Max Payne

Max Payne

April 1, 2004 — November 1, 2025

On the evening of Saturday, November 1, 2025, our brave little buddy, Max, passed away, comforted by his parents at Carolina Animal Specialty & Emergency following a stroke after a lengthy illness. He was 21-years and 7-months old.

As a tiny kitten, Max was rescued and truly hit the jackpot of love when he was re-homed to his daddy. Shortly after, Max met his mommy and he went through the seasons of his life with his loving and protective parents and his littermate sister. In his earlier years, Max was full of energy, clever, and kept his parents on their toes. When he took a break from chasing his sister around the house, he was like a feline Superman. From climbing kitchen cabinets and jumping into a freshly made casserole to knocking his ceramic treats jar from the counter to the floor so he could eat all the treats before his parents returned home, Max was eager to show his parents how he could outsmart them at every turn.

In his later years, Max found new outdoor adventures after his daddy fenced in the backyard. He loved patrolling “his” yard, chattering at squirrels and birds, snoozing under bushes, rolling around in the mulch beds and “supervising” his daddy doing many yard projects. Although Max tried his best to learn to hunt, he only managed to bring his parents an injured butterfly and a mole, but he was so very proud of those conquests. As Max got up in years, he lost his hearing and no longer had the ability to chase things but he still loved a slow stroll around the yard to check things out. Max took his final walk around his yard with his daddy the morning he passed away.

When he took a break from his adventures, throughout all seasons of his life, Max was just a truly affectionate and loving cat. He loved head kisses, ear scratches, laying on his daddy’s chest and in his mommy’s lap, and sleeping between his parents each night. After his sister passed away, Max transitioned from an energetic daddy’s boy to a mellow and loving companion to both of his parents. Though Max hit the jackpot of love with his family, it was truly his parents who hit the jackpot by having the privilege to care for and love sweet Max from the time he was a tiny kitten through his final breath. Max’s remains are with his family and his spirit will always be ever-present in his family home.

Max leaves behind his daddy and mommy, Kerry and Kelly. He was predeceased by his best furry friend and littermate sister, Mitzie who passed away in 2023. 

Max's family is forever grateful to: the many pet sitters Max had during his life and to his Grandma Pat who was Max’s favorite companion while his parents were away, Dr. Bill (and staff) at Catawba Valley Animal Hospital and in-home vet Dr. Laura at Caring Concepts for managing Max’s declining health during the final year of his life, the staff at Carolina Animal Specialty & Emergency (CASE) who managed Max’s critical state to his death, and to Caring Cremations for services provided after Max’s death. Max’s heartbroken parents will always remember the immense kindness and compassion shown to them during Max’s end-of-life care by CASE staff (Dr. Gregory, nurse Kyndra and the receptionist). Max will be forever missed and we will always remember our sweet, precious baby boy. Fingers to paws little buddy... until we meet again. Psalms 34:18