Yesterday we regretfully had to say goodbye to our loving, beautiful boy Simba. This farewell caught us by surprise and was very unexpected. Although Simba had a long history of health issues, I never imagined having to say goodbye to him so soon, or so suddenly. So it is with great sadness that I have to let go of this gentle, beautiful life and soul and say a final farewell to our dear boy.
Simba was born feral and came to live in our backyard permanently in 2004. Because he adopted us, we built a shelter for him against our fence to protect him from the rain and added soft blankets to keep him warm and dry. He ate his food every morning and night on our patio table and when darkness fell he would take himself to his shelter, and go to sleep. He knew that we were now his home and he became increasingly comfortable with us and trusted us. Though at the time, I could not touch him, I would go out and say goodnight to him in his shelter and he would stay and listen. I felt honored that he let me sit so close to him, though he watched me cautiously.
I wish more than anything I could change what happened to you. I wish that I never went away. I wish I could go back and change everything and do things differently so you would still be here with me. I wish that I could have protected you and prevented what happened to you. I wish I was there for you so you never suffered. Oh, how I wish.
But nothing will change what happened. But I miss you. I will always miss you. I will always look for you in all of your special places—lying in the garden, under the trees, on the grass, curled up on your chair, and always sleeping on my pillow. I will never get used to you not being there—those places will never be the same without you. They are empty now.
I’m sensing the time is close now for my elderly cat Red. I instinctively felt it early this morning that Red is close to the end of his life, and could even be in the early stages of the dying process. He is getting weaker, slower, more feeble and fragile, losing weight and appearing more gaunt.
He came to me in bed this morning seeking to be close—very close, nosing to get under the covers for warmth and safety. He gently plows his head into mine messaging me he wants to lie next to me. I cuddle him, hold him, embrace his frail, skeletal body. As he lies stretched out along the length of my body, I cuddle him to comfort him. I gently run my hand over his thin body. He purrs loudly, strongly, breathing and purring. I can’t sleep to his constant machine of a purr, but somehow it comforts me. I will miss this purr, this beautiful soul, this survivor, this brave cat that has endured so much. Continue reading My Elderly Cat – Signs the End is Near→
Sweet Alana, rescue kitty from a bad hoarding case
Pumpkin under the Christmas tree
Simba–from feral cat to uber lap cat
We rescued Red from the Oakland Airport, he lived at the airport for years before being trapped and neutered; he was a very traumatized, frightened, damaged cat that became completely transformed with love.
Morgan and Pumpkin, always together
Gracie is from ARF, where teens worked to socially rehab this frightened cat
Pumpkin loving our protected garden and being outside
Angus loves being in the sink and watching me put on my makeup
Pumpkin celebrating Christmas
Pumpkin relaxing
Simba and his lover Alana
A Farewell Letter to my Beloved Cat
Pasha sun-bathing
Marcello was a feral trapped outside, now a loving, sweet lap cat!
Angel and her lover Angus, they love to be together
Mischa is our latest rescue cat. I had been feeding her at our feral cat feeding place outside our house, and she was coming every night and morning. It took two months before I was able to pet her with many scratches every day along the way. But I knew Mischa could get there. Every day there was progress. Gradually she accepted coming inside the house for her pets. She had never been picked up before, so I worked on that too. Then finally, I said that’s it, and lifted her up and took her upstairs. She had already been spayed and was in surprisingly good health for being outside for at least 1.5 years. But she was thin. She proceeded to gain weight, a full lion mane around her neck! And fill out, she looks beautiful now! She is a dear kitty, lies beside my computer all day with me, sleeps on our bed, and is super affectionate, but lets no one else come near her.
Alex, rescued and trapped twice, finally have him back inside! Read about Alex in my blog post.
Darling Gigi rescued from the Iron Horse Trail, sick and starving.
Can You Afford the Cost of Owning a Cat?
Getting some sun
Romeo happy!
Pumpkin getting ready for bedtime
Enjoying the garden
Godiva, our blind kitty, gets extra special care and attention
Attentive Angus
Beautiful Pumpkin
Marcello with his sleepy eyes
Red has so many cat friends that love him
Romeo enjoying life in his cottage
Gigi and Pumpkin
Red and Angus
Gigi and Piev, both cats trapped and rescued off a trail, now in new loving homes
Alana making muffins in her bed
Her favorite time of year
Piev catching some good rays
Pasha soaking in the sun
Piev, loved cool sinks, on hot days
Mama, a feral cat, had kittens in a busy road, kittens are all adopted and we kept Mama
Angel – a true Angel
This is MY couch! 🙂
Nap time, I’m relaxing!
The sweetest cat that ever lived – we adopted from the Martinez Animal Shelter on her last day
Why Cats Need Good Dental Care
Pasha’s favorite place to be-High in the cat tree!
Girl time!
Studying hard!
Shy Morgan, was traumatized and abandoned by her previous people
My favorite position!
Ahhh, a nice breeze and some sun, perfect combo!
Beautiful, shy Morgan
Red enjoying having his ears cleaned!
Romeo loving the warm summer sunShy, timid Dusty, our oldest cat at 21 yearsMarcel, the character! Smart as a whip, wise beyond his years, a bigger than life personality! Marcel needs a TV show!
Stories and tips about providing the best possible cat care—from 20 years experience rescuing, fostering, and caring for my many rescue cats.
