I too...have tears in my eyes.....
We had 2 cats that I got as kittens....one was 15 when she died, the other was 19....it broke my heart. They were a part of our family. They grew up with my children....the kids left....the girls were still here. They were such a comfort.
I had originally gone to Adopt a Pet looking for a companion for Sabrina as she was deaf and I worried about her. The pet adoption place wouldn't even talk to me, because I "was a cruel and evil person for planning on removing their front claws"....after I not so politely said bite me and left I went to the pet store that had an area of cats and dogs from the county shelter and talked to them. They didn't have any female kittens. Said they would keep me on the list.
The week after Sabrina was gone....she went into massive kidney failure...there was nothing we could do....except cry, the guy at the pet store called and told me they had one for me....I cried as I told him about Sabrina. He said he would look for 2 sisters for me. I didn't know if I was ready for another one. A couple of days later.....he left a message on my cell, that they had had 3 females come in with their 3 brothers and mother. Did I want to come look? I called my honey and said what do I do....he said go look.
I got there just after the pet area had closed. There in the window were the cutest babies and their momma. Four black and white short haired like their momma and 2 all black long haired. I knelt on the floor against the window where their huge cage was with tears in my eyes. They were so cute as only kittens can be.
This voice asked me.....are you Debbie? I turned, and here was the girl who had forgotten her phone inside with the animals and she said ....do you want to look at the kittens? What was I going to say? No? She unlocked the door and we went into the room and the kittens were falling all over themselves. I fell in love immediately. But what to do? There were 3 females .....which one would be left out?
My sweet of heart was on a fishing trip in Key West....and I needed to make a decision. I tried to call him and he answered and he wanted to know what I thought of the kittens. After telling him about each one....I asked which one do I leave? He said take all 3!
We had to wait 2 weeks for them to get up to 1.5 pounds each so they could be spayed. Skyy, Bailey and Cocoa Puff are now 3.5. We had given my daughter 2 rescued kittens that Christmas. When my daughter moved home the following fall, she them with her....when she left ....they stayed. We kept Jasmine and a friend of my son's who babysat the girls last Christmas while we were gone....took Jaz's sister, Cleo when she left. Cleo is much happier being an only cat, and the girls are much happier with them gone.
We now have 4 cats that are all under 4 years old....and I can't imagine not having them run around. My sweetheart...the former "cat hater" ...refers to himself as "Daddy" when he talks to them. Who'd a thunk it?
Animals bring such peace to their owners....comfort when we're tired, stressed or ill. They seem to know just the time to come up for a head pet or a lick on the hand or the cheek.
I only hope they somehow understand how dear they are to us and we provide as much to them as they to us.
They can never be replaced.....but there's always room in our hearts for new family.
ASDF.....hugs to you and yours as you mourn your beloved Maggie......<<<<hugs>>>>
