Man, I couldn't even start this one without tearing up.

A year ago today, I made the hardest decision I've ever had to make in my entire life. I was riding the highest of emotional highs, I had just come back from a 2 week road trip around the Western US that culminated in Aaron proposing on top of a mountain in Colorado. We walked in my front door when we got back to Oklahoma and my world fell apart. He had been diagnosed after a battery of tests as asthmatic right before we left, and had started on steroids to help him. That was the thing that ultimately killed him, as he had been misdiagnosed. It may not have made much of a difference in the end, because after he passed my vet (not the vet who originally diagnosed) did an autopsy and found out he had Histoplasmosis, which is a fungal infection that attacks the lungs.

I got Schrödinger and his brother Gremlin the day after I moved to Dayton, OH to start grad school. It was the first time I'd ever lived alone (had to live in the dorms for all of college), and I got the two brothers to keep me company. I brought them home at 9 weeks old, and there was never a dull moment in my life after that. They were my consistency through all the military moves, and the two of them had more personality than any cats I've ever known. Schrödinger, or Fatty McFatfat, or Fat Bastard, or many other names (mostly containing profanity) was truly one of a kind. He was independent, but had his cuddle moments. He was playful. He was an absolute brat. He was smart as a whip. He was an alcoholic too. Not kidding, the damn cat would knock over beer bottles so he could lick it up If he wanted attention and I was otherwise occupied, he would hop up on a shelf, look at me, meow, and knock something over. He could open cabinets, and chewed through one that I blocked so he wouldn't get into his food while I was out of town. Despite all this, I loved him dearly.

One day last year while my house was on the market, I was carrying him in his carrier back from a neighbors where he had been chilling while the house was showing. The crate broke open and he bolted into another neighbor's garage. In the approximately 5 minutes he was loose, he was exposed. I didn't notice anything was wrong until I came home from a deployment a few weeks later, and noticed he had slowed and was coughing a bit. I took him to the vet, and a couple weeks and loads of tests (at an internal medicine vet office) later he was diagnosed with Asthma. He seemed to be much better after the steroids started, so I wasn't worried about leaving him with my roommate to go on this trip. He did great the whole time, but then decompensated over the course of the day we got back. I rushed him to the Evet that night, they gave him some oxygen and meds, and sent him home with a very grim prognosis. I took him back to my normal vet the following morning, and they told me it was probably time to let him go. I wanted a little more time, so I took him home and just sat with him all day. I called up Aaron and told him he needed to come up as soon as he got off work, and that's when we took Schrödinger back to the vet for the last time. I couldn't have done it without Aaron. My vet was awesome though, I went back with the other cats 2 days later for their annual and they'd all signed a card and made a clay paw print for me. I moved to FL the day after, and seriously cried from Oklahoma City to Pensacola. It's hard to believe it's been a year...

Cheers, Buddy! I'm drinking a beer for you









And finally, in all his alcoholic glory

PS - the name, and the reason for the "cat who both was and wasn't" is based off a quantum physics theory if anyone was wondering.

This made me tear up. He was such a beautiful kitty! He's with you taking sips from your beer right now!

I'm so sorry Meredith. He was very handsome and you can tell from the pics how much personality he had!

I started crying after the first sentence!

Hope he's getting all the liquor he can handle!

Sorry Mer.... thats terrible

Such a well told story. You can tell you really miss him and love the little guy. I'm sure your words only show a fraction of the character he really had. But if he was half the cat you discribe he sounds like an awesome friend.

Some animals really are special, and I think you had one right there.

~Chris~

I'm so sorry Meredith. What an awesome cat. RIP Schrodinger.

Well said Meredith, your buddy will always be with you. putting a pet down is the hardest thing ever. the memories of him will always bring a smile to your face.

This made me tear up. I'm sorry for your loss, but as mentioned before. His memories will always be with you. Remember him for the character he was. I love the name, too! I know of the theory and the name made me giggle. I wish you and the others the best.

What a gorgeous cat, sorry for your loss.