<p>Billy, the younger cat, is fine. He might more appropriately be called Belly because his face is so often in the food bowl. He just came in, ate and is stretched out next to me after I shoved his butt off the keyboard. Chester, the actual brother, has been depressed but he expresses that by gorging. He’s going on a diet NOW. I would be embarrassed to take him in for his annual exam. He might crush the scale.</p>
<p>Lergnom, it sounds like he was a very special kitty. Sorry for your loss.</p>
<p>To be honest I teared up a little.(that is the first time ever) Your story was truly touching. It sounds like you had a great cat</p>
<p>Made me cry too. We had a gorgeous boy kitty named Casey Jones who was only 5 years old and he had a heart disorder. Drove him to Ohio State to try to fix him but there was nothing they could do. We loved him so much and had a family memorial at his burial site in the backyard.</p>
<p>We buried him with his laster light and a crown because he was our prince. (I am nearly crying as I write this)</p>
<p>We lost our precious Golden, Edgar, a little over a year ago and we had him cremated. We have a special shelf in our bookcase dedicated to our animals who have passed.Edgar’s ashes are there along with Casey’s “diamond” collar. We plan on getting all our animals cremated from now on.</p>
<p>A local funeral home also does animal cremations and lets you have a kind of “calling hours.” Sounds strange but it was a wonderful experience to honor Edgar.</p>
<p>You have my sympathy. Losing an animal is horrible - they are a source of unconditional love and loyalty. I know there is a heaven for them.</p>
<p>So sorry for your loss. Pets bring so much joy to our lives and they are truly members of our family. I miss each one that we have lost and always will…</p>
<p>So the fact that I have the collars of all our dogs…that I looked at tonight because of this thread…isn’t different? </p>
<p>Our goldens are getting old: one is going to have his Bark Mitzvah in November and the other…we aren’t sure. She’s old. (They are both rescues. We knew the family of our male dog.) He is a bit unsteady sometimes. She has arthritis in her spine. We love them.</p>
<p>And tonight I am not ashamed to admit that they had steak and kibble for dinner…with Happy Hips (which has always sounded like a cheap hooker to me) for dessert. And the steak was warmed just enough to bring out the full flavor.</p>
<p>I am so sorry for your loss. After our wonderful Irish setter passed away, aka “velcro dog”, a friend sent me a link to the “Rainbow Bridge”. Hope this will bring you and the other posters who have lost pets a little comfort.</p>
<p>Lergnom, sorry to hear about your beloved cat. Sounds like he lived a wonderful life.</p>
<p>by Christopher Smart</p>
<p>For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry.
For he is the servant of the Living God, duly and daily serving him.
For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way.
For is this done by wreathing his body seven times round with elegant quickness.
For then he leaps up to catch the musk, which is the blessing of God upon his prayer.
For he rolls upon prank to work it in.
For having done duty and received blessing he begins to consider himself.
For this he performs in ten degrees.
For first he looks upon his forepaws to see if they are clean.
For secondly he kicks up behind to clear away there.
For thirdly he works it upon stretch with the forepaws extended.
For fourthly he sharpens his paws by wood.
For fifthly he washes himself.
For sixthly he rolls upon wash.
For seventhly he fleas himself, that he may not be interrupted upon the beat.
For eighthly he rubs himself against a post.
For ninthly he looks up for his instructions.
For tenthly he goes in quest of food.
For having considered God and himself he will consider his neighbor.
For if he meets another cat he will kiss her in kindness.
For when he takes his prey he plays with it to give it a chance.
For one mouse in seven escapes by his dallying.
For when his day’s work is done his business more properly begins.
For he keeps the Lord’s watch in the night against the adversary.
For he counteracts the powers of darkness by his electrical skin and glaring eyes.
For he counteracts the Devil, who is death, by brisking about the life.
For in his morning orisons he loves the sun and the sun loves him.
For he is of the tribe of Tiger.
For the Cherub Cat is a term of the Angel Tiger.
For he has the subtlety and hissing of a serpent, which in goodness he suppresses.
For he will not do destruction if he is well-fed, neither will he spit without provocation.
For he purrs in thankfulness when God tells him he’s a good Cat.
For he is an instrument for the children to learn benevolence upon.
For every house is incomplete without him, and a blessing is lacking in the spirit.
For the Lord commanded Moses concerning the cats at the departure of the Children of Israel from Egypt.
For every family had one cat at least in the bag.
For the English Cats are the best in Europe.
For he is the cleanest in the use of his forepaws of any quadruped.
For the dexterity of his defense is an instance of the love of God to him exceedingly.
For he is the quickest to his mark of any creature.
For he is tenacious of his point.
For he is a mixture of gravity and waggery.
For he knows that God is his Saviour.
For there is nothing sweeter than his peace when at rest.
For there is nothing brisker than his life when in motion.
For he is of the Lord’s poor, and so indeed is he called by benevolence perpetually–Poor Jeoffry! poor Jeoffry! the rat has bit thy throat.
For I bless the name of the Lord Jesus that Jeoffry is better.
For the divine spirit comes about his body to sustain it in complete cat.
For his tongue is exceeding pure so that it has in purity what it wants in music.
For he is docile and can learn certain things.
For he can sit up with gravity, which is patience upon approbation.
For he can fetch and carry, which is patience in employment.
For he can jump over a stick, which is patience upon proof positive.
For he can spraggle upon waggle at the word of command.
For he can jump from an eminence into his master’s bosom.
For he can catch the cork and toss it again.
For he is hated by the hypocrite and miser.
For the former is afraid of detection.
For the latter refuses the charge.
For he camels his back to bear the first notion of business.
For he is good to think on, if a man would express himself neatly.
For he made a great figure in Egypt for his signal services.
For he killed the Icneumon rat, very pernicious by land.
For his ears are so acute that they sting again.
For from this proceeds the passing quickness of his attention.
For by stroking of him I have found out electricity.
For I perceived God’s light about him both wax and fire.
For the electrical fire is the spiritual substance which God sends from heaven to sustain the
bodies both of man and beast.
For God has blessed him in the variety of his movements.
For, though he cannot fly, he is an excellent clamberer.
For his motions upon the face of the earth are more than any other quadruped.
For he can tread to all the measures upon the music.
For he can swim for life.
For he can creep.</p>
<p>^^^^That makes me think of a very touching poem by actor Jimmy Stewart about his beloved pet.</p>
<p>[Jimmy</a> Stewart Reads a Poem About His Dog Beau on “The Tonight Show” - Johnny Carson - 1981 - YouTube](<a href=“Jimmy Stewart Reads a Touching Poem About His Dog Beau | Carson Tonight Show - YouTube”>Jimmy Stewart Reads a Touching Poem About His Dog Beau | Carson Tonight Show - YouTube)</p>
<p>Lergnom, I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. What a great cat you had.</p>
<p>We lost our beloved cat one week ago today. I’ve been weepy all week. Our furry friends are very special, aren’t they?</p>
<p>Awwww…just lost my eight year old guinea pig.</p>
<p>Thank you for sharing Jimmy Stewart’s poem about his dog Beau. We too have a “Beau”, an energetic non obedient LOVING golden. Our “Beau” is almost 13 and in big dog years…that’s old. </p>
<p>Jimmy Stewart lived a few blocks from us. When my youngest was still in her stroller my parents and I would take walks. We always saw this tall gentleman…with a hat and a scarf. He clearly didn’t want to be recognized…but my daughter broke through his reserve by waving hello to him. (His wife had died by this time and I know he was sad and lonely.) After a few weeks he waved back to my daughter. And as she began to speak she would call out Hello there! And he would answer…hello there sweetheart.</p>
<p>Jimmy Stewart was, by all accounts a private gentleman. For him to have shared the poem about his Beau shows the depth of his love and loss. </p>
<p>I think the dogs are going to get an extra treat tonight.</p>