Live & Kern

This is the obituary I never wanted to write, although, logically, I knew that someday I would. I didn’t want for it to be now.

Bearcat Louise Smith of St. Louis died April 19, 2013. She was 15.

Bearcat was born the spring of 1998 in Maryville, Mo. She was adopted by two Northwest Missouri State University college students, one of whom portrayed the school’s mascot, a Bearcat. In 1999, Bearcat was adopted by Erica Smith, given a middle name and moved to Indiana.

Bearcat generally led a life of leisure, living in Missouri, Indiana, Washington. She liked to try to steal peas and cheese. She hated thunderstorms. She loved to play fetch and chase reflections and lights. She once got lost in a South Dakota hotel room. She was enamored with running water and hated baths. She often tunnelled under the covers to sleep. She was feisty and sweet.

I can’t believe Cat vs. Human has existed for 10 months and I just now found it. Probably because Bearcat was sitting on the computer.

Poor Bearcat.

I have many things to say about this “Cats adore, manipulate women” article, but Bearcat says she’s hungry. She had to go to the vet earlier, so it’s already been a traumatic day.

(She sticks her tongue out like this all of the time. Adorable. Or maybe she has something to say and hasn’t figured out how yet.)

I caught Bearcat on the (cluttered) dining room table Tuesday night, which she has never been interested in. (And she is aware of my no-table and no-counter rules.) My brother was staying with me at the time.

Me: “Were you jumping on the table with Bear last night?”
Adam: “What’d she tell you?”
Me: “I just want to know who’s the bad influence.”
Adam: “She did it first.”

Damn cat.