus was a wonderful cat. He was incredibly patient when children wanted to play with him. It was not in his nature to bite or scratch. Occasionally, if Sepia (our other cat) got into a fight outside the house, Rufus would walk over and indicate that the intruder ought to leave. He seemed to be respected by the other moggies in the neighbourhood.
I was holding Rufus as the vet was about to give him an injection. "Will he bite you?" she asked. "I doubt it," I replied. "That would be the first time in 17 years."
If everyone were as peaceful and loving as Rufus was, the world would be a better place.