Last week of January 2021

The last week of January always gives us great pause.

It brings to us a heavy heart as we are reminded that another year has passed without our beloved Stray Cat. 

We honored him last year at the two year mark: Two Years

We honored him the year before, at the one year mark: One Year

And here we are, at year three, and it seems still so incredibly sad. There is a huge part of our hearts that wants to not remember, to not recognize the anniversary, to just eat ice cream, and take a walk and not talk about it.

Last week of January. 

The month went fast. The year before went slow.  

If you pray, please say a pray for our friend, Michele, who on the anniversary of Stray's passing, we also recognize and honor the loss of her sweet Myles.

To make a donation in honor of Myles, please do so here: https://www.kidsandcars.org/
Thank you.

Hug your loved ones tight. 

Purr & Paw,

-Stivali. 🐾

Our belief in brightness is what guides us through the darkness. - Sunta. 

Two Years

At 4:45pm today, it will officially be two years since Stray Cat tragically passed away.

Mamma marked one year in this blog post.

This year, she is letting me do the writing.

On (what turned out to be) Stray Cat's last day, I kept him company in the sun room while mamma was at work. She came home early to finish her work day from home. We followed her into the dining room, and stayed with her while she worked. My big brother's breathing was labored, and mamma got very concerned that he had too much fluid on his lungs.

She took him to the animal hospital for another chest-tap so they could remove that fluid in hopes he would feel better. She seemed a bit frantic, and very sad. She reassured me they would both be home soon.

Two hours later mamma returned with Stray's empty carrier. She was sobbing so hard I did not know what to do to help her.

Since that day, Stray Cat has never returned home. I felt depressed that Stray Cat wasn't home anymore, and I did not really understand why - but the answers to all of my questions were not as important as making sure mamma got up in the morning and to not leave her alone when she would cry. Naturally, I did my best to give mamma more affection, and pay more attention to her needs.

I did not know what to make of all of this. I still don't. The emptiness we both still feel and the new silence that is ever so present in our home because of Stray Cat's absence.

Stray was a good big brother to me. As soon as I arrived, he treated me like a baby sister and took me under his paw and showed me the ropes of life in Florida.

Today is a solemn day.

January 26 will always be for us. Eight years prior to Stray Cat passing on this date, Myles crossed over into heaven. Our only solace is that they are together with Jesus, playing, having fun, and just waiting to see us all again.

To make a donation in honor of Myles, please do so here: https://www.kidsandcars.org/
Thank you.

Hug your loved ones, Readers, hug them often.
-Stivali. 🐾

What we have once enjoyed deeply we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us. -Helen Keller.

Is Stray Cat bringing us a friend?

About one month ago, Mamma saw what she thought was a stray cat in our yard.

So, she built the kitty an outdoor shelter since we were getting so much rain, and began putting food out for him.

Weeks went by, and we never did see this white and grey kitty again.

One night, when my sister and I were hanging out in our sunroom, a different kitty appeared at our door. We were surprised and alerted Mamma.

A beautiful grey kitty with big green eyes. He was quite thin and looked like he was living outdoors in our woods. Mamma fetched him some fresh water and some of our crunchy cereal. When she went outside to bring it to him, the grey kitty ran away. She called for him but he did not return. We were sad.

When Stray Cat first passed away, we knew we would never truly recover from the tragic loss. Mamma found comfort in her belief that when Stray Cat was ready, he would bring her a different stray to her... That was her immediate thought when she saw the white and grey cat hanging out in our yard. That Stray Cat finally brought us a friend.

So, then, who is this?

Nearly nightly, this little grey kitty has come to our sunroom door asking for food. He does not let Mamma approach him, and runs away when she goes out side with his food, but he returns to eat it.

Isn't he beautiful?

We are elated to be helping this little grey kitty, and we are determining what to do next. Will he let us take him in? Will we have the opportunity to bring him to our doctor to be checked? Will he want to join our family?

Stay tuned! There are exciting things happening here.

😻🙋😻
Purr & Paw,
-Stivali.

"Cats choose us, we don't choose them." - Kristin F Cast.

Six Month Mark

Today marks six months since my big brother, Stray Cat, wento visit Kismet and Zoe in Heaven with plans to never come back.

My ma and I have been extremely sad. And ma has been buying things to keep him close to her heart. See evidence below: 

I do believe she considers me a non-human person.

I never knew life without my brother.  I was born and he was already here.  I did not realize I would have to know life without him.  It kinda sucks learning and living in this new life.  No matter the time that passes, it doesn't really get better. I hate how we make notice of the calendar and of how many days, weeks, and months have passed.  Today is six months, and it is pretty awful. I wish we weren't paying attention to the days without him - but it is so hard not to. I miss my brother.  We used to nap together, a lot. Some times right up against each other, but more often like this:

Readers, do you see me? 

Even though ma and I saw this coming, it did not prepare us for the pain which would follow.  We are still sad. We talk about him like he is still here, and he is still here - in our hearts.

You may already realize, I am not much of a cuddler. Okay, fine, I am NOT a cuddler.  I know ma would love it if I would wake her like this  (see below photos), but it is just not my personality.  I am way more of an independent-want my space-type of cat. Maybe one day I would do this for her, but if we are really honest here,  since my paws would not be the same as Stray Cat's fuzzy paws, it won't ever be done. *Sorry, Mamma! 🙀

Ma would be so embarrassed if she knew I posted this pic.🐱

Well, Big Brother, if you have a web browser and internet access up there, I hope you are reading this and okay with me taking over your blog. Give St Francis a hug from me. We miss you a lot.  Life won't ever be the same without you here in it.  

Purr & Paw,
-I was a little sister once.

I am tired all of the time.

So. I have been sleeping a lot.
"They" say cats sleep generally 12-16 hours - and I am pretty sure I am up to 20.

I have been coughing/dry heaving a lot, too.  Before my CHF diagnosis, ma always assumed my coughing was due to a hairball that would not come up... now we know the truth.

The new diuretic may or not be working, I do not know, I cannot tell.

My ma is sad and watches over me obsessively.

I do not know how to help her feel better about any of this.  Although, I have made it a habit to sit on her pillow, above her head every morning, and wake her up by pawing or licking her forehead. 

She may or may not like this, I do not know, I cannot tell.

As the holiday season quickly approaches, remember to focus on what is important. Don't get lost in the hustle and bustle of the season.  Hug your loved ones tight - tell them you love them.   Pet your pets, let them know you love them, too.