Cheeto Bandito Halter (1994-2010)

On September 24th we said goodbye to our beloved Cheeto. She had been diagnosed with kidney failure a couple months before. With a change of diet and lots of tender loving care, the disease had been slowed down. But then she took an unexpected turn for the worse on the 23rd. With the guidance of our vet and what we already felt in our hearts, we knew what was the best thing to do. The girls had a chance to say their goodbyes before leaving for school that morning. Cheeto fell asleep peacefully in my lap with Steve and I both comforting her.

Having reached her golden years, I knew that this day was nearing but it was worse than I ever imagined. What is even more difficult was the void that was left. She was a part of our family and our daily routines have been changed.

I'm certain it will take us some time to get use to her not being around. She was a loyal kitty to me for sixteen years. She graciously accepted the tall man I brought into our lives 14 years ago and made the track with us from California to Arizona. She then again graciously welcomed two babies into our (read her) world. She became a beloved family pet to us all and we will miss her.

Roll over...

Now play dead...



Good kitty.

Senior living

Look at Cheeto, isn't she regal? We recently celebrated her 'observed' birthday...and it was her sweet sixteen. Overall her health is great. She gets daily thyroid medicine now and occasionally needs some medicine for her arthritis aches...but the vet even said she doesn't see many sixteen year old cats in as good a shape as Cheeto.

Let's face it, she lives as good a life as the rest of us at this house.

Feline dimentia

Anyone who knows our cat, Cheeto, knows that she's relatively sociable, as far as cats go. She comes out to greet people, enjoys hanging out with the humans of the house and definitely appreciates a good forehead scratch. But those who know her really well also know that Cheeto is not a lap cat. Never has been. She'll sit close by...but never on your lap. And her proximity to humans seems to be closely related to the temperature outside. During the winters you'll find her sleeping on the bed versus her favorite summer location, in a basket on the floor. But regardless of the temperature she'll leave that location if a foot gets too close.

Another character trait of Cheeto...Steve is probably her third favorite human in the house. He was surpassed by the fair-headed one when she became old enough to give her treats.

Anyhow, either Cheeto's old age is mellowing her or she's just getting plain senile...because today the girls and I walked into the room to find this...

Go figure.

Emily gets some help with her homework...

"I thought I was the first born!?"

For anyone that keeps score, it may seem as though I write about Emily much more than Megan. I promise that I love them equally. Emily's just at an age that she has a few more extracurricular activities that inspire creative prose. I am certain it will balance itself out as time goes on.


But you know who really is bent out of shape? Here it is almost three months of this blog and not one word has been mentioned? That one right over there. See how depressed she looks? Woe is her right?

Seriously though, Cheeto's doing great. She's slowing down a little bit in her 14th year. But she's definitely living the good life. She's come to appreciate the smallish people in the house since they give her treats every time we return home, even after a quick trip to the mailbox. Despite the extra snacks, Cheeto insists that it's not fat, it's just fur. Imagine what she'd look like if we didn't live in the middle of a desert. Someone came to the house the other day and actually asked me if Cheeto was pregnant. Gasp! The nerve!