It was confirmed last night, Lixo was poisoned and found dead along the road.
He was about two years old, and gave me two years of happiness, and a few scratches.
He was a constant companion, I couldn’t so much as poo without him, and as a faithful toilet attendant, he never expected a tip, just a good scratch behind the ears.
He was dumped in the praça, along with another kitten, when he was about eight weeks old. The owner of the botequim saw a guy drive up and get a sack from the trunk and empty two kittens in the bushes like rubbish and drive away.
It was the next night I saw him in the bar, and after a petting he followed me home where I fed him and plonked him on the spare sofa. He decided to stay. I named him Lixo, because lixo is Portuguese for rubbish; one man’s rubbish is another man’s treasure.
Lixo was a treasure.
Later.
Life is but a Labyrinth 
I struggle to understand how someone could do this. Poor, poor Lixo. If someone poisoned Lulu we would be distraught. Pets ask for little and give a lot. My condolences AV.
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>Andrew, thanks, appreciated. I have just cleaned up Kitty Korner in the kitchen where is food was, broke my heart.
AV
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I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s hard to lose a critter that was more family than a pet. My cat passed away at a four years old over an illness I never knew he had until it was too late. He was my baby boy. I’m sure Lixo enjoyed every day with you as your beloved “rubbish.”
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Thank you, he was just a short furry member of my family and as such leaves a big hole.
AV
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I read your other reply and was gutted. How sick are some people? One reason we don’t let Pippa off the lead in Spain (although the main one is his desire to chase cats, I am sure he would have enjoyed chasing Lixo) is because of the poisoning stories. Just, why?
There are no words that help. Mine are on the lines of extremely abusive so I won’t get into those. At least you gave Lixo two very happy years.
So sorry. My condolences too.
RS
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>rough, he was often chased by dogs, sometimes even Herbie (neighbours dog who also died). The park has plenty of trees that provided him with an escape route; he would look down on the frustrated dog/s with a “when pigs fly” look. Yes, Pippa would have liked him, and I did have two happy years.
AV
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Sorry for your loss mate! Hope the guy who did this will run into the wrong person some day very soon! What a horrible thing to do!
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>lord, thanks, the guy will meet his comeuppance eventually, cruelty like this does not escape you. The whole neighbourhood is incensed over this round of poisoning in particular because Lixo was not only ‘my’ cat, he was a constant companion to all at the bar next door. He was more of a regular than I.
AV
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Your cat was a regular bar visitor? I feel more and more sympathy for this creature! 😉
But in all seriousnes, I have seen this in Holland too. In one village some retard put poison at a walking lane for dogs. 4 dogs in the neighborhood died. It makes me so angry when people hurt animals! The problem is that it’s quite hard to find the sadistic coward who did it!
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Oh, yes, lying languidly in the sun on cooler days, or on the slate (cooler than ceramic floor tiles) on hot days. He would jump on recently vacated chairs on even cooler days, but he never got shunted off, the previous occupant would simply get another chair. Chairs were also good for a better view of the park, and to stare menacingly at passing dogs. The bar was a wonderful place for him.
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The infamous Bowen Road dog poisoner has been at work in HK since 1989. Never caught. It defies belief. The question “why” seems so inadequate.
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>Andrew, how horrid. May he forget to wash his hands after handling poison.
AV
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So sorry. How horrid for you. I have a big languid ginger tom too; they’re the best. Incensed on your behalf. Someone shot my cat with an airgun when I was growing up. Sick people.
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>Fromage, there are some really cruel and horrid people about. Still missing my Lixo. Thanks for the comment, greatly appreciated.
AV
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I’m so very sorry and so sad for you AV. Over the past few months I’ve become very attached to Lixo albeit in an ‘intraweb’ sort of way. I really do feel for you, a horrible empty place where Lixo once was. I remember in the past you’ve talked of these poisonings and it’s just incredible that people could do such a thing. Damn them! This won’t help in the least, but here’s a big hug from me XXX
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>Lottie, eHugs are accepted. Thank you very much for your support.
AV
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I’m so sorry, AV! I know you loved Lixo … and Lixo loved you! Like everyone else, I don’t understand the cruelty. I lost my first kitty, who looked a lot like Lixo, after being together for 19 years. It broke my heart. Whether 2 years or 19, they are our family … and it hurts when they are gone. But they leave us with something wonderful … good memories and hearts that are open to other cats … not as replacements but as extensions of the love we shared with the ones who are gone. I hope that special kitty comes into your life soon and helps to heal your heart!
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>Small, I did, and I miss him, there’s nobody to step over in the middle of the kitchen floor any more. Thanks for your thoughts.
AV
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I’m so sorry AV, that’s really tough to deal with. Our animals give so much to us, and ask us for so little. There have been poisonings on my little island too and it’s horrible – as you say, hopefully all poisoners will one day forget to wash their hands.
I had a massive dog for a short while and when he died I couldn’t get used to not flighting to turn every corner – he was always making sure he didn’t miss anything. It’s funny what we miss, isn’t it?
I sincerely hope that another cat will find you very soon, start tripping you up, and help to heal a little of the hurt and loss.
With cyber hugs.
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>Clare, thank you for the thoughts, you are so right our animals become a part of us and that’s hard to lose.
AV
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I’m so, so sorry. You must feel terrible. That poor puss. To be rescued and then for that to happen is just – horrible! All my sympathy. Hope there is a cat heaven!
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>but, still feel lonely, thanks for stopping by. I’ll have another one soon.
AV
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Sorry to hear about your cat. I recently said goodbye to my dog and it was gut-wrenching.
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>Rachel, thank you. We do get so attached to our pets and it makes it so hard to let go.
AV
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I am so sorry and it hurts even more when you rescue them as you think you can save them from a bad world and when you’re lost them through cruelty, it’s even tougher
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>crazy, thanks for visiting, appreciated. We have a serial poisoner in the neighbourhood, this is not the first time. In the five+ years I have lived here, I have lost three cats to him and many neighbours’ pets have met the same fate. He must be a very sad sick individual. We will catch him one day.
AV
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So sorry to hear about your kitty. Kitties become such important parts of our lives that we wonder how we ever managed without them. I hope you catch the poisoner.
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>Janice, still miss him, said so in my post today. The chances of catching the poisoner are not good, but the neighbourhood remains hopeful, because it’s not just my pets; many have afflen victim.
AV
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