Goodbye Pico

Yesterday we said a sad goodbye to our buddy of 17 years, Pico. He came to us by chance, November 2007 long weekend at the lake, where we found him in a neighbour’s rock wall, cowering in fear of her barking dogs. An underweight runt with undescended testicles (he was she for a while & called Pica) we presumed he was either rejected by his mother or was an adventurous spirit who wanted more out of life than that offered by a farm on the shores of Shuswap Lake. He was a feisty little guy who kept our older cat at the time young by stalking, attacking, fighting, playing & cuddling with Casey. He lived with us in three of our Vancouver homes, the two Vernon houses, and spent much time at the cottage. Lots of moves and he always adapted. Lots of cat-sitters while we travelled and he always won their hearts.

After Casey died, Pico was without a cat companion. For two years he was an only fur baby, until Cleo showed up at Steve & Lisa’s, cold and hungry, and they passed her on to us. Pico and Cleo didn’t really interact much but over time they came to coexist.

Pico was uncommonly smart. I once caught him peeing into the toilet, never having been trained or even shown, but I guess he was watching us. At age 15, when nudged into the pool by Soda, Pico swam across and hauled his wet body up and out of the water. Totally unfazed, he spent the next hour licking pool water off his coat. He instinctively knew when a travel day was unfolding and would hide under a bed in order to avoid being put in his carrier and into the car. When Craig was recovering from his medical misadventure and at home, mostly on the couch, Pico watched over him. A talisman guarding against ill fate. Or maybe he was just happy to have an afternoon nap buddy?

Later in his life, after our move to Vernon, he would find himself in the company of canine companions. He seemed unbothered by them and may even have found them interesting or comforting, or both. Soda & Nixon in particular figured prominently in the last two years of Pico’s life. The three temperaments were remarkably harmonious.

Pico had a buddist kind of attitude. Happy all the time. Not aggressive. Healthy and social until about six weeks ago. Did I mention that, unlike all of our other cats, he didn’t shed? Bonus! Ever easy and uncomplaining, always chill and loving, he leaves a big hole in our lives.

Being all black he was not especially photogenic, but I think I’ve been able to capture, in photos, what I mean when I say “bravo on a life well lived, little dude”.