Good reasons to resign in a winning position: in memory of my cat Tiffy

Not that I get many winning positions in blitz games, but there were some times where I should resign instead on going on winning the game.

First I have to explain something. Yesterday my cat Tiffy died. She was suddenly ill, and we had to let her die.

I am very sad, as this cat had an unique combination of beauty and personality. She was a Somali, came to us because in the house she was before she had problems with a dominant cat.

She was very attached to us, very often close to us, following us in the house, sitting in the near when we were watching tv or when I was playing chess online. She had the funny habit of hugging my wife's neck, putting her head under my wife's chin. I don't know what you think about this, but yes, we allowed her to sleep in our bed, as she simply had the need to stay close to us (and we to stay close to her).

Sometimes she came to me, wanted my attention, but you know this - in the middle of a blitz game you cannot stop playing.

This is what I thought before.

Now I would give all my ridiculous rating points in chess.com to have the chance to enjoy her company for a couple of days.

I know that there are much more tragic things that can happen, but if you have a pet that you really love then you know that the lost of this friend can leave a huge black hole in your life.

What I want to tell you is this: don't do the same mistake as I did.

If you have a cat, a dog, a wife, a child, a turtle, or a snake - whatever -, and you are playing a blitz and one of them need your attention, resign the game, and take your time for the really important things in your life.

RIP tiffy

Thanks guys.

I had a cat that lived to be a few months short of 20....I could tell it was his time, had trouble standing so I took him to bed that night....sometime when we were sleeping he went down and outside his cat door and died on the back lawn. We actually had a family funeral for him and put a marker which was concrete lawn art of cat over him...the funeral helped us with finality of it. He was 18 lbs. with long black hair and found in a barn as a kitten. For a cat, he was very gentle and my son grew up with him....was about 15 years ago and still miss him....

Universityofpawns, thanks for sharing with us your story.

We had until last year two other cats who lived rather long with us, and we just loved both very much. This has also something to do with these breeds, Somali and Abessinier, they are often very attached to humans.

It is a pity that our cats don't get so old like we humans, so we have to get used to the idea that they will once die before us.

I'm sorry for your loss. Non-cat people don't understand the grief of losing a beloved feline.

I lost a 17-year-old cat last year and a new one, from my local city shelter, adopted me the next day. It helped with the grief. I told myself I was going to be in no hurry to adopt, but Socks adopted me.

Nice picture! I cannot leave my collectable pieces on a board,  my cat Jeffrey will play with them,  usually some crazy gambits 😀

Thanks. The previous owner was completely desperate after she heard that Tiffy died.  She sold her to us because the was not feeling well with some of the cats,  but the owner loved the cat - in fact it was absolutely impossible not to fall in love with her. 

It is difficult to come home and not see her around. You know what I mean. 

We have two dogs and it is much the same thing. They sleep with us. [actually they sleep mostly with my wife as i am up all night]

My wife is a nurse who often works long hours. When her car comes into our garage [which is attached to our house] both dogs hear this and respond immediately. Niko is right next to the door leading to the garage with his tail wagging furiously. Miko [the smaller dog] is running around barking his head off until my wife comes in the door.

 And she gives them much love and attention.

They are part of our family and we would cry much if one of them died.

I just returned from the vet for the 10th time in a month. Here's the dear just a month ago. I'm not a cat person, except for this one. 

We had once a car that loved to eat.  We bought a device with a timer so she could have three times per day cookies.  

Forget it!  In the night she removed the protection of the timer and turned the timer to get all cookies. 

Next day I constructed a Rather solid  box to protect the timer,  but no chance,  she was able to open it and turn the timer.

We gave up. 

Nice cat.  Is this a chess piece? Never saw something like this before.

RIP Tiffy, this story is truly tragic. I hope you recover from this. I send my best wishes

I had a cat before, she was beautiful and extremely friendly, and always loved to cuddle. She was always by my side and even when she meowed at the top of her lungs, I loved her. She lived until 19, and then one day she ran as fast as her sick legs could run, into a closet. She died soon after. Also, we had an adorable chocolate lab whose nose was like Pinocchio, and who loved to lick with his humongous tongue. Sometimes I was playing on chess.com, then he pushed his face into mine. I was frustrated and pushed him off me, just to play a game of chess. He recently died of cancer, and now I think that I should have just snuggled him, not push him. I know how you must feel because of this, and I hope you recover,

My cats come first. My boy thinks it is fun to bat the chess pieces off the board and chase them as they roll on the floor.

you had a car that loved to eat cookies? LOL

The dam autocorrection: we had of course a cat who loved to eat. My car loves to drink.