Today is going to be the day from Hell

I have to have my sweet little boy cat put to sleep today. I've had him for nearly 20 years, since he was a tiny little kitten. He was my first pet when we got our own home, and he has outlived the other three sweet animals I got after him. But he limps so very badly when he walks, and throws up nearly every day. He's gone from the big nearly fat cat he was in his prime to skinny as can be. He has very few teeth left and has a hard time eating. Wet foods make him totally sick, so we never had that route. I wish they'd never done away with Tender Vittles!

This is going to break my heart. Which is why we've kept him around probably a lot longer than we should have. So now it's time to think of him first, but oh it is sooooo hard. I barely made it through work yesterday, knowing what the next day would bring.
He's put up with a lot of the years. And very seldom did he ever really get mad.
I will miss the fact that he talks to me, every day. A lot. I saw on tv once that American Shorthair cats are quiet animals. Whoever said that doesn't know my Merlin. He has a lot to say, and if he thinks you're not paying enough attention to him, he lets you know.
He was my cat from day one, following me around the house and crying if he lost sight of me. But he's been remarkably tolerant of the kiddo as well. Our female would just take off and hide under something or up on something. Merlin would let her poke at him for ages before he would just jump down and find a kid-free spot.

I will miss you dreadfully, sweet cat.