Farewell, Baby Cakes

Welcome to my 500th post.
Yes, Baby Cakes is the full name of this most mancatly of cats. He had such gravitas and dignity that he was usually called Baby or Babe, though. Looking at all that floof, his size and those snowshoe feet, I think that he must have been a Maine Coon.
I really like this picture of Tuck holding Baby. Baby had gotten out in the snow on the porch without his harness or leash and Tuck went out to retrieve him. He still looks quite dignified, even being held like that. Baby wasn't much for playing. He didn't have any toys and he didn't whap stuff off tables or anything like that. He loved to sit on a windowsill and watch the birds. He also liked to find high perches and watch the people, too. He really loved to sit on a lap and get scritches. He was very fond of people food, but he would never do anything so undignified as beg. He would merely sit and stare until he got what he thought was his due share. Baby got a fast-growing tumor on his palate, which quickly made breathing and eating difficult. Nothing could be done to help him, so he was helped to the Bridge by his loving family. He was with them for twelve years and they really miss him.

                                        Babe was a cat with gravitas.
                                        He kept it through the very last.
                                              He climbed the ridge
                                              Which leads to the Bridge
                                        Walking with great gravitas.