Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
In Loving Memory Cats => Rainbow Bridge - In Loving Memory => Topic started by: blackcat on January 17, 2017, 08:52:34 AM
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Esther lived a hardscrabble life on the backstreets of Dartford for an unknown number of years. A teenage mother she never grew to full size, weighing in a a mere 5kg. Her muscular control meant that when you picked her up she barely weighed enough to register. After endless pregnancies she was finally rescued and her last litter weaned, was neutered. She came to me when I moved into my home in Chatham, shortly after the arrival of Smidgen (a large 17 week old kitten from Cheshire). Smidgen, despite being fully weaned, immediately took advantage of the fact she was still lactating, despite being half as big again as she.
Shadow and she became friends from the outset - a quick hiss and a surprised look from the dog, and they were friends for life.
Smidgen, once convinced that suckling was not acceptable, continued to accept her mothering instincts for the rest of her life, and she offered it to all other animals that came into the household over her time with me.
In February 2009 we returned to Australia, and after a brief stay in quarantine, she came to join me in the country. Here she enjoyed freedoms that might never have featured in her wildest imaginings - hunting rabbits, mice and birds with a conviction it was astonishing to watch. During the mouse plague she accounted for five mice a day for weeks on end!
Two years ago, during a hot summer, I became aware of a significant increase in the snake population, so considering her hunting tendencies decided it was time for the cats to remain indoors - a change she accepted with her usual calmness. She was getting noticeably old, and the vet considered it likely she was approaching or past her 20s. Yesterday she took her last visit to the vet - her breathing had become severely compromised and she was wasting away. She left calmly in my arms, at the hands of a vet who was well familiar with her childhood haunts. Today she is with Shadow at the bridge, no doubt curled up with him and having a good rest.
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oh Jo I'm sorry, but what a great life she had :hug:
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Jo, I'm so sorry. :hug: :hug: A life well lived.
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Jo so sorry for the loss of your special girl, loved and so very well travelled, loved and missed forever x
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I'm so sorry for your loss Jo. :hug: Esther lived to a ripe old age but it doesn't hurt any less when they go does it.
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I am so sorry to hear that your beautiful girl has had to leave you :hug: What a wonderful life she had with you, what tales she will have to tell over the Bridge.
RIP beautiful girl, play hard at the bridge.
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SO VERY SORRY JO AND SHE HAD A WONDERFUL LIFE WITH YOU. :hug: :hug: :hug:
RIP ESTER PLAY HARD ON THE BRIDGE SHE WILL ALWAYS BE A PURR IN YOUR HEART.
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So sorry Jo :hug: :hug: :hug:
RIP Esther :( :(
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For a little cat she has left a large hole. Smidgen has been looking for her in the ceiling where she used to loiter after starlings. At least for her, it was quick. It will take a little longer for us to adjust I suspect.
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It always does take us far longer, Jo. :hug: :hug: Poor Smidgen.
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So very sorry for your loss Jo :'( I fully understand the large hole left in your home despite her size.
RIP darling Esther :Luv2: :Luv2: :Luv2:
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What a lovely story of her life - she certainly had an interesting one, not many cats emigrate!
RIP beautiful girl.
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So sorry to hear about Esther but very glad she had such a wonderful life with you :hug:
Thinking of you :hug: