Sad news I had to do a very hard thing today. I made the decision to have my very best furry friend put to sleep. She was suffering from liver cancer and going down hill quickly. She would have celebrated her 15th birthday this June. She was truly a beloved family member and will be greatly missed.

Stripey
June 21, 1989 - February 13, 2004


RAINBOW BRIDGE

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

By Cat on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 04:51 pm:

Trina, I'm so sorry.

By Jackie on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 04:53 pm:

Trina, Im so sorry.

By Trisa on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 04:53 pm:

Oh I am sorry too!
It hurts when you lose a pet.
She was such a pretty kitty.

By Marg on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 05:16 pm:

Trina, I am so sorry. We had a short haired cat that looked similiar we called her patches, we had to put her to sleep last year due to cancer.
I am so sorry.

By Colette on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 05:32 pm:

Trina, I am so sorry, it is clear from your posts how much you love your cats.

By Andi on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 05:37 pm:

I am so sorry, I know hard hard it is to lose a pet.

By Kathy on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 05:57 pm:

Trina, I feel so sad for you. I remember all the pictures that you had posted in the past of Stripey and the rest of your cats. {{{{{Trina}}}}}}

By Karen~moderator on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 05:59 pm:

((((((Trina}}}}}} I'm so sorry. I know how much you love your cats.

By Ladypeacek on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 06:11 pm:

soooo sorry for you, i know how hard that is!!! Prayers for your kitty!!

By Ginny~moderator on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 06:11 pm:

Trina, I'm so sorry. You know you are doing the right thing, but I know that doesn't help. You know I've been through this several times in recent years, and I do know how painful it is, both making the decision and then acting on it. But you are being faithful to your faithful friend.

By Annie2 on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 06:39 pm:

((HUGS)) What a tough thing to have to go through.
How are the kids taking it?

By Mommyathome on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 06:50 pm:

(((Trina))) I'm so sorry. I love animals, especially cats. I know they just become one of the family.

By Marcia on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 06:57 pm:

Trina, I'm so sorry. We're facing the same sort of thing with our 15.5 year old dog. It's not easy.

By Sue3 on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 07:34 pm:

So Sorry Trina

By Fraggle on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 07:40 pm:

I'm sorry to hear about Stripey. She was very lucky to have a family that loved her so much.

By Texannie on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 08:06 pm:

It's so tough to lose a pet!

By Sunny on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 09:00 pm:

(((Trina)))

I'm so sorry.

By Nanaoie on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 09:18 pm:

My thought are with you,I had to do the same thing to our Lara.She was 15 yrs old.God love you and your family.How lucky your kitty was to have you!

By Amy~moderator on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 09:25 pm:

My heart goes out to you. You did the best thing for Stripey though. It was an act of love. I know things will be different without her and that she will be missed.

By Gammiejoan on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 10:17 pm:

I'm so sorry, Trina. I know how important your cats are to you.

By Insaneusmcwife on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 12:49 am:

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 01:17 am:

I'm so sorry, Trina!

By Bea on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 01:50 am:

I'm so sorry, Trina. They are our companions and our babies.

By Bellajoe on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 07:44 am:

Aww, what a cute kitty! I'm sorry too.

By Trina~moderator on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 08:22 am:

Thanks everyone for your support, well wishes and prayers. It means a lot. I am so very sad. Stripey was a very special cat. She was a constant presence in my life for almost 15 yrs.. She was incredibly in tune with my moods and emotions and always knew when I needed a cuddle and purr. She even told me to chill out if I was losing my temper with the kids! LOL! She has been through so much with us. Her mother was a pregnant stray we took in as newlyweds, so we've had her since before she was born. She was always close by when I was up at night with my babies. I feel as if I've lost my best friend. My whole family is sad. DS (7) and I have been crying together. He'll see me tearing up and comes over to give me a hug then he starts to cry, too. Our other cats are out of sorts. Andy was up crying and howling last night. I brought him into bed with me cuddled him closely. It was theraputic for both of us. I was sobbing at my computer yesterday and he jumped onto my desk, nudged my chin and buried his face in my neck.

Bea, thanks so much for the beautiful poem.
Here is another someone sent me. Both are so very true.

A CAT'S WORDS TO GOD

And God asked the feline spirit
Are you ready to come home?
Oh, yes, quite so, replied the precious soul
And, as a cat, you know I am most able
To decide anything for myself.

Are you coming then? asked God.
Soon, replied the whiskered angel
But I must come slowly
For my human friends are troubled
For you see, they need me, quite certainly.

But don't they understand? asked God
That you'll never leave them?
That your souls are intertwined. For all eternity?
That nothing is created or destroyed?
It just is....forever and ever and ever.

Eventually they will understand,
Replied the glorious cat
For I will whisper into their hearts
That I am always with them
I just am....forever and ever and ever.

Author Unknown

When I get time later I'm going to round up pics of Stripey and post them. Please bear with me. LOL!

By Newbabysarah on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 05:56 pm:

Trina, I know what you're feeling. In 1999, my cat had pancreatitis and died within a week. We had to put him to sleep and it was so hard. ((((hugs)))))

Here's a sundae for you, it'll cheer you up!

By Tmpst44 on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 06:44 pm:

I am new to this message board but want to take a few minutes to say that my heart goes out to you today for your loss. I understand fully how it feels to lose someone so dear to your heart. I have 3 cats myself and two of them are up in age,(14) and my one little girl Brandy Sue has been sick for a couple of months now, and I know were close to end times now. No matter how hard we try to not think of these times some how the short years that we have with them seems to race by. I guess the one thing that I can take solarance in is that she has given me as much love as I have given her. And I guess thats all that we can do. They came into our life's for a purpose and I would like to think that its to share all the love we have in us for the smaller things in life. And not be so consummed with everyday bigger problems. I know that they know what there doing even though we wonder sometimes what it could be,but as you know they seem to always be there when you need someone to talk to. Their a great blessing to us to have them, and you have been blessed for having her been a part of your family. She has done what she came here to do, and now it was time for her to go home. gone to her second home but not from her first home "your heart". She will always be a part of that. God watch over you and your family in your hours of sadness. And again my heart goes out to you today.

By Hol on Sunday, February 15, 2004 - 12:09 am:

I'm SO sorry! I have six kitties, and love them all dearly, one in particular. I also have a "torti" who is at least 15. I rescued her in 1989.

Animals are truly family members, and it is wrenching when we have to make a decision for them.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

By Joy~bundles on Sunday, February 15, 2004 - 06:39 am:

(((HUGE HUGS, Trina)))

By Juliem on Sunday, February 15, 2004 - 01:11 pm:

I am so sorry and truly know what you are feeling. My beloved scottish terrier, Abigail, had to be put down about a year ago with bladder cancer. It was the hardest thing to do. She was 13. I promise it gets better. The rainbow bridge poem really gave me a lot of comfort. Now my two new scottie puppies, 4 months old, are helping a lot. You're in my prayers.

By Pamt on Sunday, February 15, 2004 - 06:13 pm:

Trina, I had never "met" anyone who loved cats as much as I do until I encountered you long ago at MommyTimes. I am so sorry for your loss of Stripey. First of all, she is the coolest looking cat I have ever seen and secondly, I know she was a dear companion to you and you loved her very much. I look at my sweet cat, Keebler, who is 12 years old and wonder how I will survive without him. I seriously will probably have to take off work. Huge hugs (((Trina))).

By Janet on Sunday, February 15, 2004 - 10:03 pm:

Trina, I am so, so sorry and sad to read about your loss. Truly, I am. I had to have my beloved kitty, Nathaniel, put to sleep two years ago (he was also 15 and very ill), and I still miss him so much! Sometimes I call to him, just to remember how it felt to say his name. You are in my thoughts today. {{Trina}}

By Conni on Monday, February 16, 2004 - 11:20 am:

Trina I am so sad to hear about Stripey. Its amazing how a pet truly can become like a family member. You will be in my thoughts.

By Conni on Monday, February 16, 2004 - 11:22 am:

PS, Stripey has the same birthday as my oldest ds. June 21, 1992 The first day of summer, what a great day!

By Trina~moderator on Monday, February 16, 2004 - 02:56 pm:

Thank you so much, everyone. We've been going through photos and it has been helpful for all of us. Here are some pics throughout Stripey's life. Gosh, I miss her.

By Trina~moderator on Monday, February 16, 2004 - 03:10 pm:

Here are the missing pics.

By Cat on Monday, February 16, 2004 - 03:55 pm:

Trina, I love the pics. My favorite that you posted was the second one with Stripey laying on her mom. Thanx for sharing.

By Tklinreston on Monday, February 16, 2004 - 04:40 pm:

Reading about your loss has me teary-eyed having been there and knowing what you & your family are going through. I pray that you will be comforted by all of the beautiful memories you've shared & the happiness he's brought into your lives during this time of sorrow.