Tuffy

WHat a lovely picture, it is good when we have lots of pics of them, and he will forever be in your heart.

For some reason almost all the pictures of Tuffy turned out real nice. His specialness if that is even a word always came through even in pictures.

Now for some reason our oldest cat Missy is always sleeping in Tuffy's favorite spots now. It makes me cry when she is sleeping in his chair next to my side of the bed. I roll over in the night and still think it is Tuffy sleeping there. Since Tuffy has gone Missy has attatched herself to me much more than ever before. She is not Tuffy but she has her own special ways about her also. Its hard to believe that she is going on 19 years old and still tears around like she is 2 years old.

Maybe instead of getting another cat right away I should just be Missy's friend, at her age who knows how much longer she will be with us. Below is a new picture of Missy in Tuffy's favorite chair.

Maybe she is trying to comfort you by trying to fill that space. She may be trying to help through these rough times. Either way, giving her some special attention and love will enhance both your lives.

Tom, I can make the artwork any size you need it to be. I can't seem to post it here for some reason--even though it's relatively small in pixel size, the file is enormous. I sent it off to you today as an email attachment.

The decal can be any size you want it, but it is square right now. You can cut it up to remove the background if you wish. I designed it at 12 inches by 12 but can reduce it to any size you need.

It turned out pretty well even though Gizmo insisted on 'helping'.

I priced the decals and it's actually cheaper to get three than one! They're affordable, and waterproof.
I planed to make it 8" x 8" for the final so that it would fit on the engine compartment of the mower. Is that okay?

Here is a new picture of Timmy that his owner emailed to me. I think he is cute and has that bright eyed look like Tuffy did. I keep putting off going to see him because I am not sure if I want a new kitty so soon. But his picture is growing on me already so I will have to go see him and just see if it feels right.

Hi gizmocat, I just sent a PM about the decals.

Originally Posted by Tom W

Here is a new picture of Timmy that his owner emailed to me. I think he is cute and has that bright eyed look like Tuffy did. I keep putting off going to see him because I am not sure if I want a new kitty so soon. But his picture is growing on me already so I will have to go see him and just see if it feels right.

Hi gizmocat, I just sent a PM about the decals.

Click to expand...

Tom, after Sasha died last May, I was devastated. Really devastated. He was my rock, my solider, my shepherd when times were bad and I needed him to cuddle me. He always did. I was in Petco 5 days later getting cookies for Sandy puppy and I went over to the adoption cages. I couldn't help myself, I just did. There was this beautiful brown tabby with four white paws - just like Sasha's paws - and I lost it. Eric had to take me from the store. But every week when I went to Petco, he was there. He was 8 and nobody wanted him because he was "too old." Well, that "too old" guy is the photo below, Sammy. He's cuddly and sleeps with me every single night. He fills a huge emptiness. I adopted him 11 days after Sasha passed .....and I can't help but feel Sasha had something to do with it. You see, Sasha had hung on just for me. I knew it and I felt it. Maybe Tuffy did for you, too. Maybe he's bringing this little one to you. When one door closes...another opens...but who's to say who's pulling the strings.....??

Aww, he is lovely - but only you know if the time is right Tom, or if you are best off spending more time with the cats you have now.

I try to read other stories of those who lost there kitty cats also. I read where some hold there cat when they are "put to sleep". I was asked if I wanted to be with Tuffy when his time was ended, I just cried and said I couldn't handle that. I probably would have sat there for hours with him suffering before I could have let them take him from me. Does that make me bad for not being with him at the end? Its been 3 1/2 weeks and I still cry when I think or talk about loosing Tuffy.

I feel so bad for others who had to go through what I did with Tuffy, but I just can't read the other stories and say I am sorry like everyone has done for me. Its just way to hard right now.

Tom, I wasn't able to go in the room, when it was my Molly's time. My husband was there with her.

Don't beat yourself up about not reading the other threads. My Molly has been gone almost 2 years, and I have a hard time some days going into the threads. I cry at every one of them. Eventually you will feel strong enough to be able to offer comfort to others

Tuffy knows that you cared Tom.
He is playing at the Bridge until you are together again.
RIP precious Tuffy.

Tom when I had to let my 20 year Snoopy go, I couldn't be in the room either. I knew that I would have been able to allow them to put the needle in him and end his life. I also couldn't handle seeing him pass. He was my world, my best friend, my everything, and there was not a human being on this earth that I loved as much as I loved my Snoopy.

I felt a lot of guilt for not being there for Snoopy in his last minutes. However, I do feel that my presence in the room would have made his passing hard and painful for him. It would have been too hard for him to let go, knowing how much pain it was causing me. It didn't help me with my guilt later, when my sister told me I was a lousy cat mother for not being there. However, in my rational mind, I know it was the best thing I could have done for both Snoopy and myself.

Our entire family left our old dog Peaches with the vet when it came time to put her down. I regret this to this day and that was 24 years ago, but I am at least aware that she did not suffer and that it was over quickly. You can't go back and change things.

I think that Timmy cannot be a replacement for Tuffy, but you can make a difference in the little cat's life by giving him a loving home, if you can.

The stickers have been ordered! so do let me know what you think when you get them.

Thanks so much gizmocat for all you have done to get the decals made. I am so glad I have all the pictures of Tuffy. I thought he would have been with me allot longer than just over a year. I did my best Tuffy.

Rest in peace Tuffy. You were a much loved cat. Hugs and peace to your family.

I am so sorry to hear that things are still heard Tom. I dont think anyone should feel guilty for not being able to be there at the end - personally, I am with mine till the end, and I feel guilty at the two that were unexpected so went alone at the vets, but we all have our own ways of dealing with things, and there isn't a right or wrong way of doing things.

i dont come to the Rainbow Bridge forum as much as I should, time is a bit scarce at the moment. I do try, as I have lost a few cats, and know that just a few words can make all the difference, but sometimes after a hard day, it is just too hard to come in here and end up crying at all the sad posts. I do if it is a situation like this where I feel I know the cat well, or the person, but I dont think any of us are bad people for not doing, there are so many people who can't do it.

I really wanted to be with him at the end but I just couldn't do it. I was crying like a little baby as it was when the vet took him from me to take him in the back. After it was all over the vet helped carry everything to the van so I didn't have to come back in front of all the other people that were there, she also said don't worry about his last bill till I am good and ready to take care of it.

His vet was just great through the whole thing, she hugged me and said I did everything I could have for him and way more than most would have for such a sick stray when I got him.

They put him in a old towel in a box and right before I put him in the ground I opened the box and he looked so piecefull [sp?] laying there, it looked like he was in a nice quiet sleep.

I cried and petted him about 10 minutes saying my goodbys and I was sorry and that I did all I could for him, and asked why he had to leave me so soon before I put him in the hole I had dug for him. He is just outside the window right in front of me as I type this, he is next to my Peanut who died about 8 years ago and two little kittens who died about 2 years ago. I bet they are all playing together right now over the bridge.

(((hugs)))) we lost Spooky too this morning (9/20) - 15 yrs old.

Below is a short letter I wrote for the vets office who helped me so much with Tuffy. I thought you all might like to read it also.




Hello, This is for everyone who works here.

I want to thank you all for all you did to try and help Tuffy have a good life the
little while I had him. He never gave up on just wanting to be a good little kitty
cat, right up till the end. He was my little best friend. I have had many pets over
the years and I loved all of them but none where ever as special to me as Tuffy was.
Just about all the people who worked with him told me he was a special little guy.

He was a very sick stray when he found me and he won me over almost right away, he
went through heck for a long time to get him well. He was a normal happy kitty for
a few months then he started to have problems again. I figured we could work through
them like before but he kept getting worse slowly, then when I found out he probably
had FIP and there was not much we could do for him it was such a shock. I could not
believe after all he had been through that I might loose him so soon.

At least the end came fast and he did not suffer for a long time. He lived a year
longer than he would have if he did not come into my life. Most people thought I was
crazy to try and help a cat that was as sick and near dying as he was when he found
me. I never gave up on him and he never gave up fighting, Thats why I gave him the
name Tuffy.

I just hope some day I can find another cat that is even close to being as special
as Tuffy was. All the people who work here and helped with Tuffy are just as special
to me. Tuffy liked to come here and see everyone, all I had to do was get the carrier
out and he was right in it ready to come here.

I can't thank everyone enough for looking after Tuffy over the weekend just before
the end. He was his old self again if only for a short time.

BY BY and RIP my little Tuffy, I will miss you so much.

Tom Wustrack