Peg W

Dear Snowball's Mom - Well, it has been nearly 10 months since you told me your story of Snowball. Your story was very similar to mine about my Willy. But good things have happened since my last post. On March 9 I went to a local SPCA shelter where they were overrun with cats. After a careful search, I decided to bring Smokey home. He was 18 mos old at the time and had been among 270 cats seized from a woman's home. He is part Russian Blue, has been neutered and is an exceptionally sweet kitty. He loves to play fetch with a ball, and he loves all visitors that come by. I decided I really wanted two kitties, and on April 19 I went to another SPCA shelter where a litter of 5 8-week-old kittens had been brought in the day before. I immediately fell in love with a grey male and brought Dusty home on April 21. He has turned into a gorgeous long-haired part Maine Coon large kitty. The two boys get along excellent, play together, eat together, sleep together, and follow me wherever I go. I love them both very much. They have really helped fill the void of losing Willy. Unfortunately, my 16-year-old female, Tilly, refused to get along with the boys and, with winter coming on, I couldn't leave her in my cold garage where she spent the summer. She refused to come in where it was warm, and I couldn't let her freeze. I put an ad in a local pennysaver to find a new home, not figuring anyone would want such an old cat. But a lovely couple called and came out the next day and took her home. She keeps in touch with me and Tilly is doing fine. I am thankful she can live out her last days in comfort, and I really haven't missed her too much. She was pretty much an anti-social cat. I'm attaching photos of my two boys. Have a happy new year!! [attachmentid=222][attachmentid=223][attachmentid=224][attachmentid=225][attachmentid=226][attachmentid=227][attachmentid=228][attachmentid=229]

Annie, Thank you so much for your note. Please accept my sincere condolences on your losses also. I can't imagine what you are going through. I lost my mom in 1978 and my dad in 1982, but there weren't any pets involved then. When I lost my husband in 1997, it was very sudden and unexpected, but Willy just seemed to know the role he had to fill and he was such a wonderful companion. He just filled that hole in my heart every day for 10 years. I've had dogs and cats, but I much prefer cats. I hope you and your new buddy form a great bond. It appears you already have, and he'll be there for you whenever you need him. Blessings to you. Hi avsqr_dancer, You don't give your name, but I just want to thank you for your note of sympathy. I've had to have pets euthanized before, but none hit me like this one. Willy was my precious kitty who came into my life at a time when I had a huge hole in my heart. He had a huge role to fill and he did that every day for 10 years. I know the pain will eventually go away, but now there is another hole in my heart without him. I am getting another kitty from the SPCA next week and I think that will help. I still have my 15-year-old Persian, but I know she won't be around too much longer either. Maybe I'll end up getting two cats. Anyway, thanks again for your note and my heart goes out to you on your loss also.

Willy was born Feb. 19, 1997, 8 days before my husband of 35 years passed away very suddenly. At the time I had a 5 year-old female Persian and didn't think I'd get another cat. Then in May, 1997 I saw an ad in the paper for a litter of Persian kittens and decided to have a look. I came home with Willy, a pure white male with big copper eyes. Over the years he was extremely healthy, with just an occasional cough that was attributed to hairballs. I gave him hairball remedy and brushed him regularly. Last October the cough that he had grew more persistent and I took him to the vet. The vet said he thought he had feline asthma and treated him with prednisone. He didn't really get better and I took him back and they ran a blood workup, which did not show any problems, so the prednisone was continued. On Feb. 10 he hurt his front leg and couldn't walk on it. I was so scared that it was broken or something, but the vet examined him and said it was just a sprain. A week went by and the leg got better. Then on Feb. 17 I noticed he was having very labored breathing. I thought it might be the medicine causing it, so I waited two more days. On Monday afternoon he wasn't any better and I took him back to the vet who then did an x-ray. When he showed me the x-ray I couldn't believe my eyes. He had very little viable lung and the rest was filled with either fluid or a tumor. The vet did a chest tap, and said there was no fluid that it was a solid tumor, inoperable. I had to decide what to do, but I couldn't watch him struggle to breathe, and he was euthanized on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 8:15AM. He was 10 years old on Monday, Feb. 19. My adult daughter went with me, and I stayed with him until the end with my hand on his head. And now I cry, and cry and cry. He was my soulmate, the love of my life, and he came into my life at a time when I needed him most. He had very large shoes to fill, and he did it with ease and grace. He had a "purrrrrrsonality" like no other cat I've ever had. I have placed photos of him in every room in my home, as he went with me everywhere. If he were here now, he'd be sitting on the desk in front of me. Everywhere I look I see him. I know time will help, but I will never stop missing him. Following is the dedication that I wrote to him in the photo album I have made up: Dear Willy - You were the light of my life. You filled my heart with joy and sunshine. Your love reverberates deep into my soul. This home will never be the same without you. I miss your sweet face and your always-ready rumble, your warm body in my lap or on my feet. You knew my moods and were always there for me no matter what. I love you so much!! Rest in peace my dear friend, you left this world way too soon!! A wonderful poem that is helping me through the grieving process is The Rainbow Bridge. It has a marvelous message. [attachmentid=112]