Milou, the Cat Who Enjoyed Life to the Fullest

A year ago today, on October 20, 2016, came the time to let Milou go. He crossed the rainbow bridge less than two weeks after Texas.

Milou | Texas, a Parisian Cat in America

Milou was what we would call a bigger-than-life figure. I had not known him since he was a kitten — my husband had been owned by him for a while when we met, well, both in Paris. He was the last of our three cats that immigrated with us from France.

Milou | Texas, a Parisian Cat in America

Milou | Texas, a Parisian Cat in America

Milou | Texas, a Parisian Cat in America

To my husband’s recollection and mine, Milou had always had health issues, but he sure loved life — and food — and was lucky to have found my husband who always took good care of him. On top of his health issue, there was the leprechaun accident in Ireland: One night, we still don’t know exactly why — although we suppose to chase a leprechaun — and how, Milou managed to jumped out a window of our 3rd or 4th floor apartment in Ireland… and he fell on the floor at the bottom of the building. He hurt one of the ligaments in one of his rear legs, but was extremely lucky: this was Ireland, and the grass was water-soaked. Additionally, had he fallen just two feet or so away from the grass, he would have hit concrete and probably would have never survived. I remember telling him affectionately how he had to hold on to life because one day we would be moving to America with him.

Milou | Texas, a Parisian Cat in America

Milou | Texas, a Parisian Cat in America

Milou | Texas, a Parisian Cat in America

And holding to life he would. In fact, ironically, part of what saved him was that he loved food so much ;)

Milou loved to eat and he loved to play. Until only a year or so before his death, he always seemed like a kitten in spirit, playing every time he could. With strings, balls, our shoes, whatever! He also luuuuved catnip.

Milou | Texas, a Parisian Cat in America

Milou | Texas, a Parisian Cat in America

Milou | Texas, a Parisian Cat in America

Earlier in life, Grouik had taken care of him when my husband adopted him as a kitten and they were inseparable. Well, Grouik was much more independent and sometimes there would be fights, but never for long.

Milou and Grouik | Texas, a Parisian Cat in America

Milou and Grouik | Texas, a Parisian Cat in America

Milou and Grouik | Texas, a Parisian Cat in America

Life with Texas wasn’t always easy — Texas liked to tease Milou but Milou hissed a lot at Texas. When Kitshka arrived, it took him months before he stopped hissing but they finally became friends and played together often.

For some reason I’m thinking about this only now as I write these words, but a picture of Milou in the fields of bluebonnets would have represented him well, I think: curious for adventure and life, playing with the wind and chasing butterflies, always like a kitten. Milou was also a gorgeous kitty.

It was hard losing both kitties so close to each other. In many ways, it was, at least for me, as if some part of my past was dying too — Texas and Milou somehow linked my husband and I to France and to each other, too.

Milou | Texas, a Parisian Cat in America

I bet Milou has found, along with Texas and Grouik, gorgeous fields of catnip at the rainbow bridge, and they are probably trading French meows classes for some more. We miss you all three so very much.

Grouik, Texas, and Milou | Texas, a Parisian Cat in America

45 thoughts on “Milou, the Cat Who Enjoyed Life to the Fullest

  1. I am truly sorry for this sadness. Please accept my sincere condolences. They are an integral part of our lives; and it hurts when they fly away from us when the time comes. xx

  2. I’m very sorry about your loss…….Grouik, Milou and Texas were one of the reasons why I have now four kitties in our house, because they taught me how lovely animal cats are on Tex’s blog…..I couldn’t believe the fact that Grouik left there so sudden….it took me quite long time to accept it….then… Texas….. and Milou…..I still remember clearly about your post when you flied from France to America… Milou was almost forgotten as a baggage….but you looked for him so hard and got him back. There are so many lovely stories about them…. which make me tears whenever I read them.
    We miss them….too….. Grouik, Texas and Milou so much…..

    • Awww… thank you so very much for your message. It goes straight to my heart that this little blog touched you so much. Many purrs and hugs!

  3. It is hard enough losing one much less compound the Grief into two. I find that the loss does indeed represent our histories and all the memories. It’s not just that we lose someone we love but we also lose that history and sadly I find that the memories start to grow hazy as time moves on. The feelings are the same but I am thankful for the photos that recall a beautiful soul, and yours do as well. We miss them deeply and always will.
    Annabelle recently posted…Feline FunMy Profile

  4. We loved hearing all your adventures before moving to the USA and since…..and missed hearing from you for so long. It’s very hard losing ONE cat but three? Almost heart-breaking……..and we send you love and hugs and empathy. We are STILL grappling with sorrow over Sammy’s passing before Christmas last year. Teddy is a doll and we adopted him from the same shelter where we got Sammy but things are just “different” now. I think we all have those “perfect moments” with our pets – that we remember our whole lives – you certainly must have many of those with three sweeties. We are so sorry for all your losses………………………

    Hugs, Pam (and Teddy too)
    Pam, Teddy and Angel Sammy recently posted…Friendly Friday Fill-Ins…..LATE!My Profile

    • And I am so sorry for Sammy, too. He was such an adorable kitty.
      What you are describing is similar for me with Whiskey. I didn’t expect him to be like Texas, of course, but I guess in some way we want to try and have another kitty that helps us remember the one we lost, but it is indeed different. But I’m sure we can learn that different can be wonderful in its own way, while still remembering our forever cat. Hugs!

  5. Such a beautiful tribute to Milou. He had a wonderful and adventurous life.
    Time doesn’t take away the pain of loss, maybe just dull the edges a little until some unexpected thing brings memories and heartache flooding back. Thank heavens for memories and of course photos though.
    We have just come back from a road trip in Ireland and can confirm that the grass is waterlogged!
    Memories of Eric and Flynn recently posted…Caturday Art – Sleepy Boys.My Profile

  6. Bonjour les chats
    pouvez vous dire à Eos quel est le nom de cette plante qui m’a l’air fort alléchante ? Je demanderais alors à mon humaine de s’en procurer pour après mon opération.
    ps … vous avez un super arbre à chats
    ps (pour votre humaine) … la mienne ne reçoit pas vos publications via son reader sur WP et ne voit pas le bouton (suivre)
    Chalut à tous ( Eos )

  7. I am so sorry for your loss. I just lost my cat and came across your site while I was looking around for proper ways to mourn a cat. I think your tribute to Milou was beautiful. You inspired my to write a little something about my recently departed cat.
    Mark recently posted…Cat Calorie CalculatorMy Profile

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badge