IBD Angel Kitties Page Three

Just this side of heaven is a place called the Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to the Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; his eager body begins to quiver. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together.....

Author Unknown

Maureen's brave little lady "P.G."...Wed Sep 26, 2007

"It is with deep sorrow and pain that I tell you P.G., my beloved 18 year old
tortoiseshell kitty, crossed over the Bridge today at 1:02pm.

I was very happy that for the past 17 years P.G. was as healthy as a horse
and was an easy-keeper. Except for having a mast cell tumor removed from her
face about 11 years ago, she never had any issues. Not bad for being a kitty
coming from a dude ranch where her mother and siblings were being trampled by
the ranch's horses. Becoming 18 started her downward spiral but she was
always taken care of by great doctors, techs, and friends along the way. First,
P.G. developed either IBD or lymphoma in the summer of '05 but that was easily
managed by a few meds and a special diet. Then there was the gimpy leg from a
femur fracture in October of last year but with being a prime anesthetic
risk, neither an FHO or amputations were options for her unfortunately.
But that didn't slow her down.

And Dad even built her steps up to our mattress (which she
loved right to the end). Then there was the eye infection in March which
proliferated into Herpes. But P.G. still had one good eye, that is until that
one was affected. And in turn, her good eye became her bad one and the bad one,
well - she did get (I believe) the ability to see shadows and light after
all. So the herpes meant adding more meds to her morning and evening regimen
but we did and she took them like a trooper. Michigan State University was very
patient with her, even though the corneal ulcer never resolved. Blood test
results she had back in July were not only about the same as in January (which
were not awful), but some values were even improved! Some breathing problems
revealed decreased lung function on her right side in August but that wasn't
going to slow P.G. down again. So I'll sleep on the left side she said. She
even had a cardiac ultrasound last month and was told her little heart was
doing just great - like a kitten. Bad leg and bad vision, she followed those
sun spots around the house until the sun was down and she was baked to a
well-done setting.

But over the last few weeks, P.G. started eating less, started
sleeping even more than a cat usually does, and started seeing less. Opening
up 6-10 cans of cat food a day was now not unusual until one was found where
she would take a few nibbles and stop, even though she perked up each and
every time a can was opened. I could not let her suffer anymore and so she
passed in the company of a compassionate, knowledgeable vet and a terrific tech
at a local feline clinic.

Shortly after rescuing P.G. 18 years ago, her dad went on a 5 month business
trip. So she and I bonded really well. When he returned, she more or less
took the attitude towards him of "And who are you and why are you moving in?"
She never really took to him except in her final months because her petite 5
pound frame (her heaviest was about 13) could take a very nice warm nap on his
sizable stomach. Well, as luck would have it, her dad just left 3 weeks ago
for another 6 month business trip. So it's back to "me and Mom time." I
wonder if she and all the stars in the heavens planned it that way. The only
problem is all there is now is "Mom" time because my sweet little "me" is gone.
May P.G. be met at the Bridge by her Siamese "brother" for the first 6 years of
her life, Little Guy. Then by Rocky who we all knew for only 8 months before
succumbing to FIP. Then by Lil' Annie, the tornado kitty who didn't have a
mean bone in her body. Then by Kasha, the adopted Aby-Tabby who was only with
us for 11.5 months due to Cushings and Diabetes. Then by Teague, her white
collie who protected her from her nasty brother Buster. She will be missed by
her Mom, her Dad, her Collie sister Tawny, collie brother Clark, kitty sister
Hazel who sat near her all day yesterday watching her (thanks Hazel - I knew
you really liked her), and her nasty brother Buster who never did get to sink
his fangs into her. She has also met many wonderful people friends too not
to mention all the super vets and techs who were a part of her life at
different stages of it. Not always an obliging kitty as one aunt/friend would
affectionately call her a "piece of s*** cat" but she wouldn't have been P.G.
without some spunk and "tude" as most torties have.

Today was pretty overcast day and so this morning I played at home on the CD
player "No More Cloudy Days" by the Eagles. By the time I left the clinic, I
was greeted by big puffy white clouds breaking open to reveal baby blue sky
and the sun. I think the heavens opened up and greeted P.G. too.

Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and wishes."

Maureen

P.G. 1989-2007

In Memory of Spooky
October 1991 - June 2009

Spooky was adopted from the North Shore Animal League by me
and my ex husband in October of 1991. It was love at first sight
when I saw him being carried by a shelter volunteer from the hospital
back to the adoption center. He was born with a minor hernia that was repaired.

As soon as I saw him, I literally jumped out of the car
and ran up to the volunteer and said, "that's the cat I want."
That was the beginning of a love affair that lasted 18 years.
He was the love of my life and the child I never had and I cherished him.

He developed intestinal lymphoma in September of 2008.
We treated him for nine months with chemo that cost a king's ransom
and I would not hesitate to do it all over again.
We had nine good months until it was time to let him go.

He passed peacefully in my arms and was cremated and now shares a special place of honor
in a beautiful urn. He is missed immeasurably and I will never forget him.

Spooky, you are such a dapper little fellow
and you are no doubt a superstar over the bridge! :*)

Thanks for his wonderful story, Maureen.

This big, striped "man cat" is Lisa's handsome Duncan.

Duncan and my Stripes looked SO MUCH ALIKE! :*-)

Read Lisa's story...

"16 years ago in September I was walking from the grocery store
and decided to stop in the local pet store.
There were 2 cages with not less than 10 kittens in them,
one of the kittens reached out of the cage and grabbed my arm.
He had huge ears and a very long body,
white high top tennis on all 4 legs
and a brown spotted tummy. I looked into his little eyes and
knew destiny had brought us together.
I left the store after awhile and went home and told my partner
about this kitten, 2 days later he was in our home…This was my son Duncan.

I always knew Duncan was a special cat because
when we lost another cat 6 years later we went to the humane society,
where Sagan found us.
We had been telling Duncan that we would get him a baby
and that he had to care for the baby and give him or her lots of love.
When we brought Sagan home the first thing she did was to
crawl up on Duncan's back and go to sleep.
This gentle giant simply looked up, saw this new kitten and went back to sleep.
He bathed her and loved her and at the time she was sick
but we did not know it. He cared for her and became very ill himself
and almost died but both Duncan, Sagan, and our other cat Bele pulled through.

Duncan and I had a special connection
that I have never had with another companion, we somehow had 2 hearts that beat as one.
I watched him grow to 3 ½ feet long from the tip of his tail
to the tip of his nose, I watched him catch a Dragon Fly
in his big paw and eat it down like it was a treat, I watched him chase snakes,
and oh how he was scared of fish and turtles.
We joked with Duncan about his big ole ears and how
when we took him up north to the woods
all the bugs seemed to use his ears for what we called "bug landing strips".

I saw how he nurtured Sagan as if she was his baby and
I relished in his big love for her and the way he cleaned her face every day.
This truly was a gentle giant!

I will miss him always."

"Memory" From "Cats"

Daylight
See the dew on the sunflower
And a rose that is fading
Roses whither away
Like the sunflower
I yearn to turn my face to the dawn
I am waiting for the day . . .

Midnight
Not a sound from the pavement
Has the moon lost her memory?
She is smiling alone
In the lamplight
The withered leaves collect at my feet
And the wind begins to moan

Memory
All alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
I was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again

Every streetlamp
Seems to beat a fatalistic warning
Someone mutters
And the streetlamp gutters
And soon it will be morning

Daylight
I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I musn't give in
When the dawn comes
Tonight will be a memory too
And a new day will begin

Burnt out ends of smoky days
The stale cold smell of morning
The streetlamp dies, another night is over
Another day is dawning

Touch me
It's so easy to leave me
All alone with the memory
Of my days in the sun
If you touch me
You'll understand what happiness is

Look
A new day has begun

by: Words & Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber

For the benefit of our troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan,
PIANISSIMO, a CD selection of classical and modern piano pieces
performed by Arlington artist Sheila Grimes, is now available for purchase.
The contribution for this worthy cause is $20.

Please email: grimes747@gmail.com

Folks, I can't describe how beautiful this CD is! :*-)
Sheila is a neighbor of mine and extremely talented

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