Remembering Harley the cat, Zorba the dog's best friend

HARLEY
2000-2009

I feel a need to write about Harley who passed in December 2009.  Harley was a short-haired black and white cat. The reason for this is that he happened to be the best cat pal of Zorba, who passed away in July 2009.

Some might say how ironic this was.  Harley took in Zorba when Zorba was a pup of 3 months.  Harley welcomed Zorba from the first day they met.  They were best pals - always slept together.  Harley looked out for Zorba and Zorba did the same.

They say that animals, like people, need closure.  One of them being death.  Zorba was taken away from Harley when he began to feel ill and Harley didn’t know where he had gone.  As a result, Harley kept looking everywhere for him.  But couldn’t find him.

This began to wear Harley down and he started to weaken.  We brought him to the animal hospital – and they confirmed he was physically fine – they couldn’t find anything wrong.  But we knew - we knew he had a broken heart - he never had that closure with Zorba and continued searching for him.  He would go out on the deck, where he would sit and stare into space.  He would walk around the house, looking and looking – but not finding Zorba.  Then we witnessed something that confirmed our suspicions, and that was Harley was indeed missing Zorba.

Harley would go to the exact same spots where Zorba had laid down or sat.  This was something Harley never did in the past.   Certain spots on the floor where Zorba had sat were now being covered by Harley.

As the months went on – Harley became more weak till one night he laid down, and with us by his side, took in his last breath.

Zeus, Harley and Zorba’s other cat pal, did have his closure with Harley.  He was with Harley when he passed.  Zeus is doing well.

Zorba and Harley are together now – and looking down on all of us.

- Demi