Saying Goodbye to Norman...

We are sure you remember Norman, the Courthouse Cat.  For years, Norman was a beloved figure at the Polk County Courthouse in Columbus.  He had many friends and admirers, and usually at least five bowls of food in a row so he could have his choice.  He was neutered and had a few teeth pulled years ago by Po'Kitties, thanks to Eric Mack at the Purrrfect Bark (who knew him as Kong), and Norman had a wonderful life with lots of treats and attention.  

One night Norman was found in dire shape in the street, and was taken inside for the night by two good folks, and in the morning, we rushed him to Landrum Veterinary Clinic. His friends visited him at the clinic and he was always so glad to see them!

He was released and went home with one of his buddies, but it was quickly clear that Norman had suffered severe neurological damage and needed to be with an experienced hospice foster, so we brought him home.  

Norman was a handsome, particular guy and it grieved him no end that he could no longer properly clean himself anymore.  His favorite time of day (and ours) was after supper when we held him steady and gently washed his face with a warm, wet washcloth.  We would call "Normie!" and he would come just as fast as he could. He loved that time, purring and turning himself this way and that so we could clean his chin, the sides of his face, the top of his head, and then turning again to be patted dry.  When we were done, we announced that he was now "fluffy and cute" which was his signal to cuddle up so we could feel just how fluffy and cute he was.

Norman's condition deteriorated until he began to fall over every few steps, but that didn't keep him from eating, and from claiming his favorite spot in the sun every afternoon. He became more and more wobbly, and then earlier this week when he did not want his dinner, we knew his time was close. We know Norman was old but it was hard to tell exactly how old he was because nearly all of his teeth were missing.  That evening, he asked to be held and spent 45 minutes lying quietly on my chest.  When he wanted down, we placed him in his bed, and he fell asleep. He slipped quietly into a coma and in the morning he sighed once and his spirit flew free.

We are so grateful we had the opportunity to get to know this special cat over the last few months and we send our love and thanks to his friends and fans all over, especially his many friends at the Courthouse and his special friend Walt in Corrections. You all made his life worth living.  Thank you for caring about him and for him for so many years. What a lucky Po'Kitty.