Bye Bye Soleil

Last Thursday we had to give our cat away. We really had to. It broke our hearts and we miss him a lot. It wasn't an easy decision but we had been thinking about it for a long time and we finally agreed that it was the best decision for everyone.

We got Soleil when he was 6 months old. We still lived with my parents and we got it on a spur of the moment. We just went shopping and we got into a pet store, I saw some dogs and we ALMOST got a pug, but they had to be operated for their noses and I decided that I wanted a pet *now.* Those who know me, know that when I want something, really want something, it has to be now and then. So, Stephen spotted two Abyssinian red cats. They were REALLY beautiful. We started playing with one of them and my heart melted on the spot. We bought it right away.

We got home and showed my parents the “surprise.” God they hated that cat… They found it too skinny or too shy… too affectionate or too active. Anyways, after a couple of days, they were in love. Soleil was a really lovely cat. He needed A LOT of attention. He was also very revengeful. When things didn't go his way he’d pee on the clothes of whoever gave him a hard time. My closet must have been peed on at least 2 or 3 times.

Soleil was our baby. We loved him so much and he was definitely part of the family. About 3 years after getting him, I got pregnant with Noah. Soleil wasn't bad at all. He was great actually.  No signs of jealousy when we made the nursery or when we bought baby stuff. He was actually very friendly. Then, I gave birth,  he was still Ok. He wouldn't come to Stephen or to me as much as he used to. He would prefer to go see my parents. He did head bump Noah (sign of acceptance) but he didn't really care much for him either. Then, I got pregnant again, and we started having less and less time for Soleil.

When we moved, my parents asked us if we wanted them to keep Soleil or if we wanted to take him. Stephen insisted that we took him back and I had been missing him, so we did. He was good, until Emma was born, everything was fine. Then, we really started running out of time and although we didn't neglect Soleil, we probably gave him the bare minimum of attention. He started peeing on the kid’s clothes. Eventually he started to bite Emma’s feet when she was playing. That was our first red flag. I watched the kid’s closer and he didn't bite them again.

Then, at the beginning of the year, Soleil scratched Noah badly. I wasn't there to see what had happened but no matter what did happen; Soleil should have fled if he thought he was in danger. He didn't. He preferred to stay there and scratch it. I decided Soleil was going. Then, last minute, Stephen made me change my mind. He kept saying that Soleil was the first “thing” we got as a couple, that he didn't want to give him away. I understand… Fine.

Then, a few weeks later, he started peeing on the children’s stroller, clothes, sofa… The whole playroom smelt like cat pee. There was no way we were keeping him. I told Stephen; we are giving him away as soon as possible. It was my decision and I wasn't going to go back on it. I had decided for good. I re-posted on a website to give Soleil away. We mentioned that we’d prefer a couple or single person with no children. A girl wrote to me minutes after the ad was up. She was very interested. She came to see Soleil the next day and took him with her.

Said like this, it sounds easy. It wasn't. It didn't sink in right away (after the ad was put up and the girl contacted). It took a while… I think I started feeling it when we took out the cage for Soleil to go. Soleil went straight into it… It’s almost like he wanted to leave. The kids got to play with him in the cage, they got to say good bye to him. I tried to explain to them that the cat was going away and not coming back but they didn't seem to understand. Noah only really understood when Soleil’s new owner took him into the car. Noah got super agitated and worried. He kept saying “no mommy, no the cat, mommy the cat, come back cat.” God that broke my heart… Then, 5 minutes later, it was all done.

I guess after Noah’s little crisis, the worst part is that Stephen had to work late that day and he didn’t get to say bye to Soleil. I know that isn't easy for him and that he wished he would have had a chance to say good bye.

The new owner and I get really well along. She knows I was worried so she kept me updated. We actually added each other on Facebook where she posts tons of pictures of Soleil. It makes me really happy to see that he’s getting all the attention that he wants. We deeply miss him and I’m not going to lie, writing this does make my eyes watery, but I know it was the very best decision for us all. I couldn't run the chance of having him scratch the kids or hurt them.