by Jeannie Barry-Sanders

Created on: August 22, 2010

Beauty: aka Buddy, Budweiser Lite: aka: Bud; aka: My Cat

Bud was born in 1987 in a litter of three. He was beautiful so I named him “Beauty.”  I didn't know a lot about cats and didn’t realize she was a “he.”  The first time I took him to the vet he asked me why I named him Beauty. I said, “She is so cute and I like the name”. The vet said ‘she’ may be cute but this is a male cat. The vet showed me his paws and said, “See these” –this guys going grow into a big cat.”

I renamed my cat after my favorite beer the next day – Budweiser Lite.  As the years rolled by Bud, as we affectionately called him, grew huge, just as the vet had predicted. He developed his own personality but remained beautiful and lovable. He ate with us; he chased imaginary things in the air and always slept at the foot of our bed.   

The kids loved playing with Bud. He was affectionate and he let them carry him around like a rag doll. He loved going to the vet. The groomer gave him his own personal haircut-a lion with tuffs on his feet, mane and his long tail had fluff on the end, just like a real lion, so he had his personal style.  

My Buddy is now 23-years-old. He is a seasoned veteran on airplanes and loves to fly. When the car starts he perks up ready for a ride. He has moved around the country and adapts to any place as long as we are there. He has fought with us over McDonald's cheeseburgers and a french fry or two and he gets down-right grumpy if he can't have a piece of cornbread, some beans and a teaspoon of beer in his cup.  

Bud lost his sight last year. We put all his precious little items close to him so he could find his way around and know how to find his water, food and litter box. His joints are arthritic so he moves real slowly now. He sleeps by my computer to keep me company while I write. He has his own radio tuned to jazz and it plays soft music for him nightly. He wakes up often and meows loudly to check if someone is close by. Once he knows people are close he goes back to sleep.   

I asked the vet the last time Bud went for a check-up if it was time to put him to sleep. The vet examined him and said “Are you kidding?” He is in great shape for an old geezer. Let him stay with you as long as he wants and lay around, eat, sleep and live out his life, no matter how long. If he gets ill, then we will talk about options, but for now he is still a “regal” fellow”.

I took him home; maybe he knew I was thinking about sending him to pet heaven, because he kissed me before I laid him in his bed. My cat has grown old along with me. I have arthritis too, I wear eyeglasses help me see and I move much slower. I also like having things close to me so I don't have to wander around looking for them. We have preserved through the ups and downs together. We enjoy life together, laugh a little when Bud stumbles but then we pick him up when he falls.  

This is a solid friendship that has grown over the years. Bud allowed me to be in his life, to take care of him and to enjoy special moments. I enjoy the time we have and I will be there for him when he decides his journey is over.

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