Router

Meow!

-Router
July 2003 - July 2008

The Daily Camel is committed to reporting only the good kind of news. So while Daily grieves the loss of Router, she is also surprised and touched by the flood of tears from friends and relatives near and far. Router may not have had opposable thumbs, but legends don't need extra gear. May we all touch the lives of others like he did.

Here are a few thoughts and memories of the big soul that we got to know in the little cat suit.

1. When we first met Router, he reminded me of a baby bird the way his big mouth opened up when he MEOWED for what he wanted. While we were deciding which cats we would bring home, he plunked himself down six inches from the cage of a brawly-looking bulldog and meowed. Tiny kitten, big dog.
2. Steve is an ace at playing with cats. He thinks like a playful cat. Play with string, mice and boxes was a routine part of Router's life.
3. When Steve and I went for walks, Router would follow us. We had to either lock him in the house or cut our walk short so that he could join us. When he did walk with us he would follow from a distance then race past us, run, pounce and show off.
4. One of Router's favorite things in life was belly rubs and he was completely indiscriminate about who could do it. If someone walked by, he flopped down and rolled around on his back begging for rubs.
5. Router was myopic. He knew when we came home because he recognized the sound of the engine of the WRX. We'd see him walking and squinting at us. We'd yell his name and he would come greet us.
6. Router gave us serious attitude after a weekend away.
7. Router only ate one type of cat food and one type of treat and he preferred his water out of the dripping tub faucet.
8. When other cats tried to attack him, Router flopped on his side submissively. It kept him pretty scratch-free.
   
9. Router was very curious and fearless and would walk into neighbors' garages to explore. One time he saw his opportunity and slipped into our neighbors', Jennifer and Charles', house and another time into Tamtam and Yellow's house. Our neighborhood was his turf. He slept on Jennifer and Charles' porch, pooped in nearly every sandbox, lilac bush, and yard in the neighborhood, but our own (keeping the predators away from his lair - smart cat). Steve and I appeased one neighbor by purchasing gorilla fur mulch to replace the poopy mulch. When another neighbor put in a birdfeeder, Steve and I watched in horror as Router stood on her fence and rubbed his cheek on it, marking it. For several days, little dead birds kept showing up at our door.
   
10. We now live in a basement and Router would ask to be let in by meowing down into our window well. He often came in five times in a night for food, water or just a hello and goodbye.
11. Much to Steve's chagrin, Router liked to sleep on his pillow and on cold winter nights he wrapped himself around Steve's warm head.
12. When Router thought my breath was bad in the morning, he put is paw over my mouth - Steve dubbed it "paw to the face".
    
13. He was a super cuddle monster.

Since Router passed away people have ensured us that Router is in kitty heaven. I think he had a little slice of kitty heaven right here on earth, living his life and charming the pants off of nearly everyone he encountered.