I Miss My Talky Cat.

My daughter adopted a grey-and-peach “box cat” in 4th grade. There was a box full of kittens found under a teacher's house and C chose Miu Miu. A shy and somewhat evil cat, she's now 16 or so, and time is catching up.

Whether due to Miu Miu's nature or our behavior, she became a very talkative cat. She'd make a funny “grrr” on surmounting a table or bed. She'd announce her entry into any room, and she “myah” repeatedly when something tasty was near. She talked a LOT.

Then, about 3 years ago, she went outside one day and met up with something bigger and meaner than she was. One side of her face was hacked up, with one puncture wound near her eye. Antibiotics and patience, we were all focused on that eye, and she recovered. Except she didn't, and the rest of the damage, plus some typical age- and diet-related dental issues, and surgery removed a buncha teeth and sewed up the stuff missed in the initial round. Now she was recovering, and now it became apparent that she'd lost her voice.

Now there are times when you'd wanted her to shut the heck up, but once she could barely whisper, it dawned on me how much I missed our conversations. Well, “exchanges” ok?

Then, a couple of months ago, I realized so,eying else was wrong: she was going deaf. She no longer came to the door, a trait so reliable that I'd suggested a burglar alarm based on her movements. (If he door opened and she didn't immediately rush to it, call the cops.)

She's pretty much completely deaf now, she was a cat who'd reliably come when called, and ran when voices got raised. She'd be at every door on nice days, to sneak out. She never missed a food bowl being moved or filled.

Now, when asleep on our bed, she won't wake unless touched or you sit on the bed. In our 97 year old house the floor is a symphony of squeaks, yet you can sneak up on her with no effort at all. She's frightened by a lot of things, always a bit of a fraidy-cat, but now she's surprised all the time.

I wish I could impart some lesson here, this just adds to my dismay at how poorly prioritized our bodies are, preserving movement as the priority when processing and I/O are so much more important. And how is it big pharma can come up with nothing more targeted than the repackaged opioids that dim our wits along with the pain? Loosing the Input/output systems should get ever greater priority in our geriatric care. My hearing aids should be a superpower, not the expensive penalty they are.

And my cat should be able to talk, to hold exchanges, until she no longer can.