In Loving Memory Of Kobe

[+Jeffrey+ 120]

My heart is broken once again. I had to have my dear Kobe put to sleep the other day (February 17, 2021) after he had become ill. I just can't believe it. He wasn't quite a year old, and I had hoped we were going to spend many wonderful, happy years together. Kobe came into my life on April 28, 2020. And yes, he was named after basketball legend, Kobe Bryant. He was a tiny kitten of only a few weeks old. He could’ve been over a month old, but I’m uncertain. He was tiny. I had walked outside on the porch that day and heard a kitten meowing nearby. At first I thought I was hearing things. I walked around and looked, but couldn’t see it. It hushed for a while, then started again. Then, I opened the hood of the truck and looked in there and spotted him. A tiny grey kitten with a little bit of white on it. A beautiful little kitten. It wouldn't come to me at first, though. Later that night, it came up on the porch just below my bedroom window and started meowing like crazy. I went out there and put out a few pieces of shrimp flavored Temptations cat treats for him to eat. Treats that had belonged to my dear cat Lady G. He was skittish at first, but by day three, we were best buds, and he was climbing all over me, even up on my shoulders. Even headbutted my hand like Lady G. used to do. He was so full of energy, and would happily play all day. He loved playing, and it was such a joy to watch. When he was still pretty small, I had an empty water bottle I would roll towards him, and he would slap that thing all over the place, fighting and rolling with it in the grasp of his little paws. That bottle was as big as him, and it was his favorite thing in the world. He loved playing with that bottle. He played with it every day, and for long periods of time. I once placed a large mirror on the porch for him to see himself, and it was just the cutest thing to see. Kobe would look at himself in that mirror, bow up, and run back and forth, while staring at himself. He would even look behind the mirror thinking another cat was back there. It was so funny watching his tiny self bow up like he was this big, bad cat. His little self seemed so healthy, and just as happy as could be. And of course, I was too. Finally again. I’ve always been a cat person, and they seem to know they can easily steal my heart. 

As Kobe got a little bigger, he would often run and slam into my leg when I was outside playing with him. I am not kidding, he would literally run hard into my leg and wrap it with his front legs and paws. It would nearly knock me down if I weren’t paying attention to him. I thought he was going to hurt himself, but that little joker was as tough as nails. While outside, he would often run and climb up the Lady G. tree. A small tree I named after Lady G. He would also climb up into the large live oaks around the house, and walk way out across those limbs. That scared me nearly to death. I would call for him to come down, but he was determined to do as he wished. He loved to climb and wasn’t scared a bit. And just like human kids, Kobe would get into everything. OMG he could be a handful at times! He would chew on everything. Even cables. I had to keep a close eye on him while he was inside for fear he would chew on something I had plugged in. But Kobe knew he had me wrapped around his little paws. I could never get real mad at him. He was just being a cat. 

Once Kobe got a little older, he started going outside at night more often and wandering around. He was an indoor/outdoor cat. I wanted him to be free and do cat things, instead of being stuffed inside the house all day. I kept my bedroom window slightly open for him to come and go as he wished. Something I’ve always done for my cats. If I had the window closed at night, he would moan and paw at it, begging to go outside. Sometimes he’d go out and use the bathroom and come back in after a few minutes. Other times he’d go out and be gone for several hours. One of those nights he did get into a fight, or maybe even attacked, and was injured, possibly bitten, which may have contributed to his illness. I never got Kobe neutered, and I do regret not doing so. I did plan on getting him neutered soon, and doing so may have prevented him from wanting to ramble at night, possibly even saving his life. I feel guilty for not getting him fixed sooner.

On the morning of February 17, 2021, I was asleep in the recliner, and Kobe was sleeping in my room with the window closed at the time. Sometime that morning, Kobe jumped up on the arm of the recliner and woke me up. He then quickly hopped over onto the couch and laid down. I immediately saw that he was very ill. As I was getting up, he went towards the front door to go out. He was wobbly when he walked. And would lay down as if he was extremely exhausted. I got him and took him to a vet not far up the road. He appeared to be in very bad shape, and it was such a heartbreaking thing to see. My God, it was just terrible. The vet tested Kobe’s blood and told me that he had tested positive for both feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency viruses, which she said both were deadly viruses. I was told the best decision was to put him to sleep because most likely he wouldn't have been able to recover from this. So I agreed to have him put to sleep, which is something I’ve never had to do to a pet before. And I know I’ll think about this decision for the rest of my life. I do know that my dear Kobe was pretty sick that day, and it was probably best for him. I love Kobe dearly. And he knew he was dearly loved, so I feel good knowing that. Kobe was such a sweet, loving boy. We didn't quite have a year together, but we hit it off from the very beginning and became very close. He brought so much joy into my life with the little time we were blessed to share together. And he always managed to put a big smile on my face. Always! Now, he and my dear Lady G. are together. Two special feline friends that will be carried inside of my heart for as long as I live.

Thank you my dear Kobe for coming into my life, and for being such a loving, special little friend. And thank you Kobe for all the joy and beautiful memories you have given me. Memories I will cherish forever. You were, and will always be, a blessing to me. Thank you for everything, Bubba. And I promise you, I will never forget you! We are friends forever! 

Rest in peace Kobe. I dearly miss you and dearly love you, buddy!

Kobe (April 28, 2020 - February 17, 2021)

You may view more pics of Kobe at this link: https://ibb.co/album/2SJMJN

 

 

[Anna J 16]

What a beautiful boy he was!I am so sorry he  had to be put to sleep.It looks like you and he had a lot of fun and you indeed were such good friends.He was loved and he loved you too.This is always the most important thing.May this love and memories  stay with you forever.

[KayC 4,305]

OMG, I am so sorry Jeffrey!  It seems you two were put into each other's lives just when you both needed it most, and what a special relationship it was!  I know it's the quality of relationship not the length of time we had each other that determines our grief, but oh how I wish we could all get more time together!    While it's heartbreaking that he didn't get to live a long time, I know he had the best quality of life he could possibly have, with you.  Sending prayers and thoughts of comfort your way...

[+Jeffrey+ 120]

3 hours ago, Anna J said:

What a beautiful boy he was!I am so sorry he  had to be put to sleep.It looks like you and he had a lot of fun and you indeed were such good friends.He was loved and he loved you too.This is always the most important thing.May this love and memories  stay with you forever.

Thank you for the kind words, Anna.

18 minutes ago, KayC said:

OMG, I am so sorry Jeffrey!  It seems you two were put into each other's lives just when you both needed it most, and what a special relationship it was!  I know it's the quality of relationship not the length of time we had each other that determines our grief, but oh how I wish we could all get more time together!    While it's heartbreaking that he didn't get to live a long time, I know he had the best quality of life he could possibly have, with you.  Sending prayers and thoughts of comfort your way...

And thank you too, KayC. I never thought I'd be posting another memorial thread so soon. Although our time together was short, I am so thankful for the time Kobe and I had. We had such a great time together. 

[Gary55 112]

I'm so so sorry to read of Kobe, what a lovely soul. My heart goes out to you for this, it does not seem right as so very young. You were meant for each other clearly. You opened your heart and gave him a lovely time when with you, he will know you loved him. 

[AJWCat 331]

Oh no, I gasped reading the headline. What?? 

I am so, so sorry. I can't believe this. Those are nasty little diseases aren't they. And there's nothing we can do about them either. I'm guessing with his kitten energy he hid the illness until it overtook him. So you did the right, kind thing despite being a horrible painful decision.

You gave him a wonderful life in the short time you had together.

And thank goodness, although you had to go through yet more trauma, you were there with him at the end. 

RIP sweet little guy.  

[KayC 4,305]

Whether the time is great or small, they enrich our lives so much, I can't imagine life without them.  You can feel satisfaction knowing you gave him the best possible life and love, but of course I know that does little to assuage your pain now.

[+Jeffrey+ 120]

5 hours ago, Gary55 said:

I'm so so sorry to read of Kobe, what a lovely soul. My heart goes out to you for this, it does not seem right as so very young. You were meant for each other clearly. You opened your heart and gave him a lovely time when with you, he will know you loved him. 

Thank you for the kind words, Gary.

3 hours ago, AJWCat said:

Oh no, I gasped reading the headline. What?? 

I am so, so sorry. I can't believe this. Those are nasty little diseases aren't they. And there's nothing we can do about them either. I'm guessing with his kitten energy he hid the illness until it overtook him. So you did the right, kind thing despite being a horrible painful decision.

You gave him a wonderful life in the short time you had together.

And thank goodness, although you had to go through yet more trauma, you were there with him at the end. 

RIP sweet little guy.  

Thank you for the kind words, AJWC.

1 hour ago, KayC said:

Whether the time is great or small, they enrich our lives so much, I can't imagine life without them.  You can feel satisfaction knowing you gave him the best possible life and love, but of course I know that does little to assuage your pain now.

Thank you for the kind words, KayC.

I have a funny little story about Kobe to share. Kobe always used the bathroom outside, and instead of digging just one big hole each time to do all his business in at once, he'd dig separate holes for each business. He'd dig and go in the first hole, quickly cover it up, and run a few steps over, quickly dig another hole, and do his other business.  I've never seen a cat do that, and that really cracked me up! Sometimes he had to go so bad, those little legs were going a hundred miles an hour digging that second hole. Too funny! 

My goodness, I miss my little buddy.

[yvo4848 32]

Lost my doggie (2-7-21) I feel your pain o boy do I ..your kitty new hes was loved still is.Your a very sweet human who took a stray in..what a beautiful story.Rip litle guy..hes playing with my dogs....sissie muffin Sarah terry..all in the past 40 year.im 64.excuse my spelling.

[+Jeffrey+ 120]

50 minutes ago, yvo4848 said:

Lost my doggie (2-7-21) I feel your pain o boy do I ..your kitty new hes was loved still is.Your a very sweet human who took a stray in..what a beautiful story.Rip litle guy..hes playing with my dogs....sissie muffin Sarah terry..all in the past 40 year.im 64.excuse my spelling.

Thank you for the kind words, yvo4848. And I am so sorry for the loss of your dog. It's never easy to lose a pet, but thankfully, our pain eases a little over time. You hang in there.

[yvo4848 32]

I thought. I'm doing good.No more crying .But than bam out of no where the pain starts all over again. Omg!! stop already. I miss her so much .ATLEASE I didnt go to her grave outside my window ,we put her my garden where she would bring my gloves to me in the summer, can you believe that. She was a child.rip to all our babies in rainbow rock.

[KayC 4,305]

On 2/21/2021 at 2:59 PM, yvo4848 said:

I thought. I'm doing good.No more crying .But than bam out of no where the pain starts all over again.

We know.  I've learned to ride the waves.  (((hugs)))

[yvo4848 32]

I dont want to ride the waves ,I want her to ride them with me.well if she were alive I woundnt be riding the waves silly me..lol  

[yvo4848 32]

well today I feel better.I hope my sweet friend you find happiness again with a new pet.someone who cares.