Good Night, Sweet Prince

His Royal Highness, Prince Anastassi

July 1995-February 6, 2010

The royal family sadly announces that our beloved Prince Anastassi died a very peaceful death this afternoon in the keeper's arms. His kidneys had begun to shut down, and it is a strong possibility that he was in the final stages of feline lymphoma.

The keeper brought home and he was buried next to his best friend, Lord Downs, who preceded him in death five years ago. Prior to his burial, the keeper and Lady Alice, had a small wake for him, a procession around the back and front yards to all of his favorite spots and marking areas. They filled his grave with his toys, his catnip, and photos of him and Downs at play. They planted catnip and rosemary and lit candles at both graves for a night vigil. Alice kept watch from her window perch in the bedroom.

Stassi had a very privileged life, better than the lives of many humans. He had a long life, and narrowly escaped death several times many years earlier. We believe that Lord Downs met him on the road and we hope they are already playing with out collars, without borders, without pain.

We also are grateful for the presence of his royal crankiness in our lives. He has been a steadfast hunter, entertainer, and sly lover.

The keeper believes that he died with his somewhat sly and deviant sense of humor. He spent the last week at home resting most of the day on top the heat vents. At the vets today as the keeper and he were spending their final moments together, before the vet came in to help him cross into Cat Heaven, he found a heating vent. The keeper thought he was resting on it. Not so! He emptied his very full bladder from the bags and bags of fluids they had been pushing for almost a day, into the heat vent as his final signature and mark!

Stassi, you live in our hearts! We will miss you so much!