Goodbye, DC

Losing a pet is so hard, and our family had a difficult time this past week after DC was hit by a car in front of our house.  We've only had him for a year and a half, but he had become such a fun part of our family.  He was often naughty, which is why he was named DC (Darn Cat), but it only made him more lovable. 

Emma loved to tease and cuddle him, and sometimes they'd play tag.  DC would chase her down the hall and jump up on her when he caught her. It was so funny to watch him stalk her!  They were good friends, and she misses him a lot.  

We all loved his quirkiness.  He didn't mind sitting like a chubby baby in our laps, and he loved to wrestle with Olive.  She's going to miss him, too.

In fact, the only one in our family who doesn't miss him is Millie.  He followed her everywhere and drove her crazy, and she has seemed so much happier during this last week.  It makes me feel bad that we keep saddling her with new pets that she hates.  First, Olive (she doesn't mind her now), then Max (whom she tolerated), and then DC (whom she didn't like at all).  Oh, well.  Life is about learning to get along with each other, right?

 Since DC's naughtiness was one of the things we loved most about him, I wanted to mention some of our favorite moments:

 I had just purchased a package of toilet paper at Costco and carried it downstairs to put away in storage.  I went back out to the van to unload more items, and when I came downstairs I found him standing by his kill without even a guilty look.  

The mighty hunter really killed this roll!  He never killed a mouse, but he loved to toss around the dead ones that Millie occasionally leaves on our lawn for us.  I think it made him feel good!  He also used to steal two stuffed animals.  One was a Beanie Baby lion that Emma gave Del one year for Father's Day that said #1 Dad.  He stole it off of Del's nightstand on a regular basis and packed it around the house like he had caught a mouse.  Del didn't appreciate that, so Emma let DC adopt her tiny, grey beanie wolf, which looks an awful lot like a mouse.  He loved it!  He packed it everywhere, throwing it in the air and catching it.  It was generally damp with cat spit. DC's favorite game was to drown it in Olive's water dish by the refrigerator, and then we would have to squeeze the water out and dry it.  He did it for a long time until he lost the wolf, and then he started doing it with our socks.  Funny cat!

 When we went to the Oregon Coast, we had to leave both cats inside for a week.  We were worried because we knew they would hate it, but we couldn't think of a better solution.  Apparently, DC didn't like it because we came home to this sight!  

 He had uprooted my plant and pooped all over in the dirt. Our whole house reeked!  It was a great welcome home.  We also found that he had pulled our socks and underwear out of the laundry basket and spread them all over the floor, up the stairs, and even in his litter box.  He let us know clearer than if he had used words just how displeased he was with us, but we thought it was pretty funny!

Yes, whether it's despite his naughtiness or because of it, we sure miss the little guy.  We'll see you in heaven, DC.  The kids are already fighting over who'll get to have you as their heavenly pet, so brace yourself and be ready to be showered with affection!