Well, my sweet old Mr. Kitty, left the boundaries of our earth yesterday afternoon and went on ahead to that special place where he'll be waiting for me along with all my other little angels. He gave us 20 wonderful years - longer than any other I've had the honor to know and love. He was such a gentleman. He would always step aside and wait for all the other kitties to get their food first before he would begin to eat. I'm so glad I let him go naturally, at home with all the love surrounding him. We're not always fortunate that way, but this time God took charge."UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED" Anonymous
Yesterday my husband's mother went in for what was supposed to be a non-survivable, but mandatory, surgery. She had to have her right leg amputated above the knee because gangrene had set in. She is 87, bedridden, weighs less than 80 lbs. and already had her left leg amputated above the thigh a year ago. Not diabetic, but poor circulation and infection that wouldn't respond to antibiotics. We were all told to say our goodbyes. The doctors said she couldn't possibly survive, but had no other options. She was in so much pain - physically and emotionally. How awful to look at your only leg and see the gangrene slowly creep upward. Well, she amazingly survived. And I know why. I truly believe that during the 2 hours I was at the hospital, Mr. Kitty made a deal with the Man "upstairs" and asked to take her place. Animals have that extra sense to know what's best, even if we don't.
Before I left for the hospital, (and every night for the last week) as he lay sleeping quietly on a big pillow, the other kitties nestled in around him as if to guard and protect him from the "dark". Normally my babies have preferred to find a dark place to "take their leave", but not this boy. I kept the light on every night in their room, and in the morning he would wake up when I opened the door, slowly stand up and rub his leg against my leg...until yesterday. He didn't stand up in the morning, but raised his head and gave me that sweet smile, with a little sparkle in his eyes as if to say, "Bye Mom, I'll be waiting for you with all the others." It's so special how they let us know these things. I leaned down, pet his head, kissed his nose and said "Okay, old man. Give my love to all my angel-babies and be sure to keep my spot warm until I get there one day."And there they were when I returned two hours later after the surgery was over. Still watching over him until "momma" came home to bury him in the garden beneath her bedroom window.
I have beautiful classical music playing...a special CD I ordered specifically to calm animals during stressful times. I guess I am more animal than human, because it's working on me too. It's raining and thundering outside, has been for the last two days. God must be shedding tears also.
- My Mr. Kitty - photo taken about 10+ years ago. He always preferred this one.
