Thread by @firefoxx66

This morning, after 14 wonderful years together all over the world, the most beautiful & wonderful cat in the world, Svara, passed away in my arms. 💔😿

A tiny grey-&-white fluffball, she was the most polite, friendly cat. I want to take a minute to tell the world about her...

Svara was abandoned in early 2006 on a homestead in the Texas countryside when a family took their mobile home & moved on, leaving behind an old washing machine, a bunch of trash, & 3 cats...

We rescued them & brought them to a vet. The little grey-&-white one stole my heart.

I was only 20 yrs old & in my 2nd year at Uni - literally no idea what my future held. I found her name on a baby-name website: it's Hindi and means Goddess of sound.

I didn't know what come, but what a pair we made. We moved together to Ft Worth & TCU in late 2006.

When I moved to Edinburgh in late 2009 to do my MSc, it meant leaving Svara behind - one of the toughest times for both of us.

In Jan 2012 after 6 months home-quarantine she flew to Edinburgh to join me. She hated the travel. I promised her I'd never make her fly again... 😖

So many wonderful people got to know Svara in Edinburgh over the years, at parties, evenings over, & all the many who cat-sit for me when I travelled. She won over even the most cat-hardened of hearts. She had perfect manners - she never scratched, bit, or yowelled.

Svara's favourite thing was tuna. She had a weird love of digestive biscuits, oreos, & flaming-hot Doritos as well - but she got much less of those! She was always waiting by the door when I got home, & loved cardboard boxes & chasing little toy balls.

I broke my promise to her in 2017 when we both boarded the plane to Switzerland. She hated every minute of the journey. When we finally arrived in Basel, she was exhausted!

But she soon grew to love the sunny, warm climate & the balcony she never had in Edinburgh.

Svara's continued to charm new hearts here in Basel - no one can resist her soft fur, cute face, & absolutely stunning green eyes.
In 2019 Svara went deaf, but it just meant the world just had fewer scary noises! Apart from that, she was lucky to be in excellent health & spirits.

Last Tuesday night Svara had a blood clot, which cut off blood flow to her back legs - she couldn't move them. I took her straight to the emergency vet, & started treatment. The last week has been a roller-coaster: a little better, a little worse. I've cried an ocean in between.

Today, Svara was doing worse, & I made the very hard decision to put her down

As I held her in my arms saying goodbye before the vet came in, she took the hardest decision I've ever had to make out of my hands, and died. She hung on until I was there, and then let go.

Ever the sweetest cat, she wanted to make sure she truly earned the crown of 'best cat ever,' & gave me the gift of never having to wonder if I made the right decision.

The Last Miracle of St Svara. 💕

You were the best cat, my kissa. I will never forget you.