And Then There Were None

It is with the heaviest heart I inform you that Toby, my orange boy and the cat of my heart, also passed over the Bridge on Jan. 22. In his case it was obstruction, likely brought on by crystals. He showed distress so I took him to the ER vet about 8 pm. We made the decision together that a gentle release was the kindest option. Unlike Leia, he was plagued for years with multiple health issues. He was tired of hurting, of multiple vet visits, and treatments.

This has been a truly awful month for new angels. Both of mine, plus Ellen's Tallulah, and I just read about Nerissa's Life losing their Andy suddenly. I think in Toby's case, he just couldn't cope with the loss of his house mate. Like her, he was 15.

I don't know what will happen with this blog. I'll visit sometimes, it's hard to lose all my blogosphere friends; I think we started this blog in 2007.

Condolences are not required, we've all had to offer so many lately. I still haven't had the heart to thank everyone who left them for Leia. To go through this again three weeks later just seems too much to bear.

Mancat Monday

Happy Monday!

So, it's chilly here in Florida right now. 

Mom says it's much worse up north.

She asked me this morning why I wasn't laying in the sun. Pbbbttt.... My BUTT is laying in the sun, isn't that good enough? 

Dear Vet's Office

This came, unexpectedly, in today's mail.

I have no doubt you intended to be compassionate;

I did not find it comforting.

You took her tiny, delicate, lifeless paws and impressed them into the plaster.

It could not have been done before she passed on; I understand that, but why would you think 

I would want it at all? I found it unsettling and sad.

She was my friend, and my family, and to some degree I thought of her as my child.

I almost feel like you violated her by doing this. I did not choose to have her ashes;
perhaps that should been have been a clue as to the appropriateness of this.

I know your intentions were good, and I forgive you. But I am the one who has to live with this now. Grief is such a personal, subjective thing. This... token... has ripped open the pain again.

It will stay buried in my other closet until I can decide what to do with it.
Perhaps in a year I will be glad to have it. 

This was not a good thing you did to me.

In contrast, this very beautiful and sweet graphic was made by a lady named
Ingrid, petcretary to Pipo, Dalton & Benji.

This was deeply, deeply appreciated. This brings me comfort, to see her lovely little face.

This was a celebration of Leia. 

Wordless Wednesday

A New Caturday Dawns

Good morning, dear furriends. We hope everyone has a great weekend.

Here, we are just relaxing and taking it easy. But last night... ohhh last night!!

Mom and I were snuggling in bed, nothing major.

And then, then she looks at me and says, "You know, I could have named you Fluffy."

WHAT???!!! Fluffy!!!!!

Does this fierce mancat LOOK like a Fluffy to you??

Wednesday

Toby and I want to thank all of our furriends and visitors who left condolences. 

It really does help.

Unfortunately, the price of love is ultimately loss, and most of us have been here before.

I'm not sure how he is doing. He was very wide eyed and freaked out when I came home last Saturday. He's not showing obvious signs of looking for her, but I do think he feels her absence. Although he was often a huge brat to her, there was never true animosity, 

and after sharing a home for a decade and a half, he's bound to wonder what happened to his fursib.

As for me, it's not the pain - that will fade - it's the emptiness that comes with Leia's absence. 

I know this is a cliche, but please, go hug your loved ones. Furry or not furry. 

You just don't know how long you will have to do that.

And now, something to make you smile.

The Bridge Welcomes Princess Leia

2004 - 2019

Leia was helped over the Bridge this morning at the vet.

I took her in for what I thought was a UTI and discovered that there was a mass on her liver.

Since her last visit, she'd lost a pound from vomiting, and was down to 5.1 pounds.

The vet gave me a huge blessing: there was absolutely nothing that could be done,
regardless of finances. It was, simply, her time. 

I just can't quite get my head around the fact that she is gone. I wasn't expecting her to not come home with me this morning. No more headbonks or nose rubs or quivering tails. No more rushing out to greet me when I come home. No more spontaneous outbreaks of toy time. No more chirps and trills.

For close to 15 years our life has been about three. How do I make it be about two now?