After Diana: Finding Our Way Back to Aries’ Blog
The last time I wrote here, I told you about Diana—Aries’ mother—and what it was like to care for her after a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease. At the time, our veterinarian had warned us that we might have only a few weeks. Diana surprised us. We had roughly six or seven more months with her than we thought we would.
I wish I could tell you that was enough time. Diana left this world in July 2025, and I haven’t been ready to write about it here until now.
When you love an animal through an illness, your days can become a rhythm of watching, adjusting, hoping, and trying to understand what they need. I wanted Diana to be comfortable. I wanted to give her every good day we could.
After we lost her, I replayed parts of that time and wondered if there was something else I should have seen or done. I was fully aware of what Chronic Kidney Disease does to a cat. I knew of the importance of hydration and of the warning signs to look for, but I didn’t see the changes in her until it was quite late. Diana was a spicy kitty, a formerly ‘feralish’ girl who learned to trust us. Because she sometimes kept her distance, I didn’t notice her symptoms for a while. With that still comes a guilt to process. I’m still learning how to hold those feelings alongside the knowledge that we cared for her and were grateful for every extra day.
I also stepped away from this blog. Some of that was grief. Some of it was the need to put my energy elsewhere for a while. Writing about cat care and the joy of life with Aries felt different after losing his mom. I didn’t want to return with a cheerful update that skipped over what had happened, or with a promise that I had suddenly figured everything out.
But Aries has continued to be Aries.
He wants to see what’s around the next corner. He enjoys meeting people, being out in the world, and taking in places I might otherwise hurry past. When I take him somewhere, I often think I’m the one showing him the world. Then I watch someone meet him, see their face change, and realize he has brought something to that moment, too.
Diana raised him in this house. I see a connection between the care we gave her at home and the life Aries is so eager to share outside it. Both have made me pay closer attention: to what a cat is telling us, to the time we have together, and to the people whose day might be changed by a small encounter.
That’s the direction I want to take this space now. I’ll share Aries’ adventures and the people he meets. I’ll write about living with and caring for cats, including the practical choices that can help them feel safe and understood as their needs change. And I’ll make room for the quieter parts of these relationships—the worry, the ordinary routines, the laughter, and the love that continues after a goodbye.
I can share what we’ve experienced, keep learning, and point to qualified help when a question needs a veterinarian. Most of all, I want this to be a place where we can be honest about how much these animals matter to us.
If you were here when I first wrote about Diana, thank you for coming back. If you’re meeting Aries and me for the first time, welcome. I’m glad you’re here to get to know Diana’s son and follow where he leads us next.
With love,
Tracy
If a cat has changed your life, I’d love to hear about them in the comments.
0 Comments