Today was a sad day. The cat I grew up with was put to sleep. He was almost 19 years old and his quality of life just wasn't there anymore. Ernie wasn't just a cat to me, he was a member of the family. We got Ernie when I was just 9 years old. Some people may beg to differ but I came up with the name Ernie because one of my friends at that time had a pet named Ernie and we liked it. Ernie came into our family by my dad coming home one day back in the fall of 1991 after going to get some hay bails for my mom and asking us if we would like a cat. While my dad was getting the hay they saw a tiny black kitten come crawling out of some hay right into a bulls pen. The home was of Patriarch Seth Alder. He told my dad that the mother of those kittens had just been killed earlier that day. Ernie was the only brave enough one to come out. Rather than having him get squashed by the bull or just not make it for lack of a mom, we brought him into our family gladly.
When we first got him, his eyes were all crusted shut. We got a wash rag and cleaned off all the goupe and underneath it all were the most beautiful blue eyes I had ever seen. They later changed of course to green and yellow. Ernie used to have white hair coming out of both his ears and a white whisker on each side too. I remember giving him baths in buckets. He used to sit in any kind of a bag or box, even a cool whip container.
I remember waking up to him at least one morning clawing and biting my head. You could be petting him sometimes and he would start to lick you, then bite, then lick again. It was like he wanted to let you know that he really enjoyed the attention but still needed you to know he was in charge.
Ernie was a very unique cat. He was more like a human than a cat. He was an excellent cuddler. He would either lay right on top of you or cuddle up into your arm and lay his arm across your chest or your face. I know he had an incredible instinct for when you were feeling down or sad because he would immediately come to me and try to get me to pet him or hold him. He really was one of my best friends during college. He was an great comfort to me.
He also came to you when you would whistle or scream loudly. One of his favorite things to do was stand in front of my dad when he was sitting down and my dad would hold his hand in front of him and make motions like he was going to grab his face. Ernie would come right to his hand and just wait. Then my dad would grab and shake his head a little and then Ernie would run away. Then dad would whistle or hold his hand out again and he would come right back and do it all over again.
We used to have a dog Sam and another black cat named Stanley. Ernie acted like Stanley's dad. He used to bathe him and they would cuddle together. He put up very well with Stanley's youthfulness and energy just like a regular parent. Ernie also loved Sam. They got along very well.
Our cousins have a dog named Sadie. Ernie didn't like Sadie too much and acted more like a guard dog whenever he came around. I remember one time Ernie had Sadie, a dog two or three times as big as Ernie, cornered in our garage and attacking him and then Sadie running home.
Ernie had a very unique meow, especially if he needed to get out of the house or was hungry. I don't think I'll ever forget that sound. He was so loud.
When he was happy, he would purr so loudly and his face would start twitching. I am so glad I got to hear him purr again today and see his twitch today before my parents took him in.
These last years I have loved watching Ernie with my kids. When my mom babysits them, it seems I would see Ernie just following them around sometimes, especially when they would go to the family room. He loved to come and just lay down by all of us.
Ernie,
I love you. I miss you. Thank you so much for being such a good friend and furry brother to me growing up. You will be missed. But now you can go and play in heaven and feel great!!!
I know some people may not believe this but I truly believe that God has a special place in his heart and heaven for animals and that people will be able to see their pets again someday.
Below are some pics I found and some more memories of Ernie.
