Dirty Frostbitten Stray That Turned Into A Prince Options

[sher_mark]

In the summer of 1999 I spotted a dirty, frost bitten and hungry cat by some garbage cans. I went closer to see him but he ran under a truck and looked up at me. He was wild and nobody's cat. He looked like he was barely surviving and would never make it another winter. I put out a bit of food for him and he started coming every day for a meal. At first I couldn't get close to him. I would sit at a distance as he ate and he watched me out of the corner of his eye. After about two weeks he let me get close enough to give him a rub around his ears. That was that. Rusty a long haired orange cat came inside to live 13 happy years with us (my husband Mark, my other kitty Siegel and later our son Ben). He turned out to be a prince, my prince. He was gentle and loving and was always at my side like a shadow. You'd never have guessed to see him that first day but he turned out to be a gorgeous cat with a flowing orange and white coat (he was voted Mr March in a Humane Society Calendar contest years ago). And he was so loving and gentle with a roaring purr. He'd lift up for me to pick him up and he'd put his paws around my neck and his head on my shoulder and stay like that until I let go, never him.

My love died May 26, 2012. He was with me 13 years but the vet estimated he lived outside for maybe two years so he was 15. He was struggling the last year or so and we'll never know exactly why he died (blood tests showed he had a number of things going on) but the morning of May 26 he collapsed and I knew it was time. That morning he slowly followed me everywhere. After he collapsed he howled whenever I would leave him for a few minutes. He just wanted to die with me. After he had a seizure in his arms I took him to the vet. He died looking up at me with that same wonderful gaze that I first saw when he looked up at me from under the truck 13 years before.

I miss Rusty so much. I loved him move than words can ever express and I will always love him. It has been 8 weeks of searing heartache. Yesterday I heard "still" when I was talking to someone about it and all I could think was "always". I know I will be with him again some day but the physical separation is so difficult. We were inseparable Rusty and I. I've read posts on this site since May but only felt I could post my own story today. Others around try to help but unless you've loved and lost an animal as much as I did, you don't understand. Turns out my other kitty Siegel (around the same age) is starting to have kidney issues so I watch and wait with her now too. It is all difficult but I have hope in the love eternal.

Thanks for listening and I'm grateful there is a place that I can leave some cyber evidence that Rusty, a once a dirty frostbitten stray meant something to someone, he had a family and was dearly loved in this world for the prince he was. I'll always love you Rus- always.

[Gretta's Mom]

Hello Sher Mark

Thank you so much for your beautiful and thoughtful responses to our posts. What a beautiful person you are. I am with you in thinking - no, KNOWING that Rusty was and is part of a plan. Finding you on the one-year anniversary of Simon's homegoing. Yours is the best story of how our soul-mate animals decided when, where and how to find us. They come with a purpose. Through your tears for Simon, Rusty showed you just enough of himself to draw your attention - through some huge heartbreak. Righ beneath Simon's favorite spot on the fence - where he knew you would be at that exact time. And the arrivals and passings of Simon and Rusty taking place during thoses few times when you were alone. That cannot be anything but you, Simon and Rusty being part of a plan.

That plan has been going on since time began, is still going on, and will go on until the end of time. Sometimes some of you will be together and sometimes others will be. Sometimes one of you will be "alone". It's only the person who experiences being so "alone." All three of you have spirits, but only you are still in physical form. And, as Moonbeam often reminds us, human beings live in a world of senses. If we can't see or hear or touch something of someone, we feel that they are 'gone'. But, Sher Mark, they really aren't. They are in spirit form - and spirit can do wonderful things. Like be in two places at once - enjoying life in the perfect World from which they came AND right by your side as they always were when they were on earth. Just a breath away, just a heartbeat away. Still on the job - guiding you, leading you and above all loving and being loved by you.

What an exquisite cat is Simon!! Surely he should have been cat-of-the-month for every month!!

Thank you for being such a beautiful soul ad a new LS friend. Rusty's story (and picture) has given me some strength today when, for a variety of reasons, I most need it.

In caring and in friendship,

Gretta's mom