Nana's cat

[vaneramos]

The autopsy determined that my grandmother died of a massive blood clot from her leg. Apparently she had been worried about that. Her legs had given her discomfort and she had booked an appointment with a specialist. She was always a hypochondriac, so Mom hadn't given it much thought. The good news from the coroner is, Nana likely died before she hit the floor.

Last week the family was in an uproar over what should be done with her cat, who is 15 but in fine health. Mom and one of her sisters felt the cat should be placed with a new owner, but the aunt and cousin closest to my grandmother wanted it put down at once. They said that's what Nana always wanted—and to have her pet's ashes spread on her grave. The cat would be miserable and could never adjust to a new situation, they said.

Mom was incredulous.

"It's a cowboy mentality," I suggested. "When the man dies, you have to shoot his horse."

In the end Mom, being the eldest, seems to have chosen kitty's fate. My parents' vet boarded the cat for several days, after which he said it was perfectly fit to accept a new owner. Conveniently, he knew another elderly person whose cat had just died. The poor creature has so far escaped execution, but the row has yet to be settled.

"It threatened to split the entire family," Dad commented dryly.

It must be their Irish blood. The clan arrived in Ontario in the Eighteenth Century, but a generation ago they were still quarrelling between Protestants and Catholics. My grandfather refused to give one aunt away because she married a Catholic. That probably influenced my parents' decision to stop attending church before I was born; as did most of Mom's siblings.

They're still feuding.

Comments

[apel.livejournal.com]

Goodness, what's next, widow burning? I'm glad the cat escaped being put down. Kudos to your mom and the vet.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm glad she stood up to her relatives on this issue. Sometimes I'm proud of her.

[poetbear.livejournal.com]

well, Van, you've solved a life-long puzzle for me
with this post--namely: is there another family on
earth as contentious as mine? answer? yes! what
on earth are they thinking? cowboy mentality, indeed!
if cowboys had actually done that, no horses would exist
today! thank goodness your mother prevailed.~paul

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately it runs in my dad's side of the family, too, but in their case obstinate would be a better word. Dad has one living brother and they have only spoken to each other once or twice since their mother died in 1994. They're more civilized about it. No wonder I feel alienated from the whole gang.

[poetbear.livejournal.com]

ps: let them feud, it probably gives them
some sort of perverse satisfaction.~paul

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Don't worry, I'll let them be. You see, I'm stubborn, too. I only maintain contact with the relatives I get along with.

[poetbear.livejournal.com]

i know exactly how you feel!~paul

[aa-bronson.livejournal.com]

This is a hilarious story, worthy of Stephen Leacock!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

My family history could be woven into some tall tales. You put ideas in my head.

[crazysoph.livejournal.com]

Goodness... and yikes! Poor cat, good to know it's escaped with its skin!

Old cats don't like change, that's true, but the animals should get more credit than given by the aunt and cousin. Yeesh!

Crazy(and mentally notes to check "the arrangements" for our feline companions - I'll be very happy if they were to continue after me, cheerfully chucking up their hairballs and wrecking the place; I'd be laughing, in the afterlife...)Soph

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I know from personal experience and that of friends that cats do have difficulty adjusting, but they're more adaptable than people. I suppose some owners want to believe their pets depend on them utterly, but felines I've known moved on when they had to. Why deprive them of the joy of causing mayhem for somebody else?

[daisydumont.livejournal.com]

killing the cat would be barbaric. i'm shocked, really. hope the kitty is given a chance in a new home.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Barbaric was the word on the tip of my mother's tongue. I could almost hear it, but she would never say such a thing about her favourite kid sister. I think my cowboy analogy made her uncomfortable. But truthfully, this is extremely backward thinking.

[eloquentwthrage.livejournal.com]

Jesus! And you're considered the abnormal one???

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

The relatives in question have had no contact with me for 1996, and they don't know I'm gay. If they did, they would be utterly disgusted. Too bad Mom is too ashamed to stand up to them on that account.

[ubermunkey.livejournal.com]

the cat,
wow
that is barbaric.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Money is a particularly sensitive issue, which seems to gather resentment over a lifetime. I have no idea how Mom's family is doing on that matter. I haven't heard anything.