Crazy Happy Beautiful: Saying Goodbye to my Buddy

I know that this post will not be for everyone, but I needed to put my thoughts on virtual paper. Just a few days ago I posted about our family, including our two pets. Today, our family has gone from two pets to one.

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Around Labor Day of 2011 Kain's mom and I were having a garage sale. One evening while getting everything all set up for the sale I thought I heard a cat crying. Sure enough, under a big pine tree in the backyard was a teeny tiny kitten covered in dirt and sap and starving for food and love. I was immediately enamored and named her Frances. Kain said I could keep her as long as our landlord was on board, which fortunately he was.

{Hairy cat + no air conditioning = this}

At first or little furry friend was timid, but time and effort brought out a playful and feisty personality. A few weeks later we had the kitten vetted and found out that she was about two months old and.... a boy! Frances became Francis and life went on.

{so handsome!!}

Over time we learned that Francis loved bird watching, chasing lights and lasers, drinking from the bathtub faucet, and soft (not crunchy) treats. We also discovered that Francis did not love car rides, collars, wet food, thunderstorms or being held. He is very particular about who pets him, when and where they pet him, and for how long they pet him. If more than a few people come to our house he hisses and hides. If you haven't gotten out of bed to give him his treats by 6 am, he's relentless about waking you up. And If he miraculously wants to sit on your lap, there's no stopping him. Until he's done.

{Fresh Linen scent kitty}

He really isn't very friendly, but he's been a good cat. That is until a few months ago when he decided that his liter box was optional. We have tried everything that is reasonable and spent more cash than was logical on trying to get him to stop using our couch (and a few times, our BED) as a secondary poop spot. Kain, who is by nature not really a cat lover, has been more than patient with my attempts at feline behavior modification. But yesterday's couch surprise was our "enough is enough" moment.

{Hiding under the coffee table during a storm}

Tonight we took our Francis to a friend's farm so he can live the free nomad life he longs to live in their horse barn. He can finally chase birds, eat grass, catch mice, and poop wherever he wants. I know he will be happier, he is always trying to escape when we go in and out our door, he is desperate to be an outdoor cat.

{Dreaming of life outside}

Francis, {also known as Frank, also known as Buddy Cat, also known as Francisco Bodafuco (because I joke that he is an Italian mob boss), who's full name is Francis James Hunter Cat} this is harder on us than you probably care about. We are not sending you away because we don't like you, our because we haven't tried EVERYTHING to make you stop this unacceptable behavior. You will always be our first pet, and will forever hold a special place in our hearts. But for the sake of our sanity, and our sanitation, you have to go.