Denny was surrendered to our local SPCA when he was 10 years old. He was a beautiful orange cat with eyes the color of pale jade. He was friendly and walked right up to me in that little room. I could tell he was anxious, because he never stopped moving, rubbing his face against me, the chair I was sitting on, the walls, the doors, his crate. He came home with me and it was as though we'd always been together.
He loved to eat and was overweight. When it was mealtime, he came right over, gave a quick sniff, and wolfed down every last bit as though he hadn't eaten in a week. No finicky refusal to eat for this cat.. I used to tease him and say he was a stomach with a life-support system attached. I soon realized that my goal, endorsed by the SPCA and my vet, of taking off some of his weight, was not going to be accomplished.
He didn't like to be picked up. Okay, I thought, not a lap cat. After a few months, he jumped up into my lap for the first time and I was so happy I thought my heart would burst. I sleep on my side, and eventually he started sleeping on top of me, on my side. I'd never had a cat do that before. I was so astonished, I didn't move at all for hours, for fear of disturbing him. Denny, you're the world's best weighted blanket.
He liked to watch me, positioning himself where he could see my face. Whenever we made eye contact, I'd give him a slow blink to tell him that I love him. He'd look away, but then look right back so I could do it again. Once in a while, he'd favor me with a slow blink himself. Those beautiful emerald eyes fascinated me.
His favorite thing, after a full belly of course, was long, slow, gentle stroking of his head. He never got tired of it, and soon began purring. If I stopped, he'd give me the stink eye until I resumed. I tried to vary it with belly rubs, chin or ear scratches, but nope, he wasn't interested. Okay, baby, you win: head stroking it is.
He almost always came to greet me when I returned home, but had no interest in where I'd been. If I'd petted a dog or another cat, and held out my hand for him to sniff, he'd walk away disdainfully. Ah, but if I offered him a few treats as soon as I walked in, that was a different story. My little hungry boy.
Denny wasn't a playful cat, but he'd graciously oblige me for a few minutes if I really wanted us to play. What he really liked was Cat TV videos, especially if they included rabbits. He was mesmerized by bunnies hopping around. It was so cute to see, he practically vibrated with excitement. Ditto for videos of cats. I asked him if he wanted another cat in the house to keep him company, but when I explained that this other cat would also be given food, Denny decided he'd rather be an only child.
He was diagnosed with squamous cell cancer on his tongue. It was inoperable. My vet said it was a matter of about 45 days. It became difficult for him to eat. How I longed for the days when he could eat all day long. We put him gently to sleep at home. I stroked his head and told him he'd sleep for a short time and then wake up in heaven. He'd be with all our loved ones, especially the cats I'd had before him:
InkyDink
Tootsie Roll Sami
Bobcat Tangerine
and my dogs:
Ginger
Valentine Chanel
Elmo Barnett
Petunia Blossom
Sylvester
and the dogs I'd loved but didn't have the privilege of being their Mommy:
Amanda
Sam
Rodney
Sophie Daisy
Tanner and Jake, Valentine's best friends
Oreo
Ruby
Dink
Piper
Molly
Dennis from the Hope For Paws video
Flossie
Luckily, there's plenty of food for everybody in heaven, so Denny doesn't have to be an only child any longer.
We had 657 days together, and I treasure every moment. I wish he'd had many more years of health. Denny gave me joy and love, and it was an honor and privilege to be his person. Rest well, my sweet, sweet Dennis Tangerine, I feel your presence and love you with all my heart. Until we meet again, never to be parted.
My deep gratitude for sponsoring Denny's memorial to KYCatMama. Thank you so much.
He loved to eat and was overweight. When it was mealtime, he came right over, gave a quick sniff, and wolfed down every last bit as though he hadn't eaten in a week. No finicky refusal to eat for this cat.. I used to tease him and say he was a stomach with a life-support system attached. I soon realized that my goal, endorsed by the SPCA and my vet, of taking off some of his weight, was not going to be accomplished.
He didn't like to be picked up. Okay, I thought, not a lap cat. After a few months, he jumped up into my lap for the first time and I was so happy I thought my heart would burst. I sleep on my side, and eventually he started sleeping on top of me, on my side. I'd never had a cat do that before. I was so astonished, I didn't move at all for hours, for fear of disturbing him. Denny, you're the world's best weighted blanket.
He liked to watch me, positioning himself where he could see my face. Whenever we made eye contact, I'd give him a slow blink to tell him that I love him. He'd look away, but then look right back so I could do it again. Once in a while, he'd favor me with a slow blink himself. Those beautiful emerald eyes fascinated me.
His favorite thing, after a full belly of course, was long, slow, gentle stroking of his head. He never got tired of it, and soon began purring. If I stopped, he'd give me the stink eye until I resumed. I tried to vary it with belly rubs, chin or ear scratches, but nope, he wasn't interested. Okay, baby, you win: head stroking it is.
He almost always came to greet me when I returned home, but had no interest in where I'd been. If I'd petted a dog or another cat, and held out my hand for him to sniff, he'd walk away disdainfully. Ah, but if I offered him a few treats as soon as I walked in, that was a different story. My little hungry boy.
Denny wasn't a playful cat, but he'd graciously oblige me for a few minutes if I really wanted us to play. What he really liked was Cat TV videos, especially if they included rabbits. He was mesmerized by bunnies hopping around. It was so cute to see, he practically vibrated with excitement. Ditto for videos of cats. I asked him if he wanted another cat in the house to keep him company, but when I explained that this other cat would also be given food, Denny decided he'd rather be an only child.
He was diagnosed with squamous cell cancer on his tongue. It was inoperable. My vet said it was a matter of about 45 days. It became difficult for him to eat. How I longed for the days when he could eat all day long. We put him gently to sleep at home. I stroked his head and told him he'd sleep for a short time and then wake up in heaven. He'd be with all our loved ones, especially the cats I'd had before him:
InkyDink
Tootsie Roll Sami
Bobcat Tangerine
and my dogs:
Ginger
Valentine Chanel
Elmo Barnett
Petunia Blossom
Sylvester
and the dogs I'd loved but didn't have the privilege of being their Mommy:
Amanda
Sam
Rodney
Sophie Daisy
Tanner and Jake, Valentine's best friends
Oreo
Ruby
Dink
Piper
Molly
Dennis from the Hope For Paws video
Flossie
Luckily, there's plenty of food for everybody in heaven, so Denny doesn't have to be an only child any longer.
We had 657 days together, and I treasure every moment. I wish he'd had many more years of health. Denny gave me joy and love, and it was an honor and privilege to be his person. Rest well, my sweet, sweet Dennis Tangerine, I feel your presence and love you with all my heart. Until we meet again, never to be parted.
My deep gratitude for sponsoring Denny's memorial to KYCatMama. Thank you so much.
Denny was surrendered to our local SPCA when he was 10 years old. He was a beautiful orange cat with eyes the color of pale jade. He was friendly and walked right up to me in that little room. I could tell he was anxious, because he never stopped moving, rubbing his face against me, the chair I was sitting on, the walls, the doors, his crate. He came home with me and it was as though we'd always been together.
He loved to eat and was overweight. When it was mealtime, he came right over, gave a quick sniff, and wolfed down every last bit as though he hadn't eaten in a week. No finicky refusal to eat for this cat.. I used to tease him and say he was a stomach with a life-support system attached. I soon realized that my goal, endorsed by the SPCA and my vet, of taking off some of his weight, was not going to be accomplished.
He didn't like to be picked up. Okay, I thought, not a lap cat. After a few months, he jumped up into my lap for the first time and I was so happy I thought my heart would burst. I sleep on my side, and eventually he started sleeping on top of me, on my side. I'd never had a cat do that before. I was so astonished, I didn't move at all for hours, for fear of disturbing him. Denny, you're the world's best weighted blanket.
He liked to watch me, positioning himself where he could see my face. Whenever we made eye contact, I'd give him a slow blink to tell him that I love him. He'd look away, but then look right back so I could do it again. Once in a while, he'd favor me with a slow blink himself. Those beautiful emerald eyes fascinated me.
His favorite thing, after a full belly of course, was long, slow, gentle stroking of his head. He never got tired of it, and soon began purring. If I stopped, he'd give me the stink eye until I resumed. I tried to vary it with belly rubs, chin or ear scratches, but nope, he wasn't interested. Okay, baby, you win: head stroking it is.
He almost always came to greet me when I returned home, but had no interest in where I'd been. If I'd petted a dog or another cat, and held out my hand for him to sniff, he'd walk away disdainfully. Ah, but if I offered him a few treats as soon as I walked in, that was a different story. My little hungry boy.
Denny wasn't a playful cat, but he'd graciously oblige me for a few minutes if I really wanted us to play. What he really liked was Cat TV videos, especially if they included rabbits. He was mesmerized by bunnies hopping around. It was so cute to see, he practically vibrated with excitement. Ditto for videos of cats. I asked him if he wanted another cat in the house to keep him company, but when I explained that this other cat would also be given food, Denny decided he'd rather be an only child.
He was diagnosed with squamous cell cancer on his tongue. It was inoperable. My vet said it was a matter of about 45 days. It became difficult for him to eat. How I longed for the days when he could eat all day long. We put him gently to sleep at home. I stroked his head and told him he'd sleep for a short time and then wake up in heaven. He'd be with all our loved ones, especially the cats I'd had before him:
InkyDink
Tootsie Roll Sami
Bobcat Tangerine
and my dogs:
Ginger
Valentine Chanel
Elmo Barnett
Petunia Blossom
Sylvester
and the dogs I'd loved but didn't have the privilege of being their Mommy:
Amanda
Sam
Rodney
Sophie Daisy
Tanner and Jake, Valentine's best friends
Oreo
Ruby
Dink
Piper
Molly
Dennis from the Hope For Paws video
Flossie
Luckily, there's plenty of food for everybody in heaven, so Denny doesn't have to be an only child any longer.
We had 657 days together, and I treasure every moment. I wish he'd had many more years of health. Denny gave me joy and love, and it was an honor and privilege to be his person. Rest well, my sweet, sweet Dennis Tangerine, I feel your presence and love you with all my heart. Until we meet again, never to be parted.
My deep gratitude for sponsoring Denny's memorial to KYCatMama. Thank you so much.
He loved to eat and was overweight. When it was mealtime, he came right over, gave a quick sniff, and wolfed down every last bit as though he hadn't eaten in a week. No finicky refusal to eat for this cat.. I used to tease him and say he was a stomach with a life-support system attached. I soon realized that my goal, endorsed by the SPCA and my vet, of taking off some of his weight, was not going to be accomplished.
He didn't like to be picked up. Okay, I thought, not a lap cat. After a few months, he jumped up into my lap for the first time and I was so happy I thought my heart would burst. I sleep on my side, and eventually he started sleeping on top of me, on my side. I'd never had a cat do that before. I was so astonished, I didn't move at all for hours, for fear of disturbing him. Denny, you're the world's best weighted blanket.
He liked to watch me, positioning himself where he could see my face. Whenever we made eye contact, I'd give him a slow blink to tell him that I love him. He'd look away, but then look right back so I could do it again. Once in a while, he'd favor me with a slow blink himself. Those beautiful emerald eyes fascinated me.
His favorite thing, after a full belly of course, was long, slow, gentle stroking of his head. He never got tired of it, and soon began purring. If I stopped, he'd give me the stink eye until I resumed. I tried to vary it with belly rubs, chin or ear scratches, but nope, he wasn't interested. Okay, baby, you win: head stroking it is.
He almost always came to greet me when I returned home, but had no interest in where I'd been. If I'd petted a dog or another cat, and held out my hand for him to sniff, he'd walk away disdainfully. Ah, but if I offered him a few treats as soon as I walked in, that was a different story. My little hungry boy.
Denny wasn't a playful cat, but he'd graciously oblige me for a few minutes if I really wanted us to play. What he really liked was Cat TV videos, especially if they included rabbits. He was mesmerized by bunnies hopping around. It was so cute to see, he practically vibrated with excitement. Ditto for videos of cats. I asked him if he wanted another cat in the house to keep him company, but when I explained that this other cat would also be given food, Denny decided he'd rather be an only child.
He was diagnosed with squamous cell cancer on his tongue. It was inoperable. My vet said it was a matter of about 45 days. It became difficult for him to eat. How I longed for the days when he could eat all day long. We put him gently to sleep at home. I stroked his head and told him he'd sleep for a short time and then wake up in heaven. He'd be with all our loved ones, especially the cats I'd had before him:
InkyDink
Tootsie Roll Sami
Bobcat Tangerine
and my dogs:
Ginger
Valentine Chanel
Elmo Barnett
Petunia Blossom
Sylvester
and the dogs I'd loved but didn't have the privilege of being their Mommy:
Amanda
Sam
Rodney
Sophie Daisy
Tanner and Jake, Valentine's best friends
Oreo
Ruby
Dink
Piper
Molly
Dennis from the Hope For Paws video
Flossie
Luckily, there's plenty of food for everybody in heaven, so Denny doesn't have to be an only child any longer.
We had 657 days together, and I treasure every moment. I wish he'd had many more years of health. Denny gave me joy and love, and it was an honor and privilege to be his person. Rest well, my sweet, sweet Dennis Tangerine, I feel your presence and love you with all my heart. Until we meet again, never to be parted.
My deep gratitude for sponsoring Denny's memorial to KYCatMama. Thank you so much.
Gravesite Details
Ashes given to family.
