Our Little Family: A Very Hard Decision

Well this is one post I am not excited about writing. Not even a little bit. Anyone who knows me knows how passionate I am about animals. All animals. Actually all living things. So needless to say my love for our cat Simba is beyond words.

I got Simba when he was only 7 weeks old. He instantly became my little boy. From the first night I had him he slept snuggled up on my pillow. I love this cat so much. This is where the very hard decision comes into play. Those who know Simba know he has a very distinctive personality. From the day I had him he was always very aggressive. I figured he is a little kitty and would grow out of it. Well he didn't. He likes to randomly bite, and bite hard, and the keyword here is RANDOMLY. I knew that something would have to change when Isabelle was born. Kevin and I hoped he would grow out of it, hoped he would just stop. But he hasn't. He has never ever bit or scratched Isabelle but he has gotten way to close and it was just a matter of time before he actually did. Simba has spent the past several months shut in our bedroom for hours a day (and all night). We try to keep him away from Isabelle, but with her becoming more and more mobile it becomes more and more hard. It's not fair to have him literally shut in a room for the rest of his life. And I really don't want Isabelle to never be allowed in our room and to grow up afraid of cats. Kevin and I would take Simba biting us everyday for the rest of our lives if it meant he was here with us, but the risk of him biting Isabelle we are not willing to take. So after much thinking, talking with Kevin, and much crying, we decided it was time for Simba to go.

Now the only place I would ever take him would be to my parents house in Ames. They had our two cats growing up for over 18 years and know cats inside and out. They know my love for Simba and more importantly they love animals just as much as I do (if that is even possible). So today Kevin, Isabelle and I drove Simba up to Ames with all his things (think hundreds of toys). The good news, he made himself right at home, jumping on furniture, eating, going up and downstairs. The bad news....he is there and not at home with us.

I keep reminding myself that I did what is best for Isabelle. It is my responsibility to protect her and to always and forever put her first. So yes, I miss Simba terribly and have shed many tears already today, but when I see my little Isabelle I know I made the right decision....as hard as it was. (And yes I do plan to visit him in a couple days!)

We love you buddy. You will always be my little Simba.