Newt

In August of 2000 after my dad passed away in July I went to work one day and someone had brought in this beautiful gray cat that they said had ridden in under their car and they didn’t want him. Well the vet was out of town and we kept him for 3 days at the office and then they sent the cat to the shelter. All the time I told the girls that I wanted this cat. There was just something about him that I couldn’t help but fall in love with. One of the office girls called and got the cat back for me. I took off and went to the shelter and picked him up. Ok, to begin with he was this long, skinny grey cat but there was just something about him that made you love him. My husband knew that I was going for him but Josh had no clue what I was doing. So I came home with a carrier and handed the carrier to Josh and said here. He looked at me like I had lost my mind and said what is this. When he took Newt out of the carrier he had the same feelings about him as I did. He just fell in love with the little grey cat. Josh decided right then that since we had other cats and dogs in the house that Newt would only stay in his bedroom because he didn’t want the others to get him. Well that was fine with Newt. He loved the individual attention that he got and he loved to give it back. I have to admit that he was not your typical cat. I mean that most cats are so independent but not Newt. He had his spells when he wanted to be independent but then he also wanted you to hold him, play with him and lie on the bed so he could attack your hair, glasses, whatever he could get a hold of. That year right after we got Newt Josh got a job away from home so he would come home every weekend to spend time with him. But it was my job to take care of him during the week so Newt and I got rather close. One thing for sure, he knew when the weekend came and his dad was home. Newt loved Josh so much and the feelings were mutual. They ended up closing the plant down so Josh only worked there a year and he was home again and Newt was again a happy cat because he had his dad home all the time. I mean mom was ok, but I was not his dad.

Newt brought a lot of joy and happiness into the house and to Josh. He will be truly missed by us all, but especially by Josh. The sad thing too is we had adopted another kitten, Jackson, last fall so that Newt had someone to play with. We only had him a couple of months and he ended up dying on January 13th, 2006. Then now we have lost Newt. The two of them were beautiful together and they loved to play with each other. So actually Josh has lost two cats this year, but Newt has been the hardest one for him.

Even though Newt was so very sick, he had the strength to crawl up to Josh on the 15th, nuzzle up to him, as if to say I love you dad and good bye, Josh put his hand on him and then he fell to sleep. When Josh woke up Newt was gone. At least the two of them were together when Newt died. Two best buddies together till the end. What a way to go, that is the best way to be with our best friends or those that we love in the end.

Newt will always be in our hearts and will never be forgotten. He was just that kind of cat that you can’t forget. He was beautiful, loving, attentive, and most of all he was a very good friend. Newt we all miss you and always will, but not as much as your dad will.

Love always and forever,
Your dad, mom and grandpa

Written for Joshua by his mom Nancy Rodgers