Cleo passed away this morning due to kidney failure. She was old for a cougar; about three months older than me… so around 17 or 18. Even though every time I walked by her cage she acted like she was going to kill me, I will still miss her terribly. Over the past three years or so we have grown close enough that she would let me reach my hand through and pet her for a few seconds without loosing my hand. And I feel that her stalking me when I would walk inside to feed her was a way for her to play without giving away her ‘mean’ exterior.

I am going to miss having her giant de-clawed paws reach through the cage every time I walk by so she can grab my head, try to pull me through the bars, and rip a chunk of my hair out. Even though it sounds bad when I say it… I was used to it enough in my life that I will miss it…

I will also miss how excited she was when I would give her a handful of grass. I would stick it through the cage and she would rip it out of my hands as if I stole it from her. And she would chew it all the while growling at me…

Even though Kia is fifteen years younger, I know she will miss her too. Even though everything Kia would do would piss Cleo off. I guess it is just Kia’s way of making friends… she does it to me too…

Goodbye Cleo, and I hope you had a happy and relaxing life despite your grumpiness.

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