Hi all,

After reading through some of your posts I decided to be a bit of a copycat. This thread is going to introduce you to my baby boy, Tyler Michael.

In May 1999, I was packing lunches for my hubby and myself. Hubby walks up and asks me to put a baggie of cat food in his lunch bag. In my typical smart*** way I replied that we weren't that broke yet and he could have a sandwich. He then confessed that he and a co worker were feeding a stray cat on the loading dock in hopes of catching it, they were afraid she'd be hit by a tractor trailer.

Fast forward to June. The co worker had caught the cat and took her home. Turns out she was blind and pregnant. We discussed taking one of the kittens. I was apprehensive of Kayla's reaction and all of the remaining kittens were Orange male tabbies. As my Kissy had just died 4years previously I didn't want a cat that would look like him. But we went to the co workers house with our carrier and set it down in the room with the kittens. They were precious but again, I did NOT want an Orange male tabby. We decided to just head home empty handed.

When we picked up the carrier to leave, there was a kitten curled up sound asleep. We took him home.

To be continued...

Hi, Shelby, thank you so much for sharing your precious Tyler with us. How exciting!! I will look forward to sharing more of your story. I hope today is being kind to you, and please know you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Thanks, moonbeam. I have to post in bits and pieces, things are hectic right now but I real the need to do this now instead of waiting for the luxury of more time.

Now we had this tiny kitten in our home. It was hate at first sight for Kayla. She never really fully accepted him as part of our family. At the time we lived in a 3 story townhome. Kayla did not come downstairs except for food and litter box for 3 months! Tyler's first Christmas he decided to climb our tree. Unfortunately for him it was artificial. I was spending lots of time upstairs with Kay, but even though we had decided Ty was my hubby's cat, Ty had other ideas. It was mayhem when they were in the same room.

Tyler never gave up trying to befriend Kayla. Eventually they reached a truce. I was Kay's person but she would allow Ty to be near us. About this time my husband began spending more time on the road. He was a mechanic when we got together but now he was driving the rigs instead of fixing them.

Fast forward to April 2000. We had Kay. We had Ty. Now we added a rescued 14 month old lab/shep mix to our family. We named her Ciara. Kay and Ty now had a mutual enemy! Good for them, bad for Ciara. They did settle down after hubby began taking the dog with him on some of his runs.

More later.

Hi Kaylasmom.....I always enjoy these stories. I'm always anxious to read the next post. Thank you for sharing your story and I am looking forward to more. But I do understand about time.

God Bless..

LoveMyMickey

Sorry for the interruption. Where was I?

Spring 2000. Things were going along very well. Kay, Ty and Ciara were finding their places in the family and my heart. Kayla already had her place, she was definitely Mommy's girl. With hubby gone for work a lot of the time I was able to give all of our beasties plenty of affection. But Kay had most of my heart. She was my soul cat. Poor Ty was shunted to the side a good bit of the time. Ciara was a very laid back dog, just walk and feed and she was happy. Remember, Ty was the cat I really thought I didn't want.

Around this time hubby and I were coming to grips with our infertility. We both had wanted a home full of pets and kids. We had the pets, but....

Fall 2001. Hubby and I decided to separate. I took all 3 beasties and found a pet friendly apartment to rent in the city. We sold the house and my SUV, and I bought a little 2 door car. Bye bye suburban dream. But I had my fur kids and it was going to be ok. Kayla and I grew even closer. Ty was still in the shadows. Ciara was her happy doggy self, totally oblivious to the drama around her. Ty just tried to fit himself in the corners of my life, happy for whatever time and affection I could spare. Looking back I wish I had had more to give him and I feel total guilt.

Spring 2002. Hubby and I were talking reconciliation. And I found myself pregnant! After all the heartache things were looking up. But yet again, Ty was left in the shadows. By fall, all 5 1/2 of us were under the same roof. But Ty was such an undemanding boy. He could have become mean or destructive but he didn't. Just the same sweet boycat.

My son was born January 2003. Tyler appointed himself guardian kitty. Wherever my son was, there was Tyler. Under the crib, under the swing, etc. But I was so busy with the demands of a newborn mostly on my shoulders, hubby still being on the road a lot that I had no time to spare for a shadow cat. Kay would be in my face, demanding (and receiving) all the attention she wanted but Ty always stayed in the background. That was the pattern set from day one and I guess we were just in that rut. When my son started to walk, Ciara became extremely aggressive toward him and to my regret we had to find her a new family. She remains there to this day, fat and happy on a farm in Virginia.

Don't get me wrong. I did (and do) love Tyler. But Kay was such a strong purrsonality and Ty was so laid back it was just easy to overlook him. Not a day goes by now that I don't regret the neglect. But he seems to have forgiven me a thousand times over. I wish I was more like our babies sometimes with their capacity to overlook the past and live in the moment.

Gotta stop for tonight. I didn't realize this would be so emotionally draining. This story will ultimately have a happy ending so why is it so hard? Thanks for reading.

Shelby

As someone who's been through something similar, I'm gald little Tyler found a home with you. Look forward to updates

Hi Shelby, Thanks so much for the smile this morning - I love that Tyler snuck home with you!! Like Love My Mickey I'm looking forward to the next instalment (time permitting)!! Hope you have a great day!! Leejaye

Hi, Shelby, thank you so very much for sharing your precious Tyler with us. Writing your memories is sharing your heart - - and the process involves unveiling both the joys - - and sorrows - - of the journey. It surfaces feelings and emotions that you may not have known were there - - and perhaps feelings and emotions that you had to suppress just to "deal with" things. Just know that whatever you share with us there will never be judgments - - except sharng with you how much you truly do love your Tyler. Remember, Shelby, - - sometimes love comes softly - - through the day to day interaction / observation / taking care of needs.

Thank you again so much for sharing your precious Tyler with us. I, too, look forward to your next chapter. Please know you and Tyler are in my thoughts and prayers.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

There were many highs and lows in our lives over the following 3 years. I won't bore any of you with the details, its probably no more or less what anyone else has been through. While Kay was still the "in your face" cat, Tyler was still just on the perifery of our family. My Mom had nicknamed him "the lump" because whenever someone visited our home, Ty took refuge under the bedcovers. Hence, the lump under the blanket. He was still a sweet, quiet cat. We had a saying in our family-"Tylers need loving, too", mostly directed to Kay when she would nudge him aside.

Kayla died May 9, 2011. When my now 8 year old son and I returned empty handed from the vet, my son called to Tyler "Kay Kay is dead, Tyler. Now you get ALL the love". I'm ashamed to admit but I yelled at my son for his insensitivity and sent him to his room.

Turns out my kid was a bit of a prophet Since Kayla passed, Tyler has allowed himself to leave the shadows. He has really come into his own. Tyler is the sweetest boycat you will ever meet. The cat that I thought, 12 years ago, that I didn't want is a gem. He has become my furry stalker, always in the same room as me. When my son wakes up in the morning, Tyler jumps on the bed and paces until I get up. He sleeps at the top of our staircase like he's keeping watch over us while we sleep. He still runs when strangers come over but he actually socializes with friends and family. It's been amazing to see the changes in Ty over these past few weeks.

Tyler, Mommy is sorry for all the years of benign neglect. Your physical needs were always taken care of, but your emotional needs weren't. You are one amazing cat, and I love you. May we have many more years to continue to get to know each other.

Hi, Shelby, thank you so very much for sharing your wonderful Tyler with us. Our beloved companions do recognize the "pride order", so I promise you that Tyler was not feeling abandoned or left out. He had a full tummy when he was fed, he had a safe place to live, he had his medical needs always taken care of - - and he had his family. Bear in mind that mostly through Tyler's life your focus has been on taking care of your son and family. Your precious Tyler has known this, and has been a part of it all along.

May you and your precious Tyler continue to have many many many - - many -- wonderful years to share on your earthly journey together. Maybe sometime you will feel up to posting a picture(s) of him. I bet he's a handsome young man.

Shelby, thank you again so much for sharing your precious Tyler with us. I hope you and your family will have a very peaceful evening together. Please know you and all of your family are in my thoughts and prayers, and I look forward to knowing how each of you are doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Hi all,

Moonbeam, leejaye, lovemymickey, Tracy thanks so much for commenting on this post. It felt so good to tell Tyler's story and at last acknowledge him for the truly special cat that he is. This is Tyler:

What a handsome man!!!

Hi, Shelby, oh my - - what a handsome lad he is!! Thank you so o o much for sharing this wonderful picture of him with us. You both are blessed to have each other, Shelby - - may the both of you truly enjoy a long and happy and healthy journey together.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Hi Shelby...I truly enjoyed your story of Tyler. He is such a handsome little man. He is so precious and you are very fortunate to have him. I hope you have many happy, healthy, and fun-filled years with him.

Thank you for sharing your Tyler's story and picture....God Bless..

LoveMyMickey

Hi Shelby,
I felt much like what you describe, in relation to Loki. It seems he was always taking a back seat, treated as the "other" cat. I was also very happy to find him becoming closer to me after Dzamba. Just like he was patiently waiting his turn.

Well, maybe not that patiently - I think some of the mischief he got up to before that he now does less, was begging for more attention.

Peace,
Chris

Tank you moonbeam, leejaye,lovemymickey and Chris. I happen to think he's a handsome beastie, too. But Moms always say that!

Hi all!
.
Tyler has a new trick. When he wants me to get up in the morning he steals my glasses off the nightstand. As I am pretty much blind without them or contacts its pretty effective. God help me if he hides them before I figure out where they are.

Hi, Shelby, thank you so much for sharing with us how you and your precious Tyler are doing. He wouldn't by any chance be borrowing them to look at the stock market news in the paper? Or perhaps trying to look "distinguished" to a little lady he has met online?

That is so funny - - and frustrating when you can't see. Thank you so much for sharing this cute chuckle with us. I hope today has been a good one for you and your precious Tyler, and that you will have a peaceful evening and great weekend. Please know you and your precious Tyler are in my thoughts and prayers, and look forward to knowing how you both are doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Kaylasmom

What a handsome boy! He has a lot more white on his chest than Tang, but has a similar facial expression I certainly hope my kids don't take to stealing my glasses

Hi all,
Hope all my east coast LS friends made it through the earthquake today. It didn't faze Tyler one bit. I thought cats were supposed to be able to sense these things before they happened. Everything ok here.

Shelby