Remembering Mushu

We got Mushu as our daughter's first cat when we first moved into this house back in 2010. She was an amazing kitty. Not super cuddly, but full of sassy personality and a lap sitter if her mood was right. But she loved our daughter, who was seven when we met a stranger in a Fry's parking lot to take home that little kitten. Our daughter was the only one she would cuddle/sleep with.

In 2019, we were getting ready to go on the first big trip we'd had in a decade...Italy! We had a good friend watching our Mushu and our dogs. On the way to the airport we got a phone call...Mushu's left leg and shoulder was very swollen. She was being taken the emergency vet. Turned out that she had an undiscovered heart condition that was now causing all sorts of problems and her body was shutting down. There was nothing they could do. I had to give the order to have her put to sleep right there in the car. We were all devastated, but our daughter especially so. She no longer wanted to go on the trip, but we had invested too much money and time to back out. She sobbed all the way to the airport.

I was especially heartbroken that Mushu had to take that final journey alone. I felt like I had betrayed her, and it pains me even now to think of her last moments...frightened and in pain, surrounded by strangers. She deserved better.

Anyway, it has been 5 years today that she was taken from us too early, and I wanted to post some pictures so you all could see her at her best and cutest. It's how she should be remembered. That sassy voice that my daughter always used when speaking for Mushu will always echo in my head when I see that cute face.

A brilliant mind from a young age. She definitely won this game by knocking most of the pieces to the floor. Just nuke them all from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

Mushu in my daughter's bed with Emerald on top.

She was able to remove her head for easy storage.

Saying something sassy.

You wouldn't hit a cat with glasses, would you?

What the heck have you humans done? What is this thing? (Merry and Pippin were brought home when Mushu was 1 year old)

Mushu and Merry developed a special relationship, though Mushu always seemed a bit embarrassed about it.

Green Towel was a superhero, according to our daughter. Some people suspect that Mushu knew Green Towel's true identity, but she never would say.

Feelin derpy

It's called fashion. Look it up.

FASHION!

What the heck is this shit?

My posture says "pet me", but my pupils say "at your own risk!"

Goodbye my sweet baby. I'm so, so sorry that I wasn't there when you really needed me. I will always feel guilty about it. I still think about you and miss you. Wish you could have met our other kitties. You would have hated them. RIP Mushie Girl.