Sometimes I chide myself when I sit here in tears thinking about my beloved pets that have recently passed, but when I think of all that has happened it is no wonder I am still sad. I have lost four pets and two family members in the past year and a half, overcome a serious health issue, and have taken over the care of my mother due to stroke.
First it was lovely Lilo, a truly 'trash to treasure' cat, most beautiful cat I've ever seen and had the privilege to know. She was a stunning dilute torbie with perfect gold eyes. Dumped on our property along with her momma and sister, her sweet face and soft fur won me over.She was with me for two years, then she went out extra early one morning to hunt and never returned. I didn't find her remains until a couple of days later, but I knew she was gone before that. I felt her heft jump on the bed at night and heard a meow, like from a distance, but she wasn't there. I later found where the coyotes had torn her beautiful fur away and left me just the tip of her plume tail.
After this, my dog Ginger, a rottweiler cross, developed congestive heart failure and died. A month later my full Rott, Jewel succumbed to bone cancer in her leg.
The following spring, Miss Tippi, found at the local shelter, another lovely dilute tortoiseshell, maybe not quite as beautiful-but so personable, loving and sweet, was also taken by coyotes. I often sleep outside during the spring and summer and she crawled out of my sleeping bag in the dark of the morning and that was the last I saw of her, too.
During this span of time I also lost my father and brother and took on the burden of cleaning up their hoarders' nest in the next town.
Not all is grim, though. Six months ago I found the sweetest Rott X stray at the same shelter I had found Tippi and later, Mooni, Now named Sonja, she is a regal, gentle, loving dog to accompany me on long walks. She is tolerant of my seven cats, my chickens and hates deer as much as I do.
Now I have Mooni, eleven weeks old at this point. She was just four weeks old when I got her from the shelter, the first thing she did was sneeze kitty snot all over me with a freshly developing kitty-cold! I began to think I had made a wrong choice since when she regained her health she was so very aggressive. It was like holding onto the wrong end of a chain-saw. I was covered with scratches and bites, but after reading all the articles I could about the problem, she and I have come to terms with her energy, intelligence and need for instruction and entertainment. I think she's just the kitty I need right now. She is the most entertaining kitten I've had by far!
I have six other cats, and one stray tom who comes visit on this rounds, most of them rescues and dumpees--someone else's problem set on my doorstep. Ranging from the age of four to 16, I love them all, but none have captured my heart like the three; Lilo, Tippi and now Mooni. I hope and pray that miss Mooni lives and enjoys this kitty paradise for the span of her years. Trees to climb, rodents to catch, places to run and play, barns to climb in, all she has to do is stay within the five fenced acres.
I do hope to see my departed pets, though, someday in the beyond. To see their silhouettes in a doorway waiting for me would be paradise indeed.
First it was lovely Lilo, a truly 'trash to treasure' cat, most beautiful cat I've ever seen and had the privilege to know. She was a stunning dilute torbie with perfect gold eyes. Dumped on our property along with her momma and sister, her sweet face and soft fur won me over.She was with me for two years, then she went out extra early one morning to hunt and never returned. I didn't find her remains until a couple of days later, but I knew she was gone before that. I felt her heft jump on the bed at night and heard a meow, like from a distance, but she wasn't there. I later found where the coyotes had torn her beautiful fur away and left me just the tip of her plume tail.
After this, my dog Ginger, a rottweiler cross, developed congestive heart failure and died. A month later my full Rott, Jewel succumbed to bone cancer in her leg.
The following spring, Miss Tippi, found at the local shelter, another lovely dilute tortoiseshell, maybe not quite as beautiful-but so personable, loving and sweet, was also taken by coyotes. I often sleep outside during the spring and summer and she crawled out of my sleeping bag in the dark of the morning and that was the last I saw of her, too.
During this span of time I also lost my father and brother and took on the burden of cleaning up their hoarders' nest in the next town.
Not all is grim, though. Six months ago I found the sweetest Rott X stray at the same shelter I had found Tippi and later, Mooni, Now named Sonja, she is a regal, gentle, loving dog to accompany me on long walks. She is tolerant of my seven cats, my chickens and hates deer as much as I do.
Now I have Mooni, eleven weeks old at this point. She was just four weeks old when I got her from the shelter, the first thing she did was sneeze kitty snot all over me with a freshly developing kitty-cold! I began to think I had made a wrong choice since when she regained her health she was so very aggressive. It was like holding onto the wrong end of a chain-saw. I was covered with scratches and bites, but after reading all the articles I could about the problem, she and I have come to terms with her energy, intelligence and need for instruction and entertainment. I think she's just the kitty I need right now. She is the most entertaining kitten I've had by far!
I have six other cats, and one stray tom who comes visit on this rounds, most of them rescues and dumpees--someone else's problem set on my doorstep. Ranging from the age of four to 16, I love them all, but none have captured my heart like the three; Lilo, Tippi and now Mooni. I hope and pray that miss Mooni lives and enjoys this kitty paradise for the span of her years. Trees to climb, rodents to catch, places to run and play, barns to climb in, all she has to do is stay within the five fenced acres.
I do hope to see my departed pets, though, someday in the beyond. To see their silhouettes in a doorway waiting for me would be paradise indeed.