Dakota Seth

Dakota Seth crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on July 2, 2020, at age 17. Dakota joined our little family in April of 2003, right after my ex husband left me and our two children and took one of our two cats with him. While the kids and I were at work and daycare all day, I had one cat home alone and she quickly got bored being all by herself. I was determined to get her a little brother. When I got to the rescue center, Dakota, the runt of the litter, was curled up in a tiny little orange ball, sleeping soundly. I held him and he snuggled right into my arms and I fell in love immediately. One of his sisters, Aspen, catterwauled and begged me to bring her home, as well, so Dakota was adopted into the family with his littermate! Over the years, Dakota played with my children and his cat friends. He was very playful but not a fighter, and if he annoyed another cat they usually let him have it and he never defended himself. Dakota couldn’t hold still to save his life. He loved to be petted but when you’d pet him he would rub up against you and turn around and walk away. When he was just out of reach, he would flop on his back and show you his belly in hopes that you would come after him to pet him. If he got his belly petted for a minute he would stand up and start all over again, moving away so you’d have to play his game. We eventually fostered kittens and Dakota was always ready to pounce and play with them as if he was a kitten, as well. We fostered 7 kittens, and we adpoted the 8th foster cat, who was another playmate for Dakota. When I got remarried, Dakota gained two more cat sisters and a dog sister. When the dog sister passed, he got another puppy sister. And two more human sisters joined the mix. Dakota was patient with the kids, although he knew when it was a good time to get away. Even at the end, Dakota was a fighter. He didn’t eat for the last two days of his life but he let me give him water in a syringe, and his back legs didn’t work so he army crawled to the best of his ability so he could remain independent. He still had places to be, apparently. Dakota was an indoor cat and was never allowed outside, but that is where he spent the last hour of his life. It was a beautiful early evening and I took him on our deck to watch his human sisters and the dog play. He was in my arms, looking all around and turning his ears to hear the new sounds. His breath increased, and then slowed, and he passed peacefully in my arms, surrounded by happy sounds of nature and those he loved. Someone once told me “No matter how old Dakota gets, he will always be a kitten” and that was true up until the end. He was a curious little guy and so lovable and fun. We know that Dakota is over the Rainbow Bridge with his littermate sister Aspen, his other cat sisters Savannah, Lightning, and Zoey, his dog sister Sparky, and his human brother, Noah, who I am sure is happy to be a 10 year old boy taking care of his dog and now 5 cats. Dakota is survived by his mom and dad, Keith and Angela, his human siblings Justin, Sierra, Jessica, and Audra, his dog sister Mandy, and his cat brother Toby. As Audra (age 6) told him in his last few days over and over again, “Dakota, you will always be in our hearts.” Until we meet again, my sweet boy.