Tribute to AngelKitties 23

November 13, 1999 I came back home to Louisiana after living in Pennsylvania, back home to my parents' old place in Keithville. I came alone with our five cats - Cuddles, Dani, Spook, Lucky, and Tigger. Craig had stayed behind to finalize his employment transfer and once he arrived on December 30th, we decided that we would purchase the old homestead, which was over-run with feral cats in the 5 months the place had been up for sale. Mama had built a home out on Cross Lake in Shreveport that past June.

There was a lean, mean-looking dominant male cat here that we dubbed Sylvester - Sylvester due to his black and white coat. He had large green eyes that looked straight into your soul. A portion of his left ear had been torn off in one of many, many catfights. The good thing about this was, he was one less cat to ear-tip and was the correct ear that is snipped off for identification of a feral cat being maintained by a care giver - IF I could ever trap the old boy. He craftily evaded my carefully set trap month after month after month. We were trapping cats left and right, but not him. Craig didn't like him much - said with his big jowls and scruffy look he thought the cat would just as soon tear into him as look at him.

Finally ... finally the evening arrived when I heard the trap snap and there sat our Sylvester, nearly 9 months after I'd arrived in Louisiana. My heart nearly broke. He was one of the most frightened little cats I'd ever trapped before or since.

It was August 8, 2000. We were absolutely floored to discover that this mean old tom cat was truly an old cat - for a feral. Dr. Steve figured him to be about 5 - 7 years old, probably closer to 7. He only weighed 5 pounds at time of neutering.

I brought him home from the vet the following day and released him into our backyard. He tore to the edge of the backyard fence line not to be seen again until December 2000.

We knew he had a luxurious plumed tail, but thought he was a short haired cat. When he arrived at our feeding station one winter afternoon later that same year, I wasn't sure at first if the cat staring back at me from across the patio was Syl or not. This cat was as thin as Syl had been when we neutered him, but had much longer hair. The only way to tell was to approach him for a closer look (and he was so skittish!), but hunger over-ruled his fear of me. Sure enough, it was Syl. I saw that ragged ear and knew immediately that this poor, starved cat was him.

By the time his first anniversary of his neutering had arrived, his coat was long, thick, and beautiful, but terribly matted. Craig had fallen in love with him. He was beginning to let me stroke his head, but I couldn't pick him up. I was, however, able to pretend to scritch his head as I treated his scruff area with flea prevention.

By November 2001, he had become my shadow. He followed me around like a little puppy dog. He blossomed into 17 pounds of pure catness, the perfect weight for a stockily built little Persian mix. I could pick him up and tote him all around the yard with no fear of being bitten or scratched. And how he loved to be brushed! His coat was silky and so very, very soft.

Through the years he enjoyed our yard and rarely left it. He refused to become a house cat. He would come in for a few hours at a time, but once his visit was over, he clamored and yowled loudly and heatedly to be let out once more.

One of his favorite things to do was hide in my iris beds and as I walked by, would jump out and scare the bejesus out of me. On occasion, I could sneak upon him, but that wasn't too often.

Last spring and summer, he and Gracie (another patio feral baby of ours) began to hang out at our next-door neighbor's house. After Craig had became so ill last March, we tore down my parents' old house. To those two sweet little cats, nothing was familiar and home to them any longer. They were too scared to venture back onto our property. The landscape was different, the new house was different, and nothing we attempted to do would bring them back.

So we would purchase food and treats for them while Dorothy would feed them. Most mornings they would be perched on her back deck watching us as we drank our coffee on our patio. We'd wave and talk with them, but they seldom came any closer than 6 feet to our fence. I could still pet and stroke them if I went over there; just not over here where that strange new house is.

Several weeks ago we noticed that Gracie would be there alone morning after morning. On Labor Day, I walked over for a chat with Dorothy, mainly to ask where Syllie was. She said that he'd disappeared for several weeks, but was now somewhere around the front of her house, though he wasn't eating much. I told her that he had to be ill and went to look for him. Sure enough, as I approached her front door, he ambled over toward me from under her car. I was absolutely horrified. He was skin and bones. When I picked him up, he was feather-weight in my arms. He had a horrible wound on his back - something had bitten him and caused a bad infection. I immediately took him home. I medicated his wound and tried over and over to get him to eat on his own. He barely would lick his food but did drink water often.

The next morning we rushed him to the vet. He was diagnosed with liver disease. We immediately started the slew of meds and subques, ever hopeful that we could help pull him out of this awful disease. He perked up for only two days and slowly his health began to decline. We faithfully kept force-feeding him, administering his subques, and plying him with his medications. Saturday night we noticed that he was beginning to have trouble walking and pulling himself up from a sitting or laying position.

Yesterday we knew we would have to set him from free from this life that's so cruel to feral cats. We comforted him and ourselves by telling him that we gave him 10 more years than he probably would have had, but tonight that thought brings no comfort at all. Our hearts are torn into a million pieces. Sylvester and sweet Teresa (the matriarch of our colony) were our reasons for incorporating into a non-profit cat sanctuary.

He took his meds last night and let me poke a bit of food down his throat. His gums and tongue were pink, but he had difficulty in swallowing. I held him in my arms most of the night. He finally wanted down and slept the rest of the night at my feet while I dozed in the recliner. At 6am I gave him his antibiotic and noticed that his little gums where snow white.

Again we rushed to the vet, knowing in our hearts it was time to release him. Dr. Steve said that his illness had reached his nervous system and had attacked his brain. There was no hope; in fact, he was sure that Syl no longer was aware of anything around him or knew us. We held him as our beloved vet, the only vet our Syl ever knew, administered the two shots and our precious little boy left for the Bridge.

We buried him in the backyard, the yard that he loved to frolic in, chase bugs and butterflies, sneak-attack birds and squirrels (those wee creatures that were never within his grasp, no matter how hard he tried), and make those crazy mad dashes after haints that only he could see. We can only pray that his legacy will continue to live on in Pawprints and Purrs, Inc.

We love you so much, little Syllie, and miss you with all our being. You brought us so many smiles and much joy through the years. We'll meet again in joyful reunion at the Bridge. We'll never ever forget you, darling Syllie boy. You are forever embedded in our hearts. With all our love, PurrDad CraigCat and Meowmie Suse

To Those I Love

If I should ever leave you whom I love
To go along the Silent Way,
grieve not,
Nor speak of me with tears,
but laugh and talk
of me as if I were beside you there.

(I'd come - I'd come, could I but find a way!
But would not tears and grief be barriers?)

And when you hear a song or
see a bird I loved,
please do not let the thought of me be sad ...
For I am loving you just as I always have ...

You were so good to me!
There are so many things I wanted still to do -
so many things to say to you ...
Remember that I did not fear -
It was just leaving you that was so hard to face ...

We cannot see Beyond ...
But this I know:
I loved you so -
'twas heaven here with you!

Author - Isla Paschal Richardson

Devon Rex
Beldek Serita aka Spook
Forever loved, cherished, and missed by Cindy Luyt

Born September 8, 1995 Became an AngelKitty September 4, 2008

We had to have her sent to the big Kitty Heaven due to a struggle with a Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

I have no words, just a gaping hole in my soul!

Spunky Dew
Forever loved, cherished, and missed by Sweet7860

Born March 28, 2008 Became an AngelKitty August 15, 2008

My Spunky was the best kitty I ever had. He loved everyone and knew no stranger. He even loved going to the vet office. The vet said he acted like he was home when went there.

Spunky had boundless energy but when he was tired he would get in my arms and lay on his back with his paw on my chin. His purr was the loudest I have ever heard.

The morning of August 15 Spunky was supposed to get neutered. I came downstairs to get my baby to take to the vet and found him hanging in my dining room chair. Somehow he got his head stuck in the wooden spindles of the chair.

I will never get over this. I still miss him and cry. He was just a baby kitty that loved life so much. He was a happy, bouncy, curious little guy and it all ended too soon!

Niracochas "Luna" Loren
Forever loved, cherished, and missed by C.E. Mohn

Born June 9, 1986 Became an AngelKitty September 15, 2007

It was a sunny day on September 15, when Luna journeyed to Rainbow Bridge. There are no words to express my sorrow. Luna was not just a part of my life; she is in my heart and soul. I’m grateful she will be with me forever. For those of you who knew Luna, she was truly The Wonder Cat.

As a kitten, Luna was helpful around the house. She was especially good at changing the sheets, scooting under them and checking for wrinkles. When vacuuming under the bed, she would jump on my back, making sure I didn’t miss any spots. One of Luna’s most unique qualities was her companionship on your lap anytime you used the toilet – and I mean anyone! It was amazing to me how she would read the newspaper from the opposite side, calling attention to items that interested her by jumping at the newspaper.

For those of you who left messages on the recorder, you listened to Luna’s beautiful voice. Luna was happiest sitting on your lap; her soft, silvery, smooth fur was so comforting. I will miss that! Luna loved to jump on top of the refrigerator and hang from the top of a door frame with the expression on her face as if to say, "You next!"

Luna had many health problems, some which threatened her life, but her strong will to live always surpassed. In the end it was an aggressive cancer that took its toll on Luna. Even in the end she was alert and loving. I will miss her very much! Pictures, whiskers and memories of a faithful companion and loving family member will help me through my grief. But the best thing is the warm feeling in my soul of having known Luna, The Wonder Cat!

Chessie
Forever loved, cherished, and missed by Andy and Dianne

Born 1989 Became an AngelKitty 2007

Came into my life in 2000, was my now wife's since 1989.
From the cute little furball to the Old Man with CATitude.
Became an AngelKitty in August of 2007.
You will be forever loved and missed by both of us.

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