On December 28 of 2010 my pet cat Slasher died. He had been sick for a few weeks and we knew he wouldn’t have much longer, which eased the blow, but we’re certainly going to miss him.

Shortly before my family moved to the place where I live now we went looking for a cat for the extra company. We found one super-furry black and white kitten with an extra claw on each paw (24 claws in total). He was abnormal, a runt, and not expected to be a healthy cat. But I chose him – and named him “Slasher” – my very own mutant-kitten.

It wasn’t long after we got him that we moved here, so this had been his home for as far as his memories went back. He had a thing for climbing. He climbed up people and screen doors – once or twice knocking the screen door out of place. He would “run” up wooden doors and sit at the top and watch everyone as they entered and exited the room. We would look at him curiously and he would look back with his relaxed gaze, as if to say “Why aren’t you up here with me?”

It was several years before he and Carnage (our tiger-striped cat) got used to each other. She prefers to be left alone for the most part. Occasionally my family would spot the two of them curled up beside each other or giving each other baths and we’d rush to find the camera.

He was a great mouser. I recall a time when an entire litter of mice had broken loose and Slasher caught every single one – each time going right back to standing guard ready for the next mouse to show itself.

He had a foot fetish. He mostly shyed away from hands if you tried to pet him. But you could stick your foot in his face and shove him around on the floor and he was happy as could be. He would roll around like crazy on the tiled floor, get his thick fur super-staticky, and then walk around with his fur sticking up and a powerful electric charge built-up and ready to strike anyone who brushed by him.

He loved the smell of the outdoors, and favoured the spring and summer times when we would open the doors and windows to let the fresh, cool air run through the house.

He was an unusually friendly cat. His personality almost more like a dog than a cat. He welcomed new people freely, and greeted recurring visitors with affection. He was a good cat, and will be greatly missed.

Goodbye Slasher,

We’ll miss you.