Pawprints and Purrs, Inc.

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Copyright © 1997 - 2010

In our hearts, the cherished memories live on... This site is created in loving memory of our beloved FancyBoy and JoJo.

You were a tiny, wild orphan when you first came into my life. That's why I named you Oliver after the character, Oliver Twist. But over the 16 years of our wonderful but all-too-short time together, you became King of your domain. Sometimes I think that I was your pet, and you were my master. I've never seen such a laid-back cat. Even in your golden years, when I had the gall to bring "that dog" home, you never held it against me.

You had so many sweet ways about you. You loved to play with a green bean picked fresh from the garden -- I would always find a few dried-up ones in the winter when I cleaned under the sofa. I loved the way you would fall over in the grass wanting me to scoot you along by pushing your back feet.

Thank you, Ollie, for always greeting me at the door when I came home from work. Thank you for licking my eyelids, for kissing my forehead, for the sweet way you would fall against my face when I held you over my shoulder. I even thank you for gently pawing at my hair at 2 a.m. to let me know you wanted a midnight snack.

When you got sick and couldn't play anymore, you still remained your sweet, loving self -- even when you could no longer walk, and I know you were beginning to suffer. I honestly believe you were hanging on for my sake, knowing that I would feel so lost without you. But I loved you too much to be selfish, and I had to put an end to your suffering -- one of the hardest decisions I have ever made, but done out of love.

So rest now, my little orange angel until we're together again. I will always love you and hold you in my heart, my sweet, sweet little one.

Mama

Thank you, dear Diane!

Our Little Girl, Spook

I know the last two weeks were miserable for you, dearest Sweetheart. No more daily vet trips for icky old IVs for eight hours, no more expressing your bladder, no more probbing of your insides, no more taking nasty tasting meds. You're whole now and are the happy little cat you were just last month. I know you've been united with your big brother KC and surely you've spotted an identical ancient Chinese tallow tree to climb.

You were such a tiny little girl, a teeny waif, actually. But you became a dainty, elegant, sleek beauty and graced our home only too briefly. I'm missing your non-stop mouth and your often loud demands for attention. Daddy's lap is empty - no little black head giving him headbonks as he watches television. And me...oh, baby girl, I'm missing the best footwarmer of all time in our bed at night. Thank you, sweet Spook'ums, for the love and joy you brought us. We'll see you both at the Bridge soon, precious one.

The Candle
They are with us for such a brief moment, these beings of fur and love.
In that fleeting span they give all they have...all they are.
They are the candle that burns too brightly.
The candle that burns twice as bright and half as long.
They light our way.
They teach us about love, the universe, ourselves.
When their flame goes out, a light within us is extinguished as well.
We are blessed for having shared their world and sadder for their leaving.
In our memories, they are immortal and we mere mortals are the richer for it.

Poem lovingly created by JL Guidry with deep sorrow.
All rights reserved. Copyright © 2000

From: JL Guidry
Subject: "The Candle"
Date sent: Wed, 3 May 2000 11:30:24-0400

Hi hon,

When I got your email yesterday...Lee and I just sat down on the stairs and cried. I cried most of the day...thinking of that beautiful little face propped on my chest, those huge eyes filled with such adoration, staring at me. Waking up with her in the crook of my left arm and Dani in the crook of my right...as though I had always been a part of the family! She reminded me so much of Sloane. My heart is breaking for you. I wish I could offer you advice on how to get over it...unfortunately, I don't have the answer. I told Lee a few days ago I don't think I'll ever get over Sloane's loss. It just gets easier to face over time. I still cry...just not all the time.

I wrote this for her AngelKitties page.
Love you, Jacqui

How much we appreciate and love you, Di and Jacqui, for the encouragement, consolation, phone calls and emails these last ten or so days. We treasure your lovely words of tribute and graphics. Spook was always a special, special little cat. She beat tremendous odds early on and was a courageous little survivor. Thank you so much for easing her loss in our lives. Craig and I are eternally grateful for your friendship and love.

NOTE: You can find Spook's story here.

Malachy Sharon Mylott

Malachy's Likeness Borrowed from Diabella's Vintage Cat Graphics

I only found Malachy on Monday May 1, 2000 but I fell in love with him immediately. I was leaving my house when I thought I saw something move under a tree. When I went investigate there was a tiny black longhair kitten. He hissed up a storm but couldn't move, and there were some flies buzzing around him. I picked him up and took him to my vet. When the vet saw him he estimated his age to be about 6 weeks. The vet decided to keep him because Malachy was dragging his right rear leg. The vet was concerned with internal injuries (Malachy had some urine on him). I'm so glad that I went to see him yesterday. He cuddled up and went to sleep in my arms. I was supposed to bring him home today only to find out that he died this morning.

I just finished talking with my vet who said Malachy was probably much sicker than either one of us realized. My project will be to trap Malachy's momcat and spay her whether she is pregnant or not. She is owned by some very irresponsible people. My vet also suspected that Malachy had been kicked or thrown and had been injured for a couple of days before I found him (or he found me).

I never got a picture of him. All I can tell you was that he was tiny enough to curl in the palm of my hand and that he was a black long hair with a little black nose and green eyes.

Thank you for caring. I feel better knowing Spook and Malachy have each other for company. Hopefully there will be a space for Malachy. He's very tiny and had a very short life so he won't take up much room... Thank you again, Sharon

NOTE: Sharon is a very special lady who cares enough to rescue and trap, alter, and return. We need more Sharons in our world to assist needy cats.

This is my kitten, Sammy. He was born some time in October of 1999 and died in early February. He had some disease that was causing his body to consume and kill his own red blood cells. He died of severe anemia. I had to put him to sleep only 2 days after seeing that he was just a tiny bit less active. Talk about being unprepared. I just ran out of money to try and save him.

We adopted Penny (named after the copper color of a penny), or shall I say my husband adopted her for me for Christmas 1988. Of all the things that I could have had, I wanted a kitty. She had such long hind legs that she jumped like a rabbit. She was so small when she came to us but boy did she grow. She grew to about 18 pounds!

Penny had an accident at about 6 months old that left a bone in a place where she couldn't run real fast. She breathed funny but was healthy and the Doctor didn't feel the problem was putting her at risk. In the past few months she was really cuddling up to me and wanting attention. Did she know something we didn't? Then in the wee hours of May 20, 2000, she was struck down. What makes this bizarre is that she usually likes to be in and for some reason known only to her she wanted to stay out. No doubt by a car, but no one will know if she just decided to sleep in the middle of the street or was crossing. We will miss her.

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