We lost another furry friend today, as Earl reached the end of his eight-year run as a member of our family. He was likely about ten years old or so, as we figured he was about two years old when he arrived on the property back in 2013. He was primarily a "barn cat", preferring to spend most of his time outside or in the man-garage, though we did bring him in on the colder nights.
He had been having some mouth issues of late which did not seem to deter his voracious appetite, and which we thought might be a bad tooth as we have seen with a few others....complete with a decidedly unpleasant odour. We got him into the Vet, COVID restrictions and all, and it turned out to be an aggressive oral cancer. He was in far more pain then he was letting on, as is typically our of fastidious felines.
Due to COVID measures, only one of us could join him for his final moments, so Mike was there to comfort and escort him to peaceful slumber. Luckily, the new renovation meant that Jane could also see him through the window from the outside. The fine folks at the Tilbury Veterinary Hospital were wonderful and compassionate as always, especially under pandemic circumstances.
Oddly, or perhaps fatefully, he spent his last night inside, enjoying a "treat" meal and cuddling with Mike in the chair - not something he often did. If anything, he was a little too hyperactive most of the time and refused to settle and relax. It's almost like he knew.
He was extremely friendly, though not many of the other cats ever warmed up to him - in his younger days, he did challenge some of the other males for dominance, though generally out of his weight class. In terms of us humans, his loving head bonks could actually be quite painful against the shins or even occasionally right in the noggin. Tough little bugger.
In his later years, he didn't stray from the property....but could be found napping in various odd places in the sunshine. One could be trimming trees or pulling weeds and stumble upon a slumbering Earl, curled up in a ball in the flowers or the shrubbery.
As usual, he was known by many names over the years - Earl Grey (his original name), Early, Hurling, The Earl of Hurlington, Fuddly Davidson, Duffy, Duffman, and The Duffmeister.
Rest in peace, friend. Thank you for many years of love and entertainment.
A Fine Gentleman
Basking like only Earl Grey can
Cuddling with Dad on his final night
The Earl of Hurlington
He loved his naps in the sun!
Are those downed power lines still live? Has he moved....lately?
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