Oscar Combs: Aug. 2008- Feb. 2, 2009

We'd hoped to start this blog with something happy, but life has a way of punching you in the gut when you least expect it. We lost our little buddy Oscar today to a sad disease called Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP).
He was such a gentle and cute boy that we all fell in love with him shortly after his arrival (well, at least Rhonda, Jack and I did- George is another story). He was only with us from 11/14/08 through today, but you can learn a lot about a cat in a short amount of time. For example, here are a few things we learned about Oscar:

• As you can see above, he figured out that keyboards area great place to stay warm.
• He was incorrigibly, aggressively affectionate. He didn't nuzzle you so much as he attempted to implant his snout in your nose or mouth.
• His ears were 2 sizes too big for his head.
• He had a very interesting swirl pattern on his sides, not the stripes you normally see on orange cats.
• He taught an 85-lb dog that a 5-lb cat could be his best pal.
• The tip of his tail had a crook to the right.
• His powers of persuasion were strong. Somehow he convinced George- who didn't exactly welcome Oscar with open arms- to give up his prime corner window real estate on the upstairs couch.
• He had a funny habit of cocking his head to one side while he chewed.
• There are multiple pillows on the bed, and they all belonged to him.
• He preferred dry food (including Jack's) to the cracky goodness of canned.
• Based on the sound of his purr, there's a fair chance he was related to either a dove or an Ewok.
• Jack's water tasted better than his own.
• His favorite sparring partner was Jack's snout, although his wagging tail was fair game, too.
• Like any Combs man, he didn't like to rush unnecessarily through a bathroom session. With the way he played around in there, sometimes it was hard to tell whether it was a litterbox or the sandbox.
• Even George (in fairness, still smarting from the loss of Arthur) was beginning to fall victim to his irresistable charms, in baby steps.
• He thought the bed covers made a nice tent.
• He smelled like sweet fresh laundry (probably because of all that time under the sheets).
• To be such a small cat, the house sure feels a whole lot emptier without him.

Here are a a few photos photos from Oscar's time with us. Click "show info" at the top and brief descriptions/comments will appear with the photo. Use the "options" button or pause to slow things down. The first few were taken with a cell phone, so the quality is inconsistent.

This is a good reminder for us to not take our loved ones (four-legged, two-legged or otherwise) for granted. Thanks to everyone for the supportive thoughts, kind words, and "flinging us up" (in Mamaw's case).