Big Boy
In Memory of Our Little Lover “Big Boy”
June 23, 2006 (rescued) – February 2, 2015
We rescued our Big Boy in Northville on June 23, 2006, during a heat wave, we think he was two years old. My sister found him lying in her bushes; frightened, and very hungry and thirsty. She fed him and gave him water then called me, and I went to the rescue. He was very friendly when I arrived and followed me to the car and jumped in…then jumped out the other side. I think he thought we were playing, he loved the car and going for a ride.
When I brought him home, he had a matt on his side the size of my palm and was underweight. But he was still a happy kitty and grateful to be safe with lots of love, food, and water, he was now a member of our family and we named him Big Boy. He was part Main Coon and Norwegian Forest, a very, very handsome boy with long glorious gray and white fur, five toes (polydactyl), and a little white tuft on his nose. When we groomed him, we never touched his little tuft; it was part of his charm. When he got to his healthy weight, he was over 16 pounds, a gentle giant! He was a lover with a charming personality, and whenever anyone came over, he was on their lap! He loved his Dad’s lap and could sit there for hours with him in his easy chair. When Dad was in his home office, Biggie would jump up and sit on his lap or lay on his papers and help him work. He was also very vocal and liked to talk. At night, he’d snuggle next to me, and if he wanted me to pet him he’d make a little meow and bump my hand. He also loved his faux fur hammock, lying on the window sill to enjoy the sun and a light breeze and watch the birds and wildlife, and lying in front of the fireplace on cold nights, he always had a regal pose. An adventurer, every once in a while he’d run out the back door…but I was right behind him.
Big Boy was treated for cadiomyopathy for years, and was treated by Dr. Brown. In November he was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, an aggressive disease. The tumor first appeared in his ear. He had an Ultrasound, X-ray, and CT scan in December and was being treated by an oncologist and internal medicine specialist, Dr. Venema. The CT scan confirmed the tumor had spread to his lymph node, but he had no tumors elsewhere. He was put on several drugs including pain medication and Cytoxan, as neither radiation nor surgery were an option.
We had a wonderful Christmas with him, and just in the last week of January he started declining rapidly. The last two days he would barely eat, I even tried baby food, but all this time he would still use his litter box, and he never scratched anything, but his scratch post. I knew on Super Bowl Sunday when he would not eat anything that it was time for our precious Big Boy to Cross Rainbow Bridge. I am heartbroken, but I did what was best for him, and he was curled in my arms when he crossed Rainbow Bridge. He knew we all loved him including his big brother Carlton who would lay by his side. I did everything in my power to help him, but God wanted one of his Fur Angels to come home!
We are so grateful he came into our life. Big Boy brought us so much love, joy, and laughter, and we were blessed to be able to give him the best care and life he could ever dream of, filled with love, love, love.
My Dearest Big Boy, you were a precious, loving companion and always a good boy. We LOVE you Big, and we miss you greatly! Our hearts and home have an emptiness without your presence, but your spirit will remain in our hearts and home forever. I know one day we will snuggle again in Heaven. I carry your heart with me…
All Our Love Always,
Dad, Mom, Carlton, Caesar, Cleo and Chanel