The Rainbow Bridge

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 vigor; 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...




Almost a year ago, Panda (short for Pandora, because she was so curious)developed a kidney problem and we almost lost her. To everyone's surprise, especially the vet, she rallied and fought back against the darkness. She endured being force fed through a syringe when her weight would go down, twice weekly trips to the vet to have water injected under her skin, and being medicated twice a day.

She remained bright-eyed and feisty throughout the last year. Despite the vet's warning that we'd only be buying her a couple of years at best, death seemed a long way away.

Two weeks ago she started losing weight again. First, on the 18th, she went down to 5.8 pounds. The following week she was down to 5.2, which was lower than she'd been when she was first diagnosed with a problem. Thursday she was down to 4.9 pounds. As painful as it was, we came to the realization it was time to let her go.

Rest in peace, our precious girl.

Julius' Journal

Did you know that cats sleep two thirds of the time while humans only sleep one third of the time? But really, what do you expect? Humans get to go out into the Big Scarey World and do who knows what, but we cats are stuck in the house 24/7. You try staying in one place for your whole life and see how long you can stay awake. I mean, let's face it, you can only chase a cat nip ball for so long before you get bored and have to take a nap. You can't even watch T.V. unless you have opposable thumbs.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade being a house cat for any amount of birds I see outside the window. It'd be great to catch a bird, mind you, but I wouldn't want to have to go outside to do it. There's dogs outside. And big metal monsters that take humans away. And sometimes it's wet out there! *shuddder*

Nope, you can keep your great outdoors. But maybe you could talk Firecat into inviting a couple of birds inside . . .

Panda's Ponderings

Okay, how fair is this? Yeah, I lost an ounce last week, but I'm back up to 5 pounds 8 ounces and how do those rotten humans reward me? More medication! I've got another pill that I have to take twice a day that's just as big as the one I'm already taking, and a smaller one that I also have to take twice a day.

On the plus side, my humans noticed that even though I wasn't eating I was hungry, and they finally talked the vet into checking my mouth. Turns out my teeth need cleaning, but not until they get my oral infection cleared up. That's what the little pills are for.

At least Firecat is trying to be nice to me about all those pills she's making me take. She found me a great place to sleep. I've been sleeping on the bookcase upstairs where it's warm, and today she got rid of a bunch of pillows out of the basket chair that's right beside the heat. Not only is it soft, and warm, and cozy, but the boys can't bother me there either.

Now, if I could just get her to up the treats . . .

Panda's Post

There's going to be no living with Firecat now - I've gained four ounces since my last post and she's taking all the credit. Of course she deserves some of the credit, she's the one feeding me with a syringe to make sure I'm getting enough to eat, but I'm the one who's keeping that yucky "good for me" food from the vet down.

Of course she also deserves the scratches on her arms. Yeah, I know she's trying to help me stay healthy, but that doesn't mean I have to like being wrapped in a towel and having gross food squirted down my throat. And seriously, is it really necessary for me to get those pills twice a day? Actually, it's kinda fun to see how many times I'm able to spit it out before she manages to make me swallow.

I've come up with a great way to get her back though. I wait 'till she sits down, preferably someplace without easy access to a book, then I curl up on her lap and give her the old sweetie pie eyes. Then she pats me until I go to sleep. She feels so guilty about being mean to me that she doesn't move me, even when she's dying to read that book that's just out of reach. And the best part is, she can't even use her lap top because I'm in the way.

Revenge is sweet!

Taz the Terrible

You don't want to be messing with me. I've been around here the longest and I was named after the Tazmanian Devil. Something about climbing door frames when I was a kitten and holding my own against the dog, whose head was bigger than I was . . .

I'm the father of the Terrible Trio - not that that's any great accomplishment. It's not like I was allowed to discipline them as kittens, and their mother babied them something fierce. She wouldn't even let me protect them from the dog - when the dog would start barking at them I'd go after her, but then Panda would come after me! A guy just can't win around here.

So mostly I keep to myself these days. Or I try to, anyway. Julius just won't give up the idea that we can be best buddies. He wants to cuddle, for crying out loud. Romi and Dante are just plain annoying.

Not one of those kids is fluffy, like me. And the only one who inherited my extra toes was the girl, Josie, who lives with the Treat Lady. That's right, I have extra toes.The technical name for it is polydactylism, but I preferred to be called a Hemmingway Cat. Maybe someday I'll even write a novel of my own.