Why I like Sundays.

Why I like Sundays. By me, Stivali.

Every Sunday my ma washes the bed sheets and I get to help her make the bed. It is so much fun!

 I play "parachute" like an eight year old at summer camp. It is so much fun!

And one of the best parts of Sunday is that I get to sit in a drawer that is only opened once a week - on Sundays! It is the bed sheet drawer attached to our bed.  It is so comfy and roomy, and I wish ma would keep it open all of the time. Alas, she opens it only once a week, and I jump in! It is so much fun! This is why I like Sundays. 

"Sundays are good, Mamma" - said Stray Cat on July 22, 2012.  6 years ago, he was healthy, happy, and a little chubby!

What's your favorite day of the week? Does your cat help you make the bed?

Purr & Paw.

-Stivali. 

Introducing Topino Verdi!

I need to introduce you to my friend, Topino Verdi.  "Verdi" for short: 

 

Every day, I play with Verdi.  He is the perfect sized mouse to fit in my mouth. Each evening, I meow as he is in my mouth and carry him to Mamma. Impressive, right? My ma thinks it is pretty darn awesome that this has become an evening ritual. 

If Verdi is downstairs, I will find him and carry him upstairs.  If he is upstairs, I carry him downstairs.

Now, ma has been trying to video-tape me or at least take a decent photo of me doing this, but I don't like that idea.  However, I did want to brag about it here on Stray's blog. 😺 

Everyone always brags about how affectionate and loving Stray Cat was. How he was a complete love sponge. I know Mamma misses his affection, and having unconditional love expressed that way - but really, I must tell you, he was kind of an attention hog. 😹 Seriously, no one could give that much love - I mean, really, he was nimious. 

And, by the way, he never brought Mamma any presents. Never. 

So, this is how I am showing her MY unconditional love - I am not affectionate or mushy - but at least I bring her a present daily: a topino. 

How does your cat show their love to you? *Curious, as I may need more ideas since I certainly do not want to be held. 

Purr & Paw,

-Stivali. 

Stress and Anxiety are my middle names - Stivali.

Today is the day Americans celebrate independence. They use loud noise makers and fire off firecrackers.  They scare the hell outta me.

I, Stivali, have severe anxiety and I get stressed out very easily.

My mamma got me a pheromone collar to wear, and she changed it every 30 days for about a year. My behavior did not change much, so she stopped making me wear it.

My mamma also got me pheromone diffusers. Her friend, Lisa, recommended them as she had great success using them with her kitties.  The diffusers offered some support of my anxiety, and mamma diligently changed all four of them every 30 days for over a year.  She finally gave up on them since my anxiety did not lessen enough to substantiate the cost.

Is your kitty or dog anxious?  What do you do to help ease their anxiety?  Any recommendations you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

If your cat or dog has anxiety, please make sure they stay in doors tonight during the Independence Day celebrations.  Keep all your windows shut, and put your radio or television on to drown out some of the exterior sounds.

Stay safe, Everyone, and be sure to hug your pet tight each day. ❤ 

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali.

A little fall of rain...

Mamma's best friend's dog, Buster, crossed the rainbow bridge yesterday. We are quite certain that Stray Cat, Zoe, Kismet, Cleo, Kit-Kit, Fizzgig, and Buster's brothers Beau, Rascal, Chance, and George were all at the entry of heaven awaiting his arrival.

No more pain for any of these beautiful animals. Loyal loving companions. Each unique. Each forever loved.

A song from the musical, Les Miserables, plays over and over in Mamma's mind.

She often pretends Stray Cat is singing the lyrics Eponine's character sings... and she, she plays the part of Marius - "You would live one hundred years, if I could show you how..."

It fits for Buster and his dad now, though, and the song; the song is fitting for any of us who watches our loved one pass on into everlasting peace.

In honor of Buster, do something kind today for someone.  Please say a prayer for him in heaven and for his family and friends on earth who are left to mourn this great loss.

XOXO
-Stivali.

Buster and his Dad. ❤

Buster💚

    A Little Fall Of Rain 

EPONINE
Don't you fret, M'sieur Marius
I don't feel any pain
A little fall of rain
Can hardly hurt me now
You're here, that's all I need to know
And you will keep me safe
And you will keep me close
And rain will make the flowers grow.

MARIUS
But you will live, 'Ponine - dear God above,
If I could heal your wounds with words of love.

EPONINE
Just hold me now, and let it be.
Shelter me, comfort me

MARIUS
You would live a hundred years
If I could show you how
I won't desert you now...

EPONINE
The rain can't hurt me now
This rain will wash away what's past
And you will keep me safe
And you will keep me close
I'll sleep in your embrace at last.

The rain that brings you here
Is Heaven-blessed!
The skies begin to clear
And I'm at rest
A breath away from where you are
I've come home from so far
So don't you fret, M'sieur Marius

I don't feel any pain
A little fall of rain
Can hardly hurt me now

That's all I need to know
And you will keep me safe
And you will keep me close

MARIUS(in counterpoint)
Hush-a-bye, dear Eponine,
You won't feel any pain
A little fall of rain
Can hardly hurt you now
I'm here

I will stay with you
Till you are sleeping

EPONINE
And rain...

MARIUS
And rain...

EPONINE
Will make the flowers...

MARIUS
Will make the flowers... grow...

A note from Stivali, Stray Cat's little sister.

I have been considering delving into this blog thing for a while now.

I am much too lazy to write, nor do I think I have much to say which people would want to read.

However, it did occur to me that I think I am quite adorable, and maybe just a mere photo of me once in a while would make Stray Cat's fans grateful to see a cat - even if they don't believe I am cuter than him. 

Dear Readers, trust me, I am quite cute. 
Here:

Evidence of why I haven't written sooner. I like to sleep.

Also, I wanted to share with you a fabulous cat sanctuary in New Jersey.  It is here, that my mother decided to sponsor a special needs cat named Pixie.  She chose this particular kitten for two reasons: 1) she looked like a female version of Stray Cat. 2) the horrific cause of how Pixie became a paraplegic. 

The kitten's backstory tug at my mamma's heart strings (a diabolical teenager shot a pellet gun at Pixie which lodged in her spine causing her to lose the use of her hind legs).

My mamma and Uncle PJ went to meet this sweet cat and of course, quickly fell in love with her.

To learn more about Pixie, click here: http://www.tabbysplace.org/updates/cat.php?i=2299

If you are interested in sponsoring or adopting a cat from the sanctuary, or learning more about the organization, click here: www.tabbysplace.org

I think that is all I've got in me for today. Thank you for reading.

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali.

A note from Stray Cat's Mamma

I miss you, Stray Cat, every day.
I love you, Stray Cat, every day.
I am sorry, Stray Cat, if I am the reason you passed away - by taking you to the doctor in hopes for an additional chest-tap to help relieve your pain - but your sweet little heart could not take the stress and that is why you are not here today.
I miss you.

Heard this Blake Shelton song today and it is from me, for you:

"I've been a walking heartache
I've made a mess of me
The person that I've been lately
Ain't who I wanna be
But you stay here right beside me
Watch as the storm goes through
And I need you

'Cause God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
For when I think I've lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it's true
God gave me you, gave me you

There's more here than what were seeing
A divine conspiracy
That you, an angel lovely
Could somehow fall for me
You'll always be love's great martyr
And I'll be the flattered fool
And I need you, yeah

God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
For when I think I've lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it's true
God gave me you

On my own I'm only
Half of what I could be
I can't do without you
We are stitched together
And what love has tethered
I pray we never undo

'Cause God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
And for when I think I've lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it's true
God gave me you, gave me you
He gave me you."

I am certain, God gave me you, Stray Cat, for the ups and downs - and I am so grateful to have had you in my life for 10 years, 09 months, and 02 days. My only wish is that it could have been forever.

I love you and miss you every single day.

How you would wake me up... Miss this...

You always made me laugh so much... Miss that.

Grieve not...

"Grieve not, nor speak of me with tears, but laugh and talk of me as though I were still beside you. I loved you so... it was heaven here with you."

One month ago today, at 4:45pm EST, I went to heaven.

My ma cries all of the time - even a month in - she can't seem to get used to the idea - or doesn't want to. A "new normal" is what she is waiting for, however, we all know, life will never be the same for her again.

My sister, Stivali, says she'll eventually pick up writing this blog. In the mean-time, my sister still looks for me, and is very sad. Her and mamma are still in mourning.

Ma was crying so much the day she watched me pass away; she was so angry and sad that she couldn't make me stay on earth anymore.  I heard her tell someone that her heart is broken, and that it will be broken forever.  I am sad she feels this way. I loved her so - and I know she loved me, and did the best she could for me.

It is not easy to leave the ones you love behind. It is harder on them than it is for me. I was tired, and a cure was not available for me.  For the couple of weeks leading up to my death, I had not been acting like my normal, affectionate, and fun self. I had a lot of trouble breathing, a lot of difficulty getting comfortable, and it was exhausting.  I was not friendly anymore, I did not feel like cuddling or playing. It made ma and Stivali very sad to witness (ma was crying often!). So, I knew it was time. Time for me to allow God to put his arms around me and introduce me to St Francis of Assisi.  The animal lover and protector.

Mamma keeps rehashing the horrific last half hour of my life, but I need her to stop doing that. I want her to only think of me as healthy and happy, and totally in love with her and the life she gave me.  I can see from where I am, that she is trying.  To help her heal through this, she looks at old photos of me.  She is trying very hard to get to the point of celebrating my life rather than grieving over it. She is just not there yet...

Here are some of her favorite photographs.

Getting ready to move from Lakeland, Florida to Winter Haven, Florida: October 2009.

Me with Zoe Girl in June 2009, we are now reunited in Heaven. 💗

My sister and I really like looking out windows. New Jersey: September 2013.

Lounging in Lakeland: 2009. 

Winter Haven, some time in 2011.

Happy window watching in New Jersey: April 2012. 

Me and my older bro, Kismet, in Ocala, Florida: June 2008.  We are together again in Heaven. 💗

Ma would not want me sharing this photo, but she secretly loves it of me: February 2012. 

Impossible for her to continue her writing with the two of us on her screaming, "Pay attention to us!!": December 2016.

Helping mamma study: April 2016.

I am adorable here: January 2016.

In Winter Haven, Florida. Something surprised me!: October 2011.

Modeling ma's Taylor Swift Cat Keds: June 2015.

Most comfortable condo ever: September 2013.  Aren't I funny? 🐱 

Of course there are many more. After all, I was mamma's Prince Charming for 10 years, 09 months, and 02 days. You think she doesn't have more photos of me? She has a thousand times a thousand.

But I have the best pictures of us. They're in my heart, soul, & mind. They'll be with me forever.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

"Let us not despair. God is like a looking glass in which souls see each other. The more we are united to Him by love, the nearer we are to those who belong to Him." -  Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Patron Saint of Grief.