RIP Scampi (2009-2023)

The hardest thing to have to accept is that nothing is forever; this is especially heartbreaking for those of us with animals. Today we had to accept that reality, as we had to make the toughest decision any pet parent has to make. This morning we had to let go of our beloved Scampi.

Scampi, which got shortened to Scamp (because he was just that, a scamp cat) was almost fourteen and had been diagnosed with diabetes almost a year ago. We did everything we could to improve his life, but in the end we were only prolonging it. It’s painful to write this, and I am fighting back tears as I do, but in reality I should be celebrating his life, because he had the most amazing one.

We got Scamp as a kitten, when our son and daughter found him in a drainage ditch and brought him home. Little did we know how that adorable little white kitten would grow into one of the most badass cats you’ve ever known. Scamp had zero f’s to give about anything. As we liked to say, it was Scamp’s world, we just lived in it. In the beginning my wife thought he might be deaf, but the truth was he was just a bit of an asshole. When we moved out into the country he was truly in his element. One day he went missing, so we started calling around to see if anyone had seen him. It was truly humorous to hear all the names the neighbors knew him by, because he’d just hang out at their place from time to time and they just got used to him. One had a cage with rabbits in it and Scamp would just go and lay on top of it just to mess with them.

I lost track of all the birds and squirrels he brought down, but one of the most memorable ones was the day my wife was late bringing their food trays out. Scamp was not happy and took off. A short time later he reappeared, coming up the walkway, huffing and puffing, and dragging a wild rabbit that he had caught. It was almost as if he was saying, ‘You took too long; I got my own damn food.’ They say cats have nine lives, Scamp had about nineteen.

Scamp had no fear of anyone or any animal. Over the years we would introduce new dogs or cats and Scamp just kept being Scamp. All of us were here for his amusement and to give him love. He was an outdoor cat, but during the winters he would come inside and spend most of the day lying around. If it were just the dogs, he would lay with them, if one of the other cats was in, he would lay with them. Actually, he would lay on them. He had a propensity to use other cats (our now oldest, Gizmo, in particular) as a pillow, smacking them if they dared move. Even after his diagnosis, when we brought him inside, his demeanor never changed. He loved on our dog, Baxter, and could often be found lying with him. He even commandeered his bed as his own.

When we lost Jax and Indie, it was sudden and there was no real time to prepare ourselves for their death. I guess, in some way, that it is best. We’ve had almost a year knowing there was no ‘fix’ for Scamp, but we gave him the best life we could.

Hug your pets a little tighter today; give them an extra treat, because tomorrow is not guaranteed. Remember, they are in your life for a brief moment, but you are in their lives until the end.

Scamp has passed over the Rainbow Bridge; it’s time for my little warrior to be reunited with Jax and Indie and enjoy a life without sickness.

Rest easy Scamp and know that you were truly one-of-a-kind. We love you and miss you.