Goodbye, Milesy, Mrs. Goodcat., Her Life, ? to March 10, 2008 Options

[Jon730]

Perhaps twelve years ago, a timid black cat crept onto my deck, to steal kibble I had left out for the Raccoon Family. She was afraid of people, and would slink away when approached. Over months, she overcame her fear, and would visit me. I noticed her fur was missing in places, and she did not walk well. One day, in payment for food, she butted her head against my hand, and let me pet her for a moment, before warning me away.
Over the Summer, she began to get fat. As Fall approached, she showed up with a Tabby kitten. I had to catch them and bring them in. They were taken to the vet's immediately. It developed that "Miles", the mother had a food allergy, hence prescription food for life.
Being starved and pregnant and sick out there, it appears she was calcium deprived and her teeth and hip joints were affected.
I have had many cats and dogs in my life, and even a few reptiles, but this cat was highly intelligent, and a genuine character. She formed a devoted attachemtn to me, and declared herself my Cat Wife, and worked on me till I believed it. Even animal lover friends remarked on our "Abnormal" relationship.
She devotedly waited every day for me to come home from Work, and when I worked too long in my shop, she would come down and scream at me, her kind of ratty tail wiggling like a cheap New Years noisemaker, and demand to be carried upstairs. Her happiest moments were when I held her in my arms and stood in front of the mirror, so she could look at us together and GLOAT! The purring could be heard in the other room.
She was otherwise quite lazy, but not so much that she did not insist on being Top Cat.
She constantly schemed about sneaking into the other cat's rooms and stealing their forbidden Fancy Feast, and when caught, she would EAT at top speed before she was stopped. One day, she fell asleep on top of the television, and slept so deeply she slowly oozed down the back..and awoke just as she fell, shouting "WHOAAA!".
She was my constant companion and followed me like a dog. I have never had such total love with an animal in my life, and she sucked me in totally. She loved hearing all her names, "Miles", "Mrs. Goodcat", "Friend".
I could go on, but it is hard to type.
Over the last few weeks, she lost her appet*ite. She had a lump on her chest from the last food allgery breakout. The "Lump" was cancer which very quickly had spread to her lungs. I nearly fainted when I saw the XRays..and all this time, she purred when held, even though she apprantly could hardly breathed. She purred till the very last.
She was what a lot of people would not have bothered with..a ratty looking old sick cat..But I am so glad I met her and loved her, and have never had such a total relationship with anyone or anything. I am heartbroken.
But yet, I have contacted a nearby shelter and will be "Conducting Interviews". It hurts terribly at the moment, but I do not want to live without some chance of the next grateful rescue paying me back so beautifully.



Milesey's Favorite Trick. Sleeping.




Scheming about stealing food. Her other trick!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'll See You at the Bridge, MyCat-Wife. Wait a while, I love you.

[goliath]

Jon............Your words of expression in the love you have with milesy touches my heart deeply. The special "connection" you describe is known well to me and many others.

It is so difficult to come to terms with the passing of a loved furry kid, especially when it hits you out of nowhere. I too miss having my Goliath meet me at the door, but most of all I miss him when I go to bed at night. He was my teddybear his whole life, my companion, my joy, the sparkle in my eyes, and the light of my life. Goliath captured my heart from the day we met and I captured his.

It is clear to me that you and milesy established that special love together and over the years you and she spent together, you made many beautiful memories.
May you cherish those memories for all your years to come until you and she meet again.

Your pics of milesy are as cute as can be. She definately looks like a little sneaker. I especially loved your story of her falling asleep on top of the TV. As I pictured her sleeping so soundly, only to have the rude awakening of slipping down the back of the TV I had to laugh.

Please come back and share more with us when you are ready Jon. There are so many wonderful, loving, compassionate people here that will help you through your long journey of healing. Had it not been for this site and these beautiful people I don't think I would have ever been able to function again in a happy and healthy way.

Much love to you Jon. May you be blessed with comfort and peace as you miss your sweet cat wife, milesy.

[Jon730]

Your pics of milesy are as cute as can be. She definately looks like a little sneaker. I especially loved your story of her falling asleep on top of the TV. As I pictured her sleeping so soundly, only to have the rude awakening of slipping down the back of the TV I had to laugh.

She was lik that..She looked SO serious, then would turn into a clown.
But what was the very strangest thing I ever had happen with a Furry Friend, and that I could ONLY tell to animal lovers, is this....
Our intense friendship began one day after she was inside for about a year.
She woke up from her (haha) "SLeeping Station"(As opposed to 'Work Station") on my desk, and hopped down into my lap. She shoved her face toward my face and looked into my eyes. I looked into hers....and there was someone living in there.

I am sure people here have experienced something lke it. I do not mean to trivialize the Yorkies we had that certainly loved me, nor Merlin the Bombay Cat who was "mine" and who adored me.
This was something...Otherwordly, unheimlicht, almost mystical, like a dream I had the night I was in a burial chamber in Wales.

Whatever it was, at that moment, she declared me her employee.
Sometimes I see her out of the corner of my eye, and some nights I have felt her weight on my feet. Other bereaved owners have told me of things like that happening.

We will always be part of each other. This shows that we never know where lightning will strike, nor in which direction, good or bad. Who would have thought that after decades of giving a home to rescues, or breeding Siamese, this worn, sick, tattered old thing would be "The One" that was my Cat Wife. (She said!)

Thank the adinistrator who runs this board for giving me the opportunity of telling SOMEONE about my special Friend For Life.

[kimm]

What a beautiful tribute to such a special cat and companion. It's hard to explain why we have that strange & wonderful connection with certain pets. But it happens, and when those special ones are gone it feels like a part of you went missing too. It takes time to heal from this. I am coming up on one year after losing my Peaches, and my heart is still broken. I still think of her every day, and miss her, and my heart is full of her. Please know, I am thinking of you now, and am so sorry for your loss.

[goliath]

When you speak of looking in her eyes and seeing someone living in there I do know exactly what you are speaking of. That beautiful living soul that is so connected to us in every way lives there speaking through their love without using words, but rather feelings. You swear they must be human because of their complete understanding of us and us in them.

Goliath was the best friend I ever had, human or otherwise. From the time he was a little puppy his eyes were always very aware of where I was and he followed me everywhere. When I would teach him things, the eagerness he showed to understand amazed me. In less than 5 minutes I could teach him anything. He would tilt his sweet little face to the right, and then to the left and study my eyes and what I was saying and I could just see the lightbulb turn on. We danced together. He always let me know when it was time to go to bed. All the different commands I taught him from rolling over, saluting, closing cupboards, giving kissess and many many more were not only fun for him and I, but the communication was completely unreal. He even learned to pick up his toys and put them away. At times I thought he was superhuman as he seemed to really be a thinker as well as a little stinker.

When Goliath passed away so suddenly in my loving arms, he looked deep into my eyes and mine in his and we both knew the angels were standing nearby to return him to God's almighty hands. I know in my heart that he and I will be reunited in heaven and I will love him til the day after forever.

Bless you Jon for sharing such an inspiring account of the love you and milesy shared and will continue to share til you and she meet again.

[Jon730]

When you speak of looking in her eyes and seeing someone living in there I do know exactly what you are speaking of. That beautiful living soul that is so connected to us in every way lives there speaking through their love without using words, but rather feelings. You swear they must be human because of their complete understanding of us and us in them.

She had such expressions.
So...One day she was happily sitting on my legs, when Sam, the Shelter Siamese who has been with us for ten years, decided she wanted her Daddy, and encroached on Miles' "Property".
Sam is still doing fine, and acts like a kitten.
Miles, however, was in the kind of jealous snit about her "Property" and steamed for a few minutes before stalking off in a snit:





Miles and Sam got along like two jealous teenage sisters. But Murphy, the black Norwegian Forest Cat, was a longhaired black cat who superficailly like her. When Miles was outdoors sick and starving, she would come up to feed on the deck, and look in the slider at Murphy, who was well-fed and warm. The two used to HATE each other through the glass, and when Miles came in, it was Murph's worst nightmare, so for ten years they each stayed out of each other's way. I am saddened that they never got over it.
Murphy is strutting around with her tail up, gloating. I guess I cannot blame her, because Miles was overbearing, but still, I wish she had a little more class about it.

[LoveThem]

Your Miles is a beautiful girl...as you can tell from my avatar..I love black cats. I did just lose 3 siblings over the past few years..the most recent was my favorite..Little Guy. His story also involved cancer and a breathing problem that meant he had to leave me.

I did adopt a black cat from our local shelter who I named Lucky. He is a distraction and never learned so many things cause he originally was abandoned but he does help to have him here. At times..he looks close to my others..physically.

I am sorry you lost Miles but I am glad you had 12 years with her. We just should have so much more time with our special ones. I see your special bond with her...I love the pictures you posted. They are just such beautiful babies.

Write about her anytime. It is the good memories that help us deal with the loss. We never get over it but if we can prevent it from overwhelming us..that's a start.

Take Care and know you are not alone in your grief...we all are there or have been there and we have strong shoulders for each other. I'm glad you have your others so your home is not empty...emptiness makes it harder to heal sometimes.

[goliath]

Hi Jon. I read in LoveThem's thread that her pics made you smile. Her pics always leave me smiling too.

If you haven't yet checked out my threads, please see Heartfelt Letter for Goliath as well as my other threads. You can bet you will receive many smiles and warm feelings all over from them. Goliath left me the very best stories and pics to share with everybody. How lucky am I to hold and tell about all the years of memories we made together.

I have been so blessed in my life with meaningful relationships both with people as well as my precious loves with Goliath and Gidget.

Hugs to you Jon.

[toonie]

Hugs to you Jon what a beautiful story you tell about Mrs Goodcat, you are truly a cat person who talks to cats! How lucky for Milesy, because I think you are exactly what and who she needed here, she found her soulmate in you. Beautiful furniture, ha ha I love stuff like that, it impresses me so much more than a table devoid of any history!
And of course, that rainbow picture, with the bridge going upwards to high heavens, well what a message, to soothe your precious heart. Take care Jon you are a wonderful cat dad, cat husband and cat person. xoxoxoxo

[goliath]

Happy Easter to you Jon. As you celebrate this glorious remembrance and give thanks for all He has given us, may you find peace in knowing that Miles is with our ultimate and all loving Creator and Saviour.

Peace to you my friend.

[Jon730]

Happy Easter to you Jon. As you celebrate this glorious remembrance and give thanks for all He has given us, may you find peace in knowing that Miles is with our ultimate and all loving Creator and Saviour.

Thank You
<><

All Things Bright

[goliath]

As I am trying to write this reply through tears of joy, words cannot express the overwhelming flood of emotion going through me.

Thank you Jon for sending such an inspirational expression of faith and love. The compassion and love you pass onto others can only be by way of heaven. It is He who has set the example for us to follow and it is up to us whether or not we follow His example. Blessed is he who comforts in the Name of Our Lord.

[MY*SWEET*BUBBA]

((((Jon))))

I am new to this board and have actually never posted yet. But I HAD to write you to tell you how much your love stories about your beloved Miles affected me. I am writing this through many tears so please excuse any typos. My sweet son and soul-mate, Bubba, left me January 8th of this year after 18 1/2 beautiful years together. I still grieve sometimes as much now as I did at the time. It has been the absolute worst thing I have ever gone through. We had been together since I was 20 years old, my entire adult life, and he was 3 weeks old--just a tiny black fuzz ball, alone and abandoned. From the time I first looked deep into his eyes, I was also struck, like you, and realized that " there was someone living in there". I've never heard it stated as eloquently but your words seem to resonate all that I felt, and feel, about my Bubba as well.
I have a lifetime of memories about Bubba and could write novels about the incredible things he did, like bringing me flowers in his mouth when I was crying. I wish he could bring me flowers one last time. He was the special one in my life and I'm afraid I will never be the same now that he is no longer in this world.

Thank you for sharing your memories of your precious Miles. You will both be in my thoughts and prayers tonight.My wise old man-boy, Summer 2007 at 18 years of age

Looking toward the Bridge
Here's one for ya...Bubba and his Siamese "sister", Medina who he shared 16 years of his life with. She left for the Bridge 2 years ago...


Wait for me, Bubby

Thank you again
Cherie, Bubba's Forever mommy

((((((((JON AND MILESY))))))))
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

[Jon730]

I have a lifetime of memories about Bubba and could write novels about the incredible things he did, like bringing me flowers in his mouth when I was crying. I wish he could bring me flowers one last time. He was the special one in my life and I'm afraid I will never be the same now that he is no longer in this world.

He could me Milesey's uncle, by the looks. I have been wondering why Miles and I had such a deep relationship..I have loved other cats, who felt the same way about me, but it did not have the depth. I think possibly I have gotten old enough so I do not care if I make a fool of myself over an animal any more. At my age, 60+, I have many animal friends in the past who I look back upon, and miss very much. They all seemed very much to have individual souls, yet Miles was something beyond that.
I may have been ready, and she was ready..Had I not taken her in she would not have survived the coyotes, etc..,..and she KNEW it.

Gibran said, "...A friend is your needs answered".

I could hold her up to the window, ans say, "Remember when you lived OUTSIDE?"..And she would purr and rub her head all over my face.
I could shout, "Milesy..BRUSH." and she would come running..she loved to be brushed.

Now, this is not to demean my other firends at the Bridge. Fro example, here are some dears from long ago..1977 to 1988 and '90:
Merlin was the Bombay, and his wife, Harmony, the Tonkinese: My wife painted this, and t*itled it "Never-ending Love".


So when I fuss about Miles, Yes, she was Most Special..But I must remember the ones before her.
Can it be I am at an age where the next cat could outlive me?? I wonder !

[MY*SWEET*BUBBA]

Your stories of Milesy made me cry and smile at the same time. How can this hurt so bad? I've experienced a lot of loss in my life, many furbabies have passed before Bubba. But the loss of him has cut me so very deeply.

The painting your wife made is so incredibly beautiful, BTW. She is truly gifted.

In Peace, Cherie
~Bubba's forever mommy!

[Jon730]

Your stories of Milesy made me cry and smile at the same time. How can this hurt so bad? I've experienced a lot of loss in my life, many furbabies have passed before Bubba. But the loss of him has cut me so very deeply.

My friend Merlin died on my birthday one year, so that memorial is "built In" for good.

Yes, the stories here and the people who write them do the same to me, and it does not seem to matter what species the friend is. (Well, OK, though I am still a little sad about my long-ago Boa Constrictor "Fab", Or Lyle The Tortoise, we never really developed a personal bond the way we do with fellow mammals...)

The stories and feelings help me get mine out, and though I am sad when I log off here, the desolation and despair is helped greatly, because
1) Other people obviously know how it feels.
2) There is hope for another great friend in the future. Other people have experienced these relationships, so it means they are possible again.
3) We work through the feelings this way and exorcise some of the worst.

And:
I see the computer's air intake is full of Miles Fur.

The painting your wife made is so incredibly beautiful, BTW. She is truly gifted. 

"Work is Love made visible".

We all make our memorials in our own way. Her world ended when Matilda the Aussie died of cancer, and that was twelve years ago or so. She was never the same.
She got her feelings out with her brushes.

I cannot paint, so here I am....

[LoveThem]

Well, Bubba's Mommy and Jon730:

Your stories and beautiful pictures are making me type this through tears..the stories and words are so loving of your special ones and your pictures just take my breath away. Cause..as you can see from my Avatar, Little Guy, I love these black furry babies. I had 3 and Little Guy and Keeper were twin brothers. Their pictures and stories are listed below to tell you what sections they are in.

And yes Jon I can relate to your question about could the next cat outlive me?
I've thought about that..If I were to be blessed with one who goes 16 like my Little Guy then it is possible but I cannot go even months without one of these special ones..they mean so much in our lives, in our home and the one I adopted from the SPCA shelter in December...who I named Lucky...I do know that he will always have a home because if anything ever happened the SPCA takes their own back and gives them a home for life.

I don't expect to be around in 20 years but I believe 16 is possible again..if I'm lucky I will live as long as my parents and I will make sure any special one I get will be taken care of in the future.

All I know is once that unconditional love has been experienced...it is addictive and it is much harder going through life without it. At least whoever I get will have the best care and the most love I can give them and will never know abuse so hopefully for what I am getting from them....I am giving them something special and a promise back in return.

There are so many I saw when I went looking...that are ready to give their love and just ask for a good home and any love in return. The ones I have lost paved the way for the future ones I get. It is a never-ending journey but well worth going.

Peace and hugs to both of you...my thoughts are also of Bubba and Miles and when I look at their pictures, I can understand the connection you felt and the bond you developed and am glad you had them, you knew them, you were able to give them your love and receive their unconditional love in return, and have so many memories. Their worth is priceless!

[goliath]

The way your wife was able to paint such an expression of love is a truly a wonderful and God given gift. The depth of her love for Merlin and Harmony is quite evident and very much appreciated and admired by me. I also appreciate and find your verbal expressions of love very consoling as well, Jon.

The stories, pics, and now your wife's painting all tell me a bigger story about both of you. You both have much love in your lives that you freely share with all those who care to share it with you.

Thanks again for all the love and caring you and your wife bring into this world.

Much love to you both........Beth <><

[Jon730]

Your stories of Milesy made me cry and smile at the same time. How can this hurt so bad? I've experienced a lot of loss in my life, many furbabies have passed before Bubba. But the loss of him has cut me so very deeply.

Tonight I was down in my shop, and I was packing and shipping some products. It went smoothly, and suddenly I realized that was because Miles did not come down and scream at me to get back upstairs. She did not stand on the shipping scale as usual to screw me up, nor did she climb inside the cartons.
It was a horrible few minutes, and I had been doing fairly well for the last few days.

Here is what helps me through it.
Somewhere at this instant, there is a cat who needs me, and could die if I do not meet him (I am getting a young male this time so the Old Ladies will have an easier time accepting a new arrival. ) Miles insisted on owning me and being Top Cat, which suppressed the other two badly.
In a week or two, when I am contacted by the Rescue Society I will conduct interviews. I will make eye contact and ask, "Who wants to win the lottery and be spoiled rotten?".
One will run forward and jump into my arms. (This has happened before!)
From that moment on, the New Hire and I will be intensely imprinting our personalities on each other. We will become an item.

Miles can never be replaced....That is a given. My relationship with her is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and she truly was, as she insisted, my Cat Wife.
But neither can any in my life, human, dog, or cat, be replaced. it would be crass and vulgar and obscene if I were to "Get another Pet". It would blaspheme the concept of friendship and stewardship.

I suspect the reason I am more cat person is because my dogs gave me love and loyalty, without question, and were wonderful friends.

But a cat says, "PROVE IT, and IF you are worthy, We will graciously deign to favour you, if it pleases My Royal Self".
And once a cat accepts you completely, you are promoted to a different level of Animal's Friend. (Or "Servant" Ha!)

I am not a "Universal Cat Person" Though, as I learned last year.
A dear friend has a cat that she has had for sixteen years, a tuxedo. Her cat HATES my guts. (Though she bites her mistress's ankles if she is not fed on time, so it's no big loss.)

It takes all kinds of "people", I guess....

[goliath]

[QUOTE=Jon730,Mar 24 2008, 08:10 PM]
One will run forward and jump into my arms. (This has happened before!)
From that moment on, the New Hire and I will be intensely imprinting our personalities on each other. We will become an item.


Your desription of bringing a new love into your life reminds me of how I met Goliath. I had a catlove in my life for 19 1/2 years. She was a beautiful black cat named Jezebel who was full of bliss and content and shared in a happy, loving, and long life with us. She left us on January 24th 1997 and amongst other moments we shared that I missed so much, I missed her sitting in my lap.

Her eyes changed color often in her moods. But when she was feeling particularly content, her eyes turned a beautiful shade of turquoise and her purring would begin to sound like a motor running. I was lost without her and was reluctant to bring a new catlove into my heart.

About 6 or 7 weeks after her death I was looking through the newspaper and noticed that someone had chihuahua puppies. Surprisingly enough my husband agreed to go and "just look" at them while making no promises.

When we met Goliath it was love at first sight as he struggled to part from the rest of his siblings. He picked me just as much as I picked him. Guess what.........Goliath was born on January 25th, 1997 which was the day after my catlove Jezebel passed away.