Some good news must begin with a sad tale about a beautiful cat called Spider…
The week before Christmas Spider got really ill. It all happened so quickly. She was quiet and withdrawn for a couple of days and wouldn’t eat or drink. The vet thought it was probably just a bug. But she got worse and worse and had to go into hospital on a drip. I went in to be with her, they told me that her kidneys had failed and there was no chance of her getting any better. We tried everything but eventually I had to accept this. It was the most difficult decision I have ever had to make. I stayed there and held her for as long as I could. My partner Steve came to be with her and my ex partner came to spend time with her as well. We were all there with her.
So I told her not to be scared. That everything would be okay. She purred as I held her. She knew that we were all with her, I think she knew what was happening and she was ok. I told her I loved her, and then we looked into each other’s eyes, and then she went. I felt her leave me as we sat there, she left her little body and flew away.
My initial response was to collapse in a flood of tears and cry out ‘WHAT HAVE I DONE?’ It was so hard to accept. She was my little best friend through so many difficult times. I really miss her, especially when I am here at home. I hope she forgives me and that she still loves me. I think she does. It seems like she is around sometimes.
As the time has passed the cat shaped hole she left won’t go away. I could never replace her, she was one of a kind for sure, a feisty, no nonsense cat who kept me on my toes, and definitely gave me a reason to get up on days in darker times. She went missing once, and so distraught, I looked for her every night, street after street, for three weeks, and she came back to me, I couldn’t be without her. My wise sister said that we have pets because of our amazing ability to love. So we decided to find two little felines in need of a home, two being a completely different dynamic to having one. And in my new life it seemed like the next step forward.
So for the last few weeks I have been waiting and hoping that a family friend might have some kittens for us to adopt. Like a child waiting for Christmas I have been hopping around the house in anticipation. And finally it happened, the magical call telling us that two silver tabbies were ready to come and live with us. I am so happy to have them, and yet writing this post has brought my tears back for Spider. I think she’d be proud of me, watching from afar, my little guardian, never far from my side, leaving here when my life is finally on the right track…
So here they are... Maya and Frida
Frida is the adventurous one...
...and Maya is finding her way...
6 comments:
okay, that really made me cry.... also because i remember how much pain you were in, lil sis, and how i couldn't help you... :-( but i know that Spider is with you all the time - never far from your side (probably trying to scratch your leg, bless her)
i can't wait to meet Meg and Mog (i still think you should have called them that, tee hee) they are so adorable! love you kitty girl xxxx
Abby, this is just the most heartwarming story. I have had many cats over the years, some have come and gone on their own, some I've had to escort from this life. It's never easy. Cats are really just the best. I'm so glad you have these two little companions now. They are so different in temperment, they will complete the circle of Spider's passing and fill the void he left.
2 little cutie pies for 1 cutie= you! SO SO glad these darling kitties have found a good moma to love and care for them :)
Our past animals stay with us always. Their loyalty runs too deep to let go. And they fiercly want us happy, so new arrivals are happily welcomed.
Enjoy your new babies...you deserve them. Boy...you just have newness happening all around you! :) Yeah !!!
love to you & warm hugs xoxo Darlene
What a lovely story. It also made me cry, I can't bear to think about losing any of the kitties in my life.
Azul is a burmese that I adopted when I lived in the US. My relationsihp with Azul is much like the one you describe with Spider. I decided to leave her with my mom when I moved to Mozambique because I couldn't deal with the thought of her flying cargo for 36 hours to get to Africa, only to have me potentially change my mind about the whole gig and return to the US 2 months later.
It's now 1.5 years later and I'm still in Mozambique. I was really missing having a cat in my life, but it didn't feel right to have just one again. So my boyfriend and I adopted 2 4-week old kittens that someone had tossed in a plastic sack and put in the dumpster on the street to die. A friend found them and rescued them, and a few days later they came home with us.
Pria and Parceiro, our little ones, are full of energy and absolutely wonderful to have as companions here. I look forward to seeing more pictures of your kittens, as the tabbies remind me a bit of Parceiro, the male kitten of mine that is a tabby as well (although a bit darker).
thanks for such a great cat story!
Such a sweetie you are.
Bx
they are gorgeous Abigail, and I love the names. I hope all is good with you. when does the job start?
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