Cat Lady Post: A Season Of Goodbyes

The past few weeks have been rather painful. They consisted of goodbyes in one form or another. Let me start with Rocky.

Rocky was the runt of her litter, a minuscule calico who was so scrappy that I firmly believed she would beat the odds. She survived for almost two months before she took ill. From gamely trying to keep up with her much bigger siblings (they were more than double her size), she suddenly wanted to hide and was off her food.

Her mother more or less dismissed her as a goner, so my daughter and I stubbornly fought with her and kept on tending to her and doting on her even after she resigned herself to the inevitable. Armed with substitute milk, wet food, pediatric vitamins, a warm square of fleece, and a cozy box, we tried to bring her back to her semblance of good health, but she slowly faded and eventually passed away with a dreamy, far-off look in her eyes.

Shortly after Rocky’s passing, my daughter and I were stunned one late night with an instruction to get four of the kittens in our care ready for rehoming. It was so sudden, and it involved two older kittens we had gotten quite attached to. We had known we’d have to say goodbye sometime soon, but we were hoping for some notice so we could spend some dedicated time loving on them before letting them go. The process was so rushed that I wasn’t able to give my usual blessing and parting strokes. I had to message my husband, who was taking care of their transport, to do it for me.

Finally, I received news of one of our own departed Onyx’s sons passing a couple of weeks ago. You don’t really lose or retrieve the love you give a cat even after it’s gone from your care. I like to think that all those cats and kittens we rehome keep on carrying and feeling the love we have for them throughout their lives. That’s why when we hear of their passing, we are still devastated by the news. That it was one of Onyx’s stirs up the ever-lurking grief we have over his death and our heartbreak is compounded. I just take great comfort from the fact that this cat had been adopted by a wonderful family who lavished him with love and care.

So there you have it – one of the risks of loving animals, or loving, period. But as the cliché goes, better to have loved and lost than… you know the rest. The pain is definitely worth it. Our lives are richer and fuller with all the experiences that come with that love. I definitely consider it a blessing and a privilege to be able to care for these beautiful creatures that God placed in my life.

As I wrap up this post, I leave you with well wishes. Here’s hoping that you and your animals are all well and happy and will remain so for a long, long time. Make sure to cuddle with yours a little longer or give them an extra loving pat in honor of all those beloved that we now miss.💜