Bye Bye Albert

Albert the Cat

Spring 1998-February 29th, 2008

This photo was taken just last week in the yard by my Mom. He loved the sunshine.

He came to us when we were first married Spring of 1998. This cat came from the East Vancouver 'tracks' and I fell in love with him upon first glance. He lived in the bush just beside my work building on Great Northern Way. He was small, dirty fur, pink nosed, cute and loved tuna straight from the can. In fact, he would come out of the bushes on my coffee and lunch breaks with the sound of the can opener twisting! He would rub up against my legs and meow at me. I knew he was mine.

I fought for him, as others in my workplace wanted him, but I was in luck and we got him. We brought him home in our first year of marriage. We loved Albert. He sucked on Cliff's ear and had a wonderful purrrrrrr. After being cleaned up at the vet, he turned out to be very white and not grey. He was soft, and was chubby and pure white. Big green eyes and a wet pink nose. He was our first pet and he was loved, and travelled very well to each of our new places that we lived in the last 10 years. When we got him, the vet estimated he was 1 or 2 years old. We gave him a good life.

In his last few years he lived with my in-laws because Albert and the kids/babies were not a good mix for each other. The kids wanted to grab him, and sometimes some of the kids were scared of him. But, just lately the kids have really warmed up to him and petted him in the yard. So touching to see. In fact, Carly said Albert needs a friend so he can feel better.

I am very sorry to report that last night our Albert died. We were heading out for a 9 pm latte last night Cliff, Courtney and I. Cliff backed our van up and there was my sweet Albert lying still in the headlights of our van. I knew he died there. I started bawling immediately, my poor Albert. He had died right there under our van. My heart was broken when I saw him lying there. Thankfully Cliff helped him as he sighed his last breath in Cliff's arms. I am glad he was not alone in his last moment.

Cliff backed the car up for me and turned the van around and said don't look at him but I couldn't stop looking. The sight of him motionless broke my heart. So, Cliff suggested I drive Courtney around the block, and so I did. And I sobbed as I drove around the neighbourhood until Cliff had him picked up in a cozy towel and placed gently into a cardboard box and wrapped him up. What a sad sight to see, my poor kitty lifeless in a box. Unfortunately as it was later in the evening, the vet places were all closed. So, we had to put him outside in a box, and then a wooden box (his old warm resting spot from the backyard) until this morning.

Early this morning my hubby Cliff drove him to the vet to have him cremated. We decided to leave his ashes with the other animals because I think that is what he would have wanted.

We miss you already dear Albert. I hope you get to play with Patchy cat today, and you can bask in the warm sunshine in your happy place.

Love you, and thank you for the warm memories. We will miss you. I am sorry I couldn't tell you goodbye.

Your Family xo