Our sweet calico crossed Rainbow Bridge yesterday

[mom2rtk]

I've shared stories of our calico here from time to time. She was about a week shy of turning 20. She's been part of our family longer than all 3 of our adult kids can remember. We got her as a kitten in 2001. She beat the odds so many times. Twice surviving dental surgery as a geriatric cat. She lived with kidney disease for more than 2 years. She seemed invincible. She was just always there.

In the end it was just age finally catching up with her. Over the weekend she started struggling with walking and seemed really confused. We helped her cross on Monday morning. We were fortunate to be able to help her when she needed it most. But dang, this has been hard.

Many thanks to those who answered my questions through the years as we helped her through the aging process. In the end it wasn't hard to know when it was finally time to let her go.

Here she is with our now college age daughter in 2001.

img20180213_13134452 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

And this past fall.

Enjoying the Great Outdoors by mom2rtk, on Flickr

 

[Pooh2]

Awww, so sorry for your loss.
My son's dog died very suddenly yesterday.
So heartbreaking to lose our furry family members.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

I am so, so sorry. Our fur babies become a part of us and give us unconditional love and devotion. And they deserve it back.

 

[Minniedoc]

What a beautiful girl she was! Treasure those memories - so sorry for your loss.

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

I'm truly sorry for your loss. We had to put our sweet, sweet 15 year old shih tzu to sleep a week ago. It's so hard. No matter how much you know it's the right time.

 

[Jennasis]

So sorry for the loss of your beautiful kitty.

 

[Dan Murphy]

She's beautiful, mom. So sorry to hear she has passed over. But she'll be there, we know that.

And very sorry to hear about your son's dog, Pooh, and your dog also, donaldbuzz. They all will be there.

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can fly, 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 fly, 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 quivers.

Suddenly he begins to run from the group, running over the green grass, his legs carrying 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 Rainbow Bridge, together....
Author unknown...​

www.petloss.com


www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html

 

[Tattylou]

What a beautiful cat. My heart breaks for you and your family. I have loved and lost many cats. They really become family. Twenty years is a gift to have had with her. I’m sure she was grateful for the love and home you gave her. Thinking of you

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Aww, I’m so sorry to hear that! I remember the dental issues. She hung in there for quite a while, no doubt thanks to you!
She was certainly a very beautiful - and lucky - girl.

 

[low-key]

awwwww, no doubt she was part of the family, Im sorry

 

[slo]

My condolences
Losing a pet is so hard.
She truly was a beautiful cat

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Sorry for your loss.

 

[mom2rtk]

Awww, so sorry for your loss.
My son's dog died very suddenly yesterday.
So heartbreaking to lose our furry family members.

I'm so sorry for your loss as well. What a shock that must have been.

They bring so much joy, and their time is always much too short.

I am so, so sorry. Our fur babies become a part of us and give us unconditional love and devotion. And they deserve it back.

Thank you. They sure do. She definitely gave us all lots of love and got much in return.

What a beautiful girl she was! Treasure those memories - so sorry for your loss.

Thank you. So many memories. She's in so many photos I have taken through the years. Not just as the subject of the photo, but always there in the background. Even back to my pre-digital days. Just always there. I still can't wrap my head around her being gone.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm truly sorry for your loss. We had to put our sweet, sweet 15 year old shih tzu to sleep a week ago. It's so hard. No matter how much you know it's the right time.

Thank you. I'm so sorry for your loss as well. 15 years is a long time, but not long enough.

So sorry for the loss of your beautiful kitty.

Thank you.

She's beautiful, mom. So sorry to hear she has passed over. But she'll be there, we know that.

And very sorry to hear about your son's dog, Pooh, and your dog also, donaldbuzz. They all will be there.

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can fly, 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 fly, 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 quivers.

Suddenly he begins to run from the group, running over the green grass, his legs carrying 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 Rainbow Bridge, together....
Author unknown...​

www.petloss.com


www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html

Thanks Dan. She spent a lot of time outdoors when she was younger. It helps thinking of her on Rainbow Bridge.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Aww, I’m sorry. Twenty years is about the best we can hope for, but I know it doesn’t make it any easier. We lost our last geriatric cat this past fall and now have a new batch of kittens (and a baby!) so your 2001 picture is my current reality and it hit close to home. I hope my new girls get to enjoy the same kind of long lives as your pretty lady did. (Three of them are calicos, too!)

 

[mom2rtk]

What a beautiful cat. My heart breaks for you and your family. I have loved and lost many cats. They really become family. Twenty years is a gift to have had with her. I’m sure she was grateful for the love and home you gave her. Thinking of you ♥

Thank you. For a long time she slept on my chest every night. She wasn't a small cat so it was almost comical. I'd wake up with whiskers tickling my nose because her face was so close, and I loved it.

Aww, I’m so sorry to hear that! I remember the dental issues. She hung in there for quite a while, no doubt thanks to you!
She was certainly a very beautiful - and lucky - girl. ❤

Thanks Pea. She hung in there so long I recently nicknamed her "The Iron Lady". (I've been watching too much of The Crown I think. ) We've just found ways to work through each issue. It started when she was a kitten and refused to use a litter box. She became an indoor/outdoor cat and loved her time hunting moles and snakes in our yard. Then with her first bout of dental disease at age 15 we had to find a way to get her using a box. We got creative and ended up with a rug lined box. It worked! And she could safely be 100% indoors. I never would have believed at age 15 that we would still have her with us another 5 years. It was a well earned retirement. Another bout of dental surgery, issues with arthritis, Kidney disease, 2 years of prescription diet carefully mixed with just enough Fancy Feast to get her to eat it, the excessive vocalization, accessing veterinary care in a pandemic. We got through all of it but still knew when it was time. She passed in my arms.

awwwww, no doubt she was part of the family, Im sorry

Thanks. Definitely a valued family member.

My condolences
Losing a pet is so hard.
She truly was a beautiful cat

Thank you. I think she was beautiful, but I'm pretty biased.

Sorry for your loss.

Thank you.

 

[mom2rtk]

Aww, I’m sorry. Twenty years is about the best we can hope for, but I know it doesn’t make it any easier. We lost our last geriatric cat this past fall and now have a new batch of kittens (and a baby!) so your 2001 picture is my current reality and it hit close to home. I hope my new girls get to enjoy the same kind of long lives as your pretty lady did. (Three of them are calicos, too!)

Thanks Tipsy. I really appreciate all of your advice over time. I'm so sorry for your loss, but am encouraged that you are finding happiness with some new kittens! And congratulations on the new baby! I don't know at what point we'll feel ready to add a kitten (or two), but I'm sure it will happen. We still have 2 other cats (6 and 12 years) but this cat momma needs a little break. I don't begrudge the efforts, and wish she was still here to care for, but now that she's gone, I need a little break.

Make sure you take some photos of the new baby with the kittens. You might look back one day when the baby is in college and marvel at it like I am.

When my own daughter (the baby) left for school in 2019, I flat out told the cat I needed at least another year out of her. She came through for me.

 

[Cruisin]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

We had a beautiful long haired tortoise shell who left us right before Christmas at the age of 18 years and exactly 1 month.

Our 13 year old cat was just diagnosed with kidney disease.

I feel your pain

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Thanks Pea. She hung in there so long I recently nicknamed her "The Iron Lady". (I've been watching too much of The Crown I think. ) We've just found ways to work through each issue. It started when she was a kitten and refused to use a litter box. She became an indoor/outdoor cat and loved her time hunting moles and snakes in our yard. Then with her first bout of dental disease at age 15 we had to find a way to get her using a box. We got creative and ended up with a rug lined box. It worked! And she could safely be 100% indoors. I never would have believed at age 15 that we would still have her with us another 5 years. It was a well earned retirement. Another bout of dental surgery, issues with arthritis, Kidney disease, 2 years of prescription diet carefully mixed with just enough Fancy Feast to get her to eat it, the excessive vocalization, accessing veterinary care in a pandemic. We got through all of it but still knew when it was time. She passed in my arms.

I often think of a patient I took care of one time. A total regular Joe. And I only took care of him that once. But he told me a great story I’ve never forgotten. He had died at one point - full cardiopulmonary arrest. Fortunately, he was revived. But he said that when he was gone, he‘d seen his mother and his sister, both of whom had passed. And one of them was holding his cat. Also passed. I’ve heard other stories like that from patients, but I particularly liked that one because of the cat. And I’ve had my own experiences that make me believe we will see them again some day. So I like to remember that after a painful loss. It sounds like you have a very strong bond with her and that will stay with both of you forever.

From petloss.com

Your Pets In Heaven
by Ken D. Conover

To have loved and then said farewell, is better than to have never loved at all.
For all of the times that you have stooped and touched my head, fed me my favorite treat and returned the love that I so unconditionally gave to you.
For the care that you gave to me so unselfishly.
For all of these things I am grateful and thankful.

I ask that you not grieve for the loss, but rejoice in the fact that we lived, loved and touched each others lives. My life was fuller because you were there, not as a master/owner, but as my FRIEND.

Today I am as I was in my youth. The grass is always green, butterflies flit among the flowers and the Sun shines gently down upon all of God's creatures.
I can run, jump, play and do all of the things that I did in my youth. There is no sickness, no aching joints and no regrets and no aging.

We await the arrival of our lifelong companions and know that togetherness is forever.
You live in our hearts as we do in yours. Companions such as you are so rare and unique.
Don't hold the love that you have within yourself. Give it to another like me and then I will live forever. For love never really dies, and you are loved and missed as surely as we are.

Your Pets In Heaven

 

[22Tink]

I'm so sorry for your loss