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Bright Eyes

Thank you!

I was named Catsters Cat of the Day on Thursday.
Our mailbox was FULL of all of my good friends giving me congratulations. And my page is overflowing with gifts. I am so happy! It took Mom until now to read all of my mail We tried to send personal pmails to everyone who wrote to me. We must have missed many because Mom could not keep up. She is working a ten day marathon, trying to nurse Lobo back to health, give Squirrel proper attention and take care of baby Kitcat.
And then, our wonderful, good friend, Tyler, passed away. That was a huge blow to anyone who knew him and his family. I have to admit that I am a bit selfish in thinking that I get to meet him here at the bridge! Instead of feeling really sad for his family. Of course I do feel bad for his family but I am anxious to give him some of my famous nose kisses. Lucky is also anxious to meet him.
I cannot express properly how wonderful you have all made me feel ... how you made this little old cat from the middle of nowhere feel so special.
Love,
Peaches

This Day Should Not Have Come So Soon

When we were together, Lucky used to follow me everywhere I went and try and sleep next to me. I know she missed me a lot when I passed over two years ago now. I sure didn't want her to hurry to the bridge to be with me again! But she did, and now she is here.
It is a mystery as to how she died. Someone asked about poison? There is nowhere that she would have had access to any. She is an indoor cat and the outdoor cat run is fully enclosed. When Mom left the house in the morning, Lucky had already been outside and come back in and begged for her Fancy Feast treat. Her second helping of the morning. So she had her fill of that while Squirrel, who also came back in the house, waited for her turn. They shared the can. When Mom left, Lucky had gone for her usual nap in Mom's bed.
Strange things have crossed Mom's mind, like maybe a rattle snake got her in the cat run? A black widow spider? But wouldn't she have already been showing signs of distress when she came back in the house? It was about 45 minutes after she came in before Mom left.
Mom is hoping and praying it was a sudden heart attack or stroke or something like that.
We are very worried about how Squirrel will handle the loss of Lucky. They have been together since birth.

Update on Tasha ... This is from her diary written by Mom- ... On June 6/09

I brought Tasha in to the vet just now. She is such an angel that she made it so easy for me. She was not stressed at all by the whole thing. She never minded going to the vet and always loved any attention! To help make me feel like I was doing the right thing, she could not get up from where she was laying in the back of the truck. So I kind of crawled in there dragged and carried her out. Then, I let her sniff the grass and the bushes around the clinic to her heart's content. When she decided to start walking towards the clinic, she fell and could not get up. I helped her up. Then, once in the clinic, on the slippery floor, she fell again and stayed down. An employee came and figured out who we were and showed us where to go. I had to help her up again then she walked into the room and settled on a blanket they had put on the floor. Silly me, I was worried about the germs she may have licked up from the floor on the way in. How stupid is that? The young woman told me the doctor would be in in a few minutes. I had brought some really good cheese with me and fed her little pieces. She looked like her usual happy self, only she didn't get up. Normally she would have been all over me for more of that cheese. The vet eventually came in and briefly assessed the situation. I could tell that he didn't give a shit as to who we were or what was going on. It was probably his last hour before his weekend. But that didn't matter. We just needed his services. Tasha loved everyone so she liked him too. He told us we would have 5 minutes before he came back with a sedative. He then asked if I had been through this before. I said, "Yes, with a cat." I would have said more and told him about Peaches, but I could already tell that he didn't give a damn. For him, it was just business. So, I petted Tasha, gave her more cheese, cried and talked to her some more. He came back and gave her the needle to sedate her. She didn't feel it. He said he would be back soon with the real deal. She did get really relaxed after it so I quickly gave her the rest of the cheese before she lost interest in it. Then the vet came back in with the same young woman from reception. They hoisted her onto the table. She was completely relaxed and okay with everything. Smiling the whole time! Not wagging her tail because that was paralyzed from her condition. But she would have if she could have! They shaved a bit of fur off of her right front leg. I was petting her the whole time. She didn't mind in the least what they were doing to her. Then they put in the IV. They expected that to be a bit uncomfortable for her but she sailed through that no problem. I was petting her and never felt her flinch a bit. Then, I saw them getting the real stuff ready to go. Here is where it was different from when I brought Peaches in. With Peaches, they gave me a big heads up. With Tasha, they just did it. Luckily, I knew what was going on and just kept petting her. She didn't twitch, flinch, complain, nothing. She for sure passed as peacefully as can be possible. The vet guy then said I could take my time with her body and then leave when I was ready. I didn't need much time because I believe that Tasha's soul was gone from her body. So, I paid the bill and left. All the way home I could swear that I heard her panting in the back of the truck, like usual. I kept looking back there and then realized that I was just imagining things.
What a sweet and gentle dog Tasha was. She was so sweet that she even made her passing easier for me by just being Tasha