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.

[moon_beam]

Hi, sher_mark, thank you so much for sharing with us how you're doing, and for the wonderful picture of your beloved Rusty. I am sooooo glad that when his fur was shaved you were able to save it so that now you have it to treasure.

As a former participant and trainer in Animal Assisted Therapy activities, please permit me to offer you some words of comfort and encouragement when you shared with us: ". . . one thing that I have thought and regretted in the last few weeks is this: Over the years my life had gotten so busy with work that I never followed through with a plan for Rusty and I to be a visiting team in long term care facilities. Rusty was so gentle and giving he'd let others hold and pet him without reservation. Never a hiss, scratch or growl in 13 years. Rusty had the perfect demeanor for this kind of volunteer work and I knew it but we never got around to it. I need to learn from this. Life goes fast." Although there are things that we "want to do" or "would like to do", I have come to believe in my advanced years that our life's activities are focused on what we need to be focused on. And I believe this is true for our companions during their earthly journey as well. If Rusty had been "ordained" or "commissioned" as part of his "focused activities" to be a Therapy Partner with you at the long term care facilities, I guarantee you would have somehow managed to include this activity in your earthly journey together. Instead, from what you have shared with us I firmly believe Rusty came to be with YOU and to have his earthly journey focused on YOU and his Forever Family. This was his primary "commission", and I know he would not want you regretting something that was not meant to be a part of his earthly life with you. Although this sincere desire was in your heart, and you are to be commended for it, I firmly believe that "timing" is always a major factor in when appropriate goals are accomplished. The "timing" for you and Rusty to participate as Therapy Partners was not a part of your life together. The PRIMARY desire of our companions is to have a safe place where love is shared with his / her human guardian. This is all our companions ask. Anything else is just a "bonus." You gave your beloved Rusty a safe and loving home during his earthly journey, and you are blessed with the priviliege of being his Forever Mom. Perhaps at some point in time your beloved Rusty will send you a new companion whose "commission" during your earthly journey together will include participating as Therapy Partners. And if this is so, then your beloved Rusty's sweet Living Spirit will also be sharing this wonderful activity with you. So please try to let your heart be at peace.

I hope today is treating you, your husband, your son, and your precious Siegel kindly, and that each of you will have a peaceful evening blessed with your beloved Rusty's sweet Living Spirit to comfort you. Thank you again so much for sharing your beloved Rusty with us, and his wonderful picture. He truly is very stunning, and his reflect the eternal love he shares with you. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, sher_mark, that I look forward to knowing how you and your precious Siegel are doing, and to sharing your treasured memories of your beloved Rusty.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

[sher_mark]

Hi, sher_mark, thank you so much for sharing with us how you're doing, and for the wonderful picture of your beloved Rusty. I am sooooo glad that when his fur was shaved you were able to save it so that now you have it to treasure.

As a former participant and trainer in Animal Assisted Therapy activities, please permit me to offer you some words of comfort and encouragement when you shared with us: ". . . one thing that I have thought and regretted in the last few weeks is this: Over the years my life had gotten so busy with work that I never followed through with a plan for Rusty and I to be a visiting team in long term care facilities. Rusty was so gentle and giving he'd let others hold and pet him without reservation. Never a hiss, scratch or growl in 13 years. Rusty had the perfect demeanor for this kind of volunteer work and I knew it but we never got around to it. I need to learn from this. Life goes fast." Although there are things that we "want to do" or "would like to do", I have come to believe in my advanced years that our life's activities are focused on what we need to be focused on. And I believe this is true for our companions during their earthly journey as well. If Rusty had been "ordained" or "commissioned" as part of his "focused activities" to be a Therapy Partner with you at the long term care facilities, I guarantee you would have somehow managed to include this activity in your earthly journey together. Instead, from what you have shared with us I firmly believe Rusty came to be with YOU and to have his earthly journey focused on YOU and his Forever Family. This was his primary "commission", and I know he would not want you regretting something that was not meant to be a part of his earthly life with you. Although this sincere desire was in your heart, and you are to be commended for it, I firmly believe that "timing" is always a major factor in when appropriate goals are accomplished. The "timing" for you and Rusty to participate as Therapy Partners was not a part of your life together. The PRIMARY desire of our companions is to have a safe place where love is shared with his / her human guardian. This is all our companions ask. Anything else is just a "bonus." You gave your beloved Rusty a safe and loving home during his earthly journey, and you are blessed with the priviliege of being his Forever Mom. Perhaps at some point in time your beloved Rusty will send you a new companion whose "commission" during your earthly journey together will include participating as Therapy Partners. And if this is so, then your beloved Rusty's sweet Living Spirit will also be sharing this wonderful activity with you. So please try to let your heart be at peace.

I hope today is treating you, your husband, your son, and your precious Siegel kindly, and that each of you will have a peaceful evening blessed with your beloved Rusty's sweet Living Spirit to comfort you. Thank you again so much for sharing your beloved Rusty with us, and his wonderful picture. He truly is very stunning, and his reflect the eternal love he shares with you. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, sher_mark, that I look forward to knowing how you and your precious Siegel are doing, and to sharing your treasured memories of your beloved Rusty.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Dear moon-beam,
Thank you for helping me work through some of my regrets and helping me find peace. You are right. Rusty did his primary job ever so well--loving and loyal always. So loving with me it would make me laugh the way he'd nudge everyone else out of the way to get to me and be my center of attention- always.
You know, I had a Christmas tree ornament made to put on the tree this Christmas. I am anticipating missing Rusty's physical presence around the tree Christmas morning so the ornament is a picture of Rusty and Siegel sitting under the tree and on the ornament is written 'always'. Picked the ornament up today actually. You are in my prayers too moon_beam. Good night.