This Vegan’s Tribute to her Kitty Cat, Chimpy Boy!
Our Beautiful ChimpyChimpy under a lamp!
He came into our lives almost ten years ago in the late fall. I can’t remember the exact date mostly because I did not take note of it. What I do remember with great clarity and affection is the moment this rambunctious little cat came barreling into our hearts. We had been “dog people” all of our married lives and had adopted and lived with four wonderful diggedy dogs who have long since crossed over the rainbow bridge. Our kids were grown and we were devoting a lot of our free time to golfing. We did not think it was fair to adopt another dog or two who might be forced to spend a lot of time alone while we were out playing.
Our daughter was living with us at the time-she and her two cats, Kosho and Baguette, who we came to know, love and appreciate despite our then limited experience with felines and their feline-ish ways. When our daughter moved out a year later we were left cat-less. I will never say who we missed more, but suffice to to say it was easier to adopt a cat than it was to adopt a grownup daughter, so that it what we decided to do.
Bella of the BallChimpy and Bella
With great trepidation and excitement we visited a couple of shelters until I laid eyes on an orange female kitten who absolutely stole my heart. My husband was not convinced, so we kept looking in the other cages, but my eyes and my heart kept darting back to this little darling who lay sleeping next to her sister. Suffice it to say, we came home with our Bella girl, who graces our life with her serene way of being.
A month or so went by and, being the suckers that we are for furry beings, we decided that Bella should have a companion. Little did we know what we were in for when we visited our vet to take a look at a few rescued cats who were in need of homes and loving guardians. We visited with this very fluffy ball of a thing who promised, by virtue of her coat, to shed a ton in our home. I am not proud to say that I discarded the possibility of adopting her based on this superficial preference of mine.
Wait a sec,
the technician said,
There is one other kitten here who is available for adoption. I will get him.
Oops! I thought to myself, I don’t really want a male cat, but decided in that moment to be open minded. That is when a door opened and out burst a very funny looking and very tiny black and white kitten with over sized ears, a shrimpy, weird, damaged looked tail and a personality the size of the room in which we were standing. He darted here and there, investigating everything, batting at what he could reach, growling at the fluffy little kitten who looked at him quizzically.
His name is Chip. He was found on the street with his mother, who is also up for adoption.
We played him for a bit, hemmed and hawed back and forth until my husband said:
Little One Pound Chimpy
We have to take him! He is so ugly that if we don’t no one else will.
First Day At Home
And that is how little one pound Chip became a member of our family. We bundled him up and took him home. We liked his name. We thought it suited him, so we decided not to change it. Soon after we adopted him, he started making sounds like a monkey. You can guess the rest of the story here. His name morphed into Chimp and them Chimpy. We had lots of terms of endearment for him – Chipper, Chimpy Boy, Chipper-Dipper, Chimp a Limp and so on. He answered to them all. He was very accommodating that way.
Chimpy Under a BlanketSuppertime!
In time, Chimpy grew into a beautiful cat, but that is not what we valued most about him. We loved him for his Chimpy-ish ways.
Chimpy loved to eat. There was no question of leaving food out for the other cats to nibble on during that day as cats are wont to do. Chimp would have eaten it all in one fell swoop. He always wanted his fair share, as my husband would say.
RosieChimpy Relaxing
He would often be waiting by the front door or the top of the stairs when he would hear us come in, to greet us or maybe to be first in line for the food.
He was mischievous, chasing Bella around the house, and play wrestling with our cat Rosie (yes, we have another cat).
When we would get ready to change the sheets on the bed he would come running from wherever he was to jump under the contoured sheet and lay there as we piled on and tucked in the sheets, covers and blankets. We would poke at him fondly and say:
Where’s Chippy?
He loved this game. We could hear him purring loudly from underneath the blanket. Often he would get so comfortable that he would fall asleep as we exited the room, leaving behind a funny looking lump in the middle of the bed.
Chimpy in a basket on our bed!Chimpy – all grownup!!
Chimpy was a “cuddler”. He would sit in my lap on a pillow, purr loudly and stretch his little neck up to be scratched. Sometimes he would even lay his head on my chest completely content with his place in our lives. He would sleep with us at night and even for afternoon naps. He seemed to have a innate sense that we had just hit the hay. He would magically appear and tuck himself behind my knees or lay on my husband’s chest when he was taking a power nap. Every morning around five he would sit between our heads and purr loudly, asking to be let under the covers for a snuggle. It was such a lovely and comfortable feeling having him there.
Chimpy’s Tree
Christmas was Chimp’s favorite time of the year. He would run excitedly around the house when my husband would bring up the box that held the tree. He could hardly wait for the tree to be up. Forget the bells and baubles-that wasn’t important or noteworthy to our Chimp. The moment the tree was upright and the skirt was securely fixed, Chimp was under it and settled in for the entire holiday season, coming out only to eat, to use the litter box and to sleep with us at night.
But Chimpy had quite a few health issues. He would frequently have these digestive disturbances that would leave our normally voracious cat unable to eat much of anything. We would take him to the vet and by trial and error they seemed to be able to get him back on track. He also had Feline Stomatitis, a dental condition in which the immune system views the teeth as foreign and attacks and destroys them. Chimpy had three dental surgeries, the last one in September of 2014 during which the vet removed of all of the remaining offending teeth. His health improved dramatically after that and I was hopeful that the infected teeth and gums were the cause of his digestive issues. But what we hope for so desperately and what we get are not always in alignment.
Chimpy got sick again and this time the vet’s efforts were to no avail. I tried everything to get help for him. I tried anitbiotics, anti nausea meds, antacids, easily digestible food. I agreed to an ultrasound which showed an issue with his right kidney which the doctors were confident they could treat successfully with the right protocol. Chimpy stayed at the vet getting fluids and would rally and eat. He fought them every step of the way growling, scratching, being obstinate and what they euphemistically called “grumpy”. He did not like being manhandled by strangers and he would show his displeasure at every turn. I would bring him home only to have him once again stop eating and drinking. Back to the vet we would go.
This past Tuesday my dear, feisty, in your face Chimpy was laying on our bed where he spent most of his time now. I lay down with him and looked into his eyes and I knew, in that instant, that he had given up. The determination to get better was gone. My heart sank. Wednesday afternoon, after a last ditch effort by the vets to bring him around, I received a call filled with the words no one wants to hear.
There is no hope.
I instructed them to set up a room for euthanasia and told them that I was on my way. When I arrived at the vet I was ushered immediately into a room that had been set up with a soft bed, a little candle, and the injections that would set my Chimpy free. He was brought into the room in the caring arms of a technician and placed on the little makeshift bed. I was left alone to say my goodbyes to the little boy who had brought me so much joy in my life. I picked him up, cradled him in my arms, looked into his eyes, thanked him, told him that I loved him and would always remember. He looked back at me, took a few labored breaths and died in my arms.
I brought Chimpy home in a blanket filled box which I placed on our bed where he had always loved to sleep. When my husband came home, we buried Chimpy in a spot where we would often find him sitting. I put his collar on him and included a little note in case anyone comes across his grave in the years to come. I want them to know that here lies a cat who had a funny name and an even funnier tail, a cat who was loved and who loved us in return, a cat who lived life to the fullest, a being who mattered.
Annie’s Vegan View
With love comes the pain of loss.
Love does not discriminate when it comes to who we love.
Some of the most wondrous loves of our life can be our furry companions.
I have no doubt that Chimpy loved and valued us as much as we did him.
Even though I am heartbroken, even though our bed is much too big and lonely without him, even though I couldn’t save him in the end, I am thankful for the years spent with him and ever so grateful for the opportunity to say goodbye. I am so glad that he waited for me to get there.
…to the moon and back, Chimpy, to the moon and back! Safe journey and happy trails.
May all beings be happy and free.
Anne
This Vegan’s Tribute to her Kitty Cat, Chimpy Boy!
Dear Anne,
Thank you for sharing with us your tribute to Chimpy. I can tell the pain is still very raw and will likely be be for long time. Reading your letter, made me feel as though I actually knew him. How very lucky for you and Chimpy that the vet technician came out with thin little Chip with his large ears, and that you and Serge decided you had to take him home. Hope you find peace in all those wonderful memories of him.
Hi Claude Lynn,
Thank you for your kind words. Funny to feel lucky when feeling so very sad, but life can be like that. I am thankful for his presence in my life and no doubt will smile after a time at the sound of his name and the recollection of some funny thing he did.
Take care,
Anne
That is beautiful, made me cry :'( , but i am so happy Chimpy had humans that loved and cared for him so much, it could have been so different for him… he was so lucky.. sorry for your loss, it’s a terrible time when a fur child departs us, but your memories, and knowing you gave him a wonderful life will get you through that..
I adopted a black kitty as a kitten of a feral mother, from a rescue place many years ago, she had problems with her kidneys, and her teeth when we got her, she too was very food motivated, she died when she was ten after having a tooth out, she never recovered from the extraction or the anesthetic, more visits to the vets for four horrible weeks, she had developed cancer from the anaesthetic or the stress, in the end had to minimise her suffering any longer and take her back to the vets for the final time.. miss her very much.. took me some time, but the best solution was to adopt another fur child in need, they help to heal the pain and in return we can make another fur child’s existence just that little bit better…
R.I.P Chimpy. .you were loved and the love you gave in return brightened up someone’s world, as do all fur babies, every moment with them is a gift <3
Hi C.
Thanks you for your words of support.
Your experience with your little cat sounds a bit similar to mine. Perhaps the ailments from which both of our cats suffered are connected in some way-teeth, kidneys and the overeating! It is hard to make the decision to euthanize. This is my fourth time having to do so and it never gets easy. But Chimp was in a lot of pain at the end and he was not going to get better. He was deteriorating rapidly and I could not stand by and watch anymore.
But I miss him, oh how I miss him!
Thanks for sharing your story.
Take care,
Anne
What a moving testament not only to Chimpy, but to the value of all the pets in our lives. From a lively homeless kitten with big ears to a full-fledged member of the family; what a journey. He was full of personality and character and that made him the special and unique being he was. I’m sure having him in your life also helped you make the connection that all species of animals have their own personalities and reasons for wanting to live. That they all feel pleasure and pain and deserve protection. That they all have value. As you mourn your precious Chimpy I’m sure you will come to understand his own special role in your decision to live a vegan life. Yet another reason to be grateful for having had him in your life.
Hi Karen,
You have identified exactly what I am feeling. I always mourned my furry companions when they died, but this is the first loss since becoming vegan. I seem to have a heightened awareness of what Chimpy’s life meant to him and how his love of life impacted mine. I will explore this in my next article.
Thanks so much.
Anne
Writing through tears to send heartfelt condolences. Your tributes to Chimpy, this written one, the care you’ve taken with his resting spot and the love you have for him in your hearts is beautiful. May he rest in peace.
Love,
Krissa
Hi Carole,
Welcome to my website. Thanks so much. Of course, you knew Chimpy a bit and I would have told you some stories of his appetite and his medical issues. He was a funny little guy and his presence is very much missed.
Take care.
Anne
Hi Friend,
Thank you! What can I say? I want to disabuse people of the idea that he was only a cat! He was my friend and I was his protector. I am reminded of my mom who used to say, “I love my diggedy dogs. They listen to me. they understand me.”
I see you just posted on your site. I will get back to reading and pondering your thought provoking articles.
Take care my friend and thanks for the support.
Anne
Hey Jimmy,
Thank you! and you are welcome! Good souls like Chimpy have to be out there somewhere even if is just a lingering energy, a little longing….until then, I shall muddle about here advocating along with all my vegan friends for a better, kinder more compassionate world.
Take care,
Anne
Kelly and I had the pleasure of taking care of Chimpy (and shy Bella) a few times while you and Serge were away visiting Allison and family. He was always such a delight!
I do so understand your loss and how, at times, you feel bereft. When Dawson passed away, for us it felt the same as it would had we lost one of our children. Some people would be shocked to hear me say this because they can’t understand that a non-human life has the same value (for me) as a human life. For weeks and months, I cried even before I got to the house because I knew that he would not be there to greet me.
I think it’s so important to go through these stages of grief and be able to deal with our loss in a healthy way. Today, we cherish all the wonderful memories and think less about his suffering at the end. Our companion animals should teach us to have compassion for all living beings. Sadly, many people still aren’t making this connection…. but we live in hope….
This may sound strange but I’ll say it any way …. Please do tell Bella and Rosie about Chimpy…. They already sense what has happened but I’m sure it’s soothing to talk to them about him. I have a feeling you have already done this and often. Right? ☺
Thanks for your kind words. It is tough for me to be home right now because the three cats and I have spent a lot of time together while the world was spinning away furiously outside of the protection of the walls of our home. But I persist because I know that over time it will feel better and because I want to be there for Bella and Rosie.
This loss is tough but enlightening as well, because I see it with a different perspective since becoming vegan, with the focus being the rights of all beings to live productive, meaningful lives for reasons of their own.
Funny you should mention talking to the cats, because I have done so and have been watching their behavior in the last few days. I will talking about these revelations in my next post. I am realizing now that I made a mistake(not intentionally) of leaving my two cats out of the grieving process. I am feeling terrible about it now, but in the interest of being honest and of informing people I will write down my thoughts and share them . Just not sure yet what form it will take.
Thank you for your support. it does mean the world to me.
Take care,
Anne
You always write so well. The story about Chimpy’s life is so well summarized that it took me many days for me to comment because it was too painful to look at the nice pictures you added to your post and all the good souvenirs that they were triggering.
I think that for now, for me to really remember Chimpy and to appreciate what he brought to our family is to enjoy fully our 2 other cats and to benefit from their companionship.
Chimpy’s character was so powerful over our 2 other cats that I start to really enjoy their respective character which are very different from Chimpy’s. Thank you.
Oh Alex, Welcome to my website and I am so glad that my story about my Chimpy Boy resonated with you. I didn’t mean to make you cry and I really appreciate you sharing your vulnerability with me.
Take care,
Anne
Dear Anne,
Thank you for sharing with us your tribute to Chimpy. I can tell the pain is still very raw and will likely be be for long time. Reading your letter, made me feel as though I actually knew him. How very lucky for you and Chimpy that the vet technician came out with thin little Chip with his large ears, and that you and Serge decided you had to take him home. Hope you find peace in all those wonderful memories of him.
Hi Claude Lynn,
Thank you for your kind words. Funny to feel lucky when feeling so very sad, but life can be like that. I am thankful for his presence in my life and no doubt will smile after a time at the sound of his name and the recollection of some funny thing he did.
Take care,
Anne
Beautiful tribute….I’m crying of course
Hi Judy,
Thank you! Your support is appreciated!
Take care,
Anne
Beautifully written tribute Anne.
Hi Roger,
Thank you!
Take care,
Anne
That is beautiful, made me cry :'( , but i am so happy Chimpy had humans that loved and cared for him so much, it could have been so different for him… he was so lucky.. sorry for your loss, it’s a terrible time when a fur child departs us, but your memories, and knowing you gave him a wonderful life will get you through that..
I adopted a black kitty as a kitten of a feral mother, from a rescue place many years ago, she had problems with her kidneys, and her teeth when we got her, she too was very food motivated, she died when she was ten after having a tooth out, she never recovered from the extraction or the anesthetic, more visits to the vets for four horrible weeks, she had developed cancer from the anaesthetic or the stress, in the end had to minimise her suffering any longer and take her back to the vets for the final time.. miss her very much.. took me some time, but the best solution was to adopt another fur child in need, they help to heal the pain and in return we can make another fur child’s existence just that little bit better…
R.I.P Chimpy. .you were loved and the love you gave in return brightened up someone’s world, as do all fur babies, every moment with them is a gift <3
Hi C.
Thanks you for your words of support.
Your experience with your little cat sounds a bit similar to mine. Perhaps the ailments from which both of our cats suffered are connected in some way-teeth, kidneys and the overeating! It is hard to make the decision to euthanize. This is my fourth time having to do so and it never gets easy. But Chimp was in a lot of pain at the end and he was not going to get better. He was deteriorating rapidly and I could not stand by and watch anymore.
But I miss him, oh how I miss him!
Thanks for sharing your story.
Take care,
Anne
What a moving testament not only to Chimpy, but to the value of all the pets in our lives. From a lively homeless kitten with big ears to a full-fledged member of the family; what a journey. He was full of personality and character and that made him the special and unique being he was. I’m sure having him in your life also helped you make the connection that all species of animals have their own personalities and reasons for wanting to live. That they all feel pleasure and pain and deserve protection. That they all have value. As you mourn your precious Chimpy I’m sure you will come to understand his own special role in your decision to live a vegan life. Yet another reason to be grateful for having had him in your life.
Hi Karen,
You have identified exactly what I am feeling. I always mourned my furry companions when they died, but this is the first loss since becoming vegan. I seem to have a heightened awareness of what Chimpy’s life meant to him and how his love of life impacted mine. I will explore this in my next article.
Thanks so much.
Anne
Writing through tears to send heartfelt condolences. Your tributes to Chimpy, this written one, the care you’ve taken with his resting spot and the love you have for him in your hearts is beautiful. May he rest in peace.
Love,
Krissa
Hi Krissa,
So good to hear from you. I hope that you are well. Thanks for your support. It means a lot to me.
Take care,
Anne
Anne, the tribute is beautiful.
Hi Carole,
Welcome to my website. Thanks so much. Of course, you knew Chimpy a bit and I would have told you some stories of his appetite and his medical issues. He was a funny little guy and his presence is very much missed.
Take care.
Anne
So sad. So sweet. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Friend,
Thank you! What can I say? I want to disabuse people of the idea that he was only a cat! He was my friend and I was his protector. I am reminded of my mom who used to say, “I love my diggedy dogs. They listen to me. they understand me.”
I see you just posted on your site. I will get back to reading and pondering your thought provoking articles.
Take care my friend and thanks for the support.
Anne
Beautiful tribute. See you in the next life chimpy, save us a seat on the cosmic train. Thank you very much for sharing…
Hey Jimmy,
Thank you! and you are welcome! Good souls like Chimpy have to be out there somewhere even if is just a lingering energy, a little longing….until then, I shall muddle about here advocating along with all my vegan friends for a better, kinder more compassionate world.
Take care,
Anne
Dear Anne,
Kelly and I had the pleasure of taking care of Chimpy (and shy Bella) a few times while you and Serge were away visiting Allison and family. He was always such a delight!
I do so understand your loss and how, at times, you feel bereft. When Dawson passed away, for us it felt the same as it would had we lost one of our children. Some people would be shocked to hear me say this because they can’t understand that a non-human life has the same value (for me) as a human life. For weeks and months, I cried even before I got to the house because I knew that he would not be there to greet me.
I think it’s so important to go through these stages of grief and be able to deal with our loss in a healthy way. Today, we cherish all the wonderful memories and think less about his suffering at the end. Our companion animals should teach us to have compassion for all living beings. Sadly, many people still aren’t making this connection…. but we live in hope….
This may sound strange but I’ll say it any way …. Please do tell Bella and Rosie about Chimpy…. They already sense what has happened but I’m sure it’s soothing to talk to them about him. I have a feeling you have already done this and often. Right? ☺
Sending you and Serge our condolences.
Hugs,
Cindy
Hi Cindy,
Thanks for your kind words. It is tough for me to be home right now because the three cats and I have spent a lot of time together while the world was spinning away furiously outside of the protection of the walls of our home. But I persist because I know that over time it will feel better and because I want to be there for Bella and Rosie.
This loss is tough but enlightening as well, because I see it with a different perspective since becoming vegan, with the focus being the rights of all beings to live productive, meaningful lives for reasons of their own.
Funny you should mention talking to the cats, because I have done so and have been watching their behavior in the last few days. I will talking about these revelations in my next post. I am realizing now that I made a mistake(not intentionally) of leaving my two cats out of the grieving process. I am feeling terrible about it now, but in the interest of being honest and of informing people I will write down my thoughts and share them . Just not sure yet what form it will take.
Thank you for your support. it does mean the world to me.
Take care,
Anne
You always write so well. The story about Chimpy’s life is so well summarized that it took me many days for me to comment because it was too painful to look at the nice pictures you added to your post and all the good souvenirs that they were triggering.
I think that for now, for me to really remember Chimpy and to appreciate what he brought to our family is to enjoy fully our 2 other cats and to benefit from their companionship.
Chimpy’s character was so powerful over our 2 other cats that I start to really enjoy their respective character which are very different from Chimpy’s. Thank you.
Hi Serge,
Thank you! I guess that we will be sad for a while. Yes, let’s enjoy Bella and Rosie and see what the future brings.
Take care,
Anne
Love this love you. I cried deeply
Oh Alex, Welcome to my website and I am so glad that my story about my Chimpy Boy resonated with you. I didn’t mean to make you cry and I really appreciate you sharing your vulnerability with me.
Take care,
Anne