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.

[DannysMom]

Dear sher_mark, thank you for thinking of me this past Christmas. It was a rough one. I went back and forth between grief and joy. Grief over my beloved Danny and Tina who are no longer with me, and joy over my first Christmas with Mindy and Shelley. I can well imagine how painful it was for you not to be able to hold Rusty and wish him a Merry Christmas. It should have been a joyous time, but it wasn't. But I am glad that the ornament with Rusty's pic on the tree brought you some comfort. I had two little wreath ornaments in the tree with a ribbon each that had Tina and Danny's name written on them. They were made for me by volunteers at the pet cemetery open house back in December.

Your Rusty was such a handsome kitty boy. I love the orange tabbies. A long time ago one of our neighbors had a sweet and friendly orange male tabby who would always sit in the window and "greet" people.

I am sorry that Siegel and Cami are having a rough time together. I hope that the behavior training will help. I know that one cat always wants to be the dominant one. It is the same with my Mindy and Shelley. They get along well, but Mindy sometimes plays too rough for Shelley who is the more sensitive one. Give it some time and reward Cami for good behavior. Cats respond to praise, but when we "punish" them they think we don't like them anymore. I hope things will get better for you.

Hugs,
DannysMom