Our Emma went first

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Wed May 03, 2006 9:16 am

I wanted to share that we had to put our beloved black and white British shorthaired cat, Emma, to sleep yesterday. She was only 8 years old, but had gone downhill a lot in the last three weeks, losing weight and vigor. The vet discovered that she was jaundiced, and it seemed clear that her liver had shut down. She was not yet, as far as can be deduced, in any pain.

She is survived by her calico sister, Lizzie.

Angel · Post by **Angel** » Wed May 03, 2006 9:26 am

I'm so sorry. I can certainly empathize. We have three cats that are 17, 16 and 15, and, although they are in good health now, I know things can happen. I lost one at 16 near Mother's Day 2 years ago and my boys came over and gave me a replacement kitty that was so small she sat in the palm of my hand. Best Mother's Day present I ever got.
They are sucha part of one's life that it is hard when these things happen.

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Wed May 03, 2006 9:27 am

My sincere sympathy, Bob. It's hard to lose them.

Audrey · Post by **Audrey** » Wed May 03, 2006 9:41 am

I am so very sorry Bob dear. I never have been able to understand the people who do not somehow just know that animals are every bit a part of the family as anyone else. I am certain that your Emma was loved very much and had a good life... And she never did have to have her fur coat stored away for the season! She got to wear it year around. Now that's class!

The Rainbow Bridge story

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigour; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.

The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together

.... Author unknown

theebmonique · Post by **theebmonique** » Wed May 03, 2006 7:08 pm

My deepest sympathies Bob. I know your pain. I love the story Audrey just posted. It is very comforting. Here is another version as well:

For all who have lost 4-legged babies…

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
Where the friends of man and woman do run,
When their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,
Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.
On this golden land, they wait and they play,
Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,
Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care,
Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.
All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,
Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met;
Together again, both person and pet.
So they run to each other, these friends from long past,
The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart,
Has turned into joy once more in each heart.
They embrace with a love that will last forever,
And then, side-by-side, they cross over…together.

The Rainbow Bridge
inspired by a Norse legend

Tracy...

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Wed May 03, 2006 8:35 pm

I'm so sorry about your Emma, Bob, never an easy thing to go through. My thoughts and sympathies go out to you and your family.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Thu May 04, 2006 12:06 am

Boy Bob- what a blow!
So sorry for you and Jay. It must have been a very anxious and worrisome and wearying 3 weeks for you all!

I've had 2 sick kitties the past week and Harry has had one. We are both lucky ours recovered, but I swear my hair is whiter than before!

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Thu May 04, 2006 1:39 pm

Thank you all! Our upstairs neighbor left us a small bouquet of white flowers last night, and his gesture and yours are sincerely appreciated. Emma was a little closer to Jay, and this is the first cat he raised from a kitten to go like this, years before her time, so he's finding himself teary at odd moments. Walks to the garbage chute down the hallway are going to be a lot less fun without Emma to dash out to join me just as the apartment door swings shut!

Our cats switched the personalities of the Borden gals in some ways; Lizzie is not outgoing with company, while Emma always had time to yip at a new person. On the other hand, my Lizzie has steely determination (to get that piece of turkey, to lick that last drip of milk, to sit in my lab while I'm writing), so she may be more like the hostorical Lizzie than we know!

Smudgeman · Post by **Smudgeman** » Thu May 04, 2006 3:45 pm

So sorry for your loss Bob. Losing a family member is never easy. When I lost my Callie 2 years ago, my other dog Sophie was so sad and lonely, that I had to go get her another companion for her and me! My sympathys to you and your companion.

Wordweaver · Post by **Wordweaver** » Fri May 05, 2006 12:33 am

I'm so sorry. It's very hard to lose a pet.

Lynn

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Fri May 19, 2006 2:20 pm

I happily announce that we have adopted, from a rescue lady in Astoria, NY, a cat named Mazie. She's a runty little tabby/Bengal blend, with the thinnest but most active tail I've ever seen. She's currently billeted in our bedroom as she gets used to us. Lizzie has the rest of the apartment for now. I think her picture is still up at the recue website: click on "cat rescue" to the left when you get there.

www.francisfriends.org

Angel · Post by **Angel** » Fri May 19, 2006 2:25 pm

She's sweet. Congratulations! What a fun time for you.

theebmonique · Post by **theebmonique** » Fri May 19, 2006 5:27 pm

Is this your cute new baby girl ?:

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Fri May 19, 2006 7:04 pm

What a sweetie! I hope the adjustment period goes smoothly and that Mazie and Lizzie accept each other. It makes me smile to know that there is a cat that doesn't have to sleep in a shelter tonight and has gone to stay in a good home with warm, loving parents. Congrats on your new addition to your family, Bob.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Fri May 19, 2006 9:49 pm

She looks so much like my 2!
Her eyes especially.
Congratulations! She's very lucky to have you.

augusta · Post by **augusta** » Mon May 22, 2006 5:03 pm

Oh, geez. I'm sorry to hear of Emma's passing.

Good news, tho. They used to say that animals didn't go to heaven when they passed on. I didn't believe it. They are so human-like and they have personalities and souls.

Well not long ago Bible scholars said there is indeed a heaven for pets.

Congratulations on aquiring Maizie! Thanks for posting the photo, Trace. I guess they took Maizie's photo down by the time I got there. She is adorable. How wonderful that you got her from a shelter. What a special baby!

Keep us posted on her.

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Tue May 23, 2006 3:45 pm

Thanks, everyone. She's become a lot less irritable (bipolar?) over the last week. Our cat rescue lady is stopping by tonight to check things out. Lizzie (my Lizzie) is a bit skittish, and so the two are being kept separate for now, though I think Mazie, who's sleeping with us (well, me - Jay's away) is ready to spread out. She and Lizzie have swapped areas twice already, as is part of the program. She is a sucker for being held against my chest, like an infant. The growling stops and the purring begins.

augusta · Post by **augusta** » Wed May 24, 2006 9:36 am

Awww - how cute! She must be a real comfort to you. I love cats that like to cuddle.

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Wed May 24, 2006 1:15 pm

She also likes to wake me up at three and six (I get up at seven) to play. She's five! When it's okay for her and Lizzie to physically be together, Mazie will spend the night on the other side of the door, with her new feline buddy.

Ann, the rescuer, came by last night and said we were handling everything beautifully, so that's good news.

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 3:25 pm

BAD NEWS. We're returning Mazie tonight. She's terrorizing Lizzie, who spends most of the day behind the couch (what is it about Lizzies and couches?). She's also starting peeing somewhat indiscriminately. We're knd of sick about it, but after I watched her pee AT the bathtub this morning at 5:30, I put my foot down...not in the puddle, though.

It seems that Mazie needs to be the only cat of a house, and her 5 years on the streeet make her a much tougher customer than our Lizzie, whom we raised from a kitten.

Ay, me.

Audrey · Post by **Audrey** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 3:31 pm

Oh dear... that is sad.

As per the bathroom incident-- I do not know if I should be more scandalized at the pee'ing or the fact that you were up at 5.30am!

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 8:32 pm

I'm sorry, Bob, thats a tough decision to have to make. I think you are totally doing the right thing for all concerned. I wonder if a kitten might be the way to go? Lizzie can teach her whats what and whos the boss and the kitten will just have to adjust to Lizzie's wishes.

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 9:11 am

The hand-off went very well, as it turned out. Lizzie is very paranoid, and I've moved her food and litter where she can easily get to it, as she's still a bit spooked of the kitchen, bathroom, and our bedroom. I was up at 3 this morning to have a low-blood sugar snack, and I had a nice visit with Liz.

Later this morning, while I sipped my tea, Lizzie jumped up to say hello. Only I guess she wanted me to know how unhappy she's been...'cause she peed on my lap. THAT was a new sensation.

Angel · Post by **Angel** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 9:20 am

I thought I was losing it for a minute because I hadn't read too many of the messages before Bob's last one and I was starting to wonder about you guys. Lizzie jumping on your lap and peeing? I hadn't read THAT anywhere before, even in Brown's book.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 4:45 pm

Yooper · Post by **Yooper** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 5:00 pm

Maybe she took up shoplifting as a more socially acceptable alternative to lap peeing!

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 3:55 pm

Glad to report that Lizzie is rejoining us mentally as the days pass. She's still a bit leery of the bedroom (which is where, of course, Mazie spent her first three weeks), but it'll happen. She's back to eating in the kitchen again, and she'll soon be the gal I know and love.

Then I can get on to more important things like ordering my poster of that HATCHET cover for my dining room!

Audrey · Post by **Audrey** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 4:06 pm

Bob Gutowski @ Thu Jun 22, 2006 3:55 pm wrote:Glad to report that Lizzie is rejoining us mentally as the days pass. She's still a bit leery of the bedroom (which is where, of course, Mazie spent her first three weeks), but it'll happen. She's back to eating in the kitchen again, and she'll soon be the gal I know and love.

Then I can get on to more important things like ordering my poster of that HATCHET cover for my dining room!

I'd come and make coq au vin to serve in that dining room-- if I can have some it of too!

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 4:32 pm

Sorry it didn't work out Bob. Animals are hard to predict. It's still a wonderful thing you tried to do.

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:47 am

Thanks to you all for your sympathy and humor! Lizzie is reverting to her old lovable self as the days pass. I brought home a new carboard box for her to nest in, and she loved it. I did have to physically re-intoduce her to her litter box, which she then immediately made use of (to my lap's eternal gratitude).

Audrey, did you know that one of the qualities of a first-class coq au vin is that it travels well in the mail? Just asking!