Osborne the Husker Cat
August 28, 2005 – October 16, 2019
On October 16, 2019, Osborne the Husker Cat passed away in Lincoln, Nebraska after a short and unexpected illness. He was 14 years old.
Osborne was born in Lincoln on (approximately) August 28, 2005. He was cared for at Capital Humane Society before being adopted on October 31 of that year. Osborne lived most of his life in Lincoln, with the exception of two years in Kearney, Nebraska.
Osborne was best known as a theatrical and comedy performer, starring in roles such as Little Beggar, Speed Bump, and his favorite, Sleep Study Patient. Osborne was also active in dumping over trashcans, tricking the Human into giving him more treats, and chewing on straws.
In his free time, Osborne enjoyed sleeping, eating, sitting on the deck watching birds, sleeping, climbing on everything, sleeping, and cuddling with his Human while watching sporting events.
Osborne is survived by his Human and several human friends. He was preceded in death by two step-brothers, Trust and Cougar. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements by Capitol Animal Clinic of Lincoln.
In lieu of flowers, the Human requests donations be made in Osborne’s honor to your local animal shelter or pet rescue. Or, better yet, go adopt a furry friend of your own.
My Orange Floof
I adopted Osborne when he was eight weeks old. The first time I met him at the Humane Society, he crawled up on my shoulder and started licking my neck. It was a done deal at that point. I had no doubt I was meant to be his human .
I brought him home on Halloween. Because of the date, and his bright orange fur, I thought about naming him Jack, as in Jack O’Lantern. But ultimately, I decided on Osborne, named after long-time Nebraska football coach, Tom Osborne. Although, I rarely actually called him Osborne; it was usually Oz or Ozzie, or one of a hundred silly nicknames I made up over the years (Peanut and Fur Face among them).
When I first brought him home, I sat in the bathroom with him so he could start exploring his new home. He crawled all over me, licking my neck and climbing on my shoulder. I promised him that I would do everything I could to make him feel safe and loved.
Over our nearly 14 years together, we went through a lot. Several moves, several jobs, graduate school, four hospitalizations (three for me, one for him), and many late night conversations. He had the perfect personality – 85% sweet cuddle bug, 10% cat weirdness, and 5% stubbornness.
Denver Museum of Nature and Science
He didn’t play with regular cat toys that much. He had one crinkle ladybug thing he liked. But his favorite game involved playing fetch with straws. Every time I was at a fast food place, I grabbed a handful to bring home for him. He’d chase them around for a while, then chew on them like a dog with a bone.
Like all cats, Osborne loved to sleep. But he was particular about where he slept. He required that I ensure he had plenty of blankets and pillows in different locations for his use. And of course, he preferred sleeping in the middle of my bed instead of in the expensive Nebraska football stadium bed I bought for him.
He learned if he raised his paw as if to say “please,” he’d get another treat even if he just had one. He explored the grocery bags every time I came home from the store, checking to see if there was anything he wanted. He woke me up in the middle of the night just because he wanted to cuddle.
Although he was an indoor-only cat, Osborne loved sitting on the deck at my apartment. He joined me outside when I’d sit at the table to write. The afternoon sun meant a great time to sleep outside. And he enjoyed conversations with the local birds and squirrels. But mostly, he enjoyed looking down on humans as they walked by on the sidewalk below.
Saying Goodbye
Anyone who has had a pet knows the sting of having to say goodbye, When a pet passes away, letting go of a beloved furry friend involves the same grieving process as losing a human relative. Pets become family And when you lose a family member, you don’t just get over it.
The night before I had to let him go, I already knew it would be his last night at home. Even though there wasn’t a diagnosis yet, he had gone from a relatively healthy cat to not being able to walk or eat in a matter of two weeks. I stayed up with him all night trying to make him as comfortable as I could. I promised him I’d be there at the end, holding his paw.
Suffice it say, there have been a lot of tears. I know I gave him a good life. I know there wasn’t a choice to be made. I couldn’t let him suffer any longer. But actually telling him goodbye was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. When you live alone, a pet becomes your world.
I finally got to the point where I could clean up his stuff. But I still see him everywhere. There are a hundred little things I miss. The little noises, the quirks, the routines are all gone. It’s going to take a long time to get used to the quiet.
Moving Forward
I’ve had two previous cats that I had to let go, but the circumstances were different. The first one wasn’t with us very long before he was injured and had to be put to sleep. The second, although technically my cat, was really more of a family pet. And when I left for college, he ended up being with my parents longer than I was with him growing up.
But with Osborne, it’s been him and me for nearly 14 years. Just the two of us. When I got home from work, he’d come to the front door wanting a tummy rub. He’d sleep on my lap while I watched television or read. When I was sick, he’d curl up next to me on the couch. He was my family. I’m sure at some point in the future, I’ll get the urge for another cat. But for now, I need time to miss my boy.
Osborne, my sweet orange boy – I hope I lived up to my promise. I hope you always felt safe and loved. I hope you know that you gave me 14 years of laughs, comfort, and happiness. You’ll always be my fur face.
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Beautiful, Melanie! I’m so sorry for your loss!
Thank you, Corrie. It’s definitely been a tough few weeks. But I’m thankful for all the great memories.
A beautiful and moving tribute to your fur baby. God bless you!
Thank you, Joan. It took a while to get this written, but it has been therapeutic to share.