It was around 2010. When I was about nine years old, I was still playing soccer for a club. One Sunday morning, there was a match in a nearby village. Before the game even started, my teammate and I found two stray kittens under a dumpster. They were incredibly scared and wouldn't let anyone near them. After the game was over and we'd all been driven home, I told my parents about the two kittens. A teammate with his parents managed to catch one of them, but they just left the other one there because they couldn't grab it. My parents immediately said that the other one couldn't be left alone like that and that we should go there right away. We packed a cat carrier and some food and drove off immediately. There he was, sitting under the dumpster again. Of course, he wasn't easy to catch, so my dad had to lure him with food. When the plate was almost empty, my dad reached in and put him in the carrier. My dad's arm was completely scratched up by the little guy. We took him home with us for the time being. He was, of course, incredibly shy and timid. The next day, we went to the vet, and he had all his checkups and vaccinations. Since then, Fips, as my sister and I later named him, has lived with us. He became the most affectionate and cuddly cat ever. He was often out exploring during the day, and then always on the sofa with us late at night. He usually greeted me in the morning when my mother opened the door to my room to wake me up. He is the best cat ever - as many cat owners would say about their beloved pet.
This afternoon, 15 years later, my father told me that Fips had passed away this morning. He hadn't eaten for two days and didn't want to go outside anymore. For 15 years, he was my constant companion throughout my youth. I moved out of my parents house a long time ago and am independent and responsible for my own life now. I'm very sad about this news but also incredibly happy that I had my little Fips by my side. I don't usually make posts like this because I'm not someone who seeks attention. Nevertheless, I want to share my dear friend Fips with you. Thank you for enriching my life. I already miss you 🧡