Yesterday, I bid my old friend Huckleberry goodbye
A month after I was heartbroken by the loss of my first ever cat friend, Amos, in 2007, my sister had taken in a pregnant stray. The cat gave birth to a litter of five: two calico females, two orange tabby males and a buff-colored male. My sister wanted me to take one of them immediately but I insisted they stay with the mother nine weeks before I took one, so they could be properly socialized. I was still grieving and wasn't sure whether I should engage in the whole "cat thing" again. After all, Amos had been such a remarkable creature, and my best friend for 16 years, and I couldn't imagine another taking his place. When I first saw the kittens, they were sleepily wrestling in a laundry basket, all except the runt, who had his front paws on the edge and looked straight into my eyes, and screeched what I supposed was cat for "Take me outa this madhouse!" So I took the runt and not wanting him to be lonely, also took "the pick" of the litter, his much larger brother. Both were orange tabbies. I named them Tom and Huckleberry, and the house was never quiet again at 3:00 am in the morning as that was the time the two of them raced up and down the stairs, always waking me up.
Tom passed three years ago and suddenly us three amigos were only two. Huckleberry seemed sad after Tom's departure and so I paid extra attention to him. Or was it the other way around? He had always been very laid back, never frightened of anything, probably because of his size: a good twenty pounds at one point. He was a voracious eater, a furious player with cat toys, a certified nip head, and an impulsive kisser. When he started slowing down with age, I finally allowed him to sleep in my bed with me. Earlier attempts to get the brothers to behave in the bedroom had failed because Tom always tried to dig under me when I lay down and Huck was fond of disconnecting all the cables behind my computer desk. But Huck has been a good boy and the best companion during the pandemic. Since March, 2020, I have been working from home, which made Huck very happy, so at least I was home to watch him age gracefully, then precipitously in the past few months.
If there is an afterlife for cats, I imagine it's like that MC Escher drawing with the staircases going every which way. I can see Tom and Huck noisily chasing each other on them—up, down, backwards, sideways, whatever—a nightmare for humans but a paradise for cats, at least for those two brothers. Huck departed yesterday morning, euthanized to prevent further suffering from congestive heart failure, a mass in his lungs and hyperthyroidism. He had been gulping air and sleeping in odd places and positions to enable his breathing but still he purred loudly and lidded his eyes whenever I whispered "sweet baby" to him. I'm posting this now because this was the hour I woke up every morning to feed Huckleberry and crush his thyroid pill and carefully mix it with Catsip and cajole him to finish it all, and so I am lost without that daily annoying, sleep-disrupting task, which now I would give anything to have to do again.
I took this picture of Huck yesterday morning, just before we left for his last vet visit.
More pictures:
Huck catching up on the news at age 5.
Tom (l) and Huck (r) at age 7, on the cat tree
Huck age 8, and at full jolliness.
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Brought me to tears. I'm so, so sorry for your loss.
It looks like you lived a good life.
You gave two beautiful creatures a loving and cherished life. They will be together in that land across the bridge. My beautiful cat is 15 and I know I will be heartbroken when it's her time. I cherish everyday I have with her. Peace and fond memories.
You must love him very much, and vice-versa. He will always be with you.
I'm so sorry for your loss now and as well as the previous ones.
So this is the end of the Tom and Huck era. They were such good friends to you! My deepest condolences.
We have been through this many, many times. It's so hard. But the joy of having a cat's love is so worth it. I still feel like the ones who have gone are sometimes being channelled through the current ones, when the youngsters do something that's unlike them, but very much like their siblings from previous eras.
It is always a comfort in their passing 
to know that they knew how much they were loved.
Tikki
May Huckleberry cross the Rainbow Bridge and quickly resume his play with his bro, Tom. I am sad for your loss of your special kitties, and remembering the special kitties in my life. We are richer for having them in our lives! 
My cat, King Tut, who is at the bottom of this note is also my companion for the last few years. We understand each other and he knows exactly how to talk to me so I can take care of him. He’s a big guy who is very independent. He especially likes sleeping in his donut in front of the fireplace. I’ve started using it since the weather is cooler now in New Mexico so we spend our leisure time in front of it which is very cozy. He’s sleeping in my bed with me more because of that too. His big weight is such a reassuring feeling because he sleeps in the crook behind my knees. We have our daily routines, of which one is soaking up the warmth of the fireplace. I know I will miss him more than I can say when his time comes. He’s a very healthy 7 year old. I truly love him.
I am so sorry for your loss but happy for you because you got 16 wonderful years with Mr. Huckleberry. They bring so much when they arrive and leave so much in your care when they pass.
I am happy Huck got to spend his years with you knowing peace and love. I am sad for you that this time ended probably far too soon.
Can not ever come close to saying the point or purpose of this relationship - all I can say is he was lucky and you were luckier.
You of course will never move on, just forward. Many hugs to you at this time.
That's a lovely tribute. (I love the name "Huckleberry".)
It must still be very painful for you. Thank you for sharing, and the affirmation.
I have had trouble sleeping but finally took a nap earlier today and was surprised I had slept so long, maybe 90 minutes. All I remember was a dream where I saw Huckleberry bouncing down the staircase. In the dream, I remember thinking he wasn't acting so sick now. And when I woke I up, I realized the dream Huck looked just like Hobbes, reminding me that I used to think of Tom and Huck as Calvin and Hobbes. I felt so much better after that dream, like Huck was ok, wherever he is.