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…

Wegiekatt W. Gingiss of SassafrasKat

“Widget”

 April 26, 2003 to April 21, 2006

Male Norwegian Forest Cat

Brown Classic Tabby with White

Too Early He Left Us…  

 Widget was our very first Norwegian Forest Cat and the center of our heart.  From the first moment we saw his photo with that cute little half mustache, we knew he would be our little man.  We drove all the way to Ashville, North Carolina, just to visit the cattery, to see if he could possibly be as attractive in person.  There was just an instant magnetic attraction to this little guy, even with all the other little wegies crawling around and jumping.  Widget was our boy.  We took him home right then and there! 

Jerry decided to try him out on a harness, and that was the beginning of heaven for both of them.  Each morning when Jerry awoke, Widget would wait by the door, anxious to get going.  “Come on, Dad!!  We’re missing squirrels out there!!” and off they would go.  Now, when I said they went walking, that is probably a bit of an exaggeration.  Widget would sniff a leaf then take a step or two, then find another incredibly attractive leaf, ripe for sniffing!  So it was more of a stroll than a walk, but it was a special time for the two of them to commune with nature and each other. 

At the end of a really harrowing day, Jerry would start to walk up the steps and see Widget poised at the top of the kitty condo by the window, aching for his return.  Jerry would play peek-a-boo until Widget would get irritated and his tail would begin to swish back and forth.  “Aw, DAD!!  You’re being mean!  Let’s get going!!”  And off they would go!  Jerry’s mind would clear as he smiled at his little buddy, all of the cares and worries floating away as he and Widget walked.

Widget cheered up children and adults alike who were always amazed to see a cat on a harness.  How weird was that!  Later, however, the bond between man and cat was so complete, no harness was required.  They walked their daily path, side by side, as one.

He was even involved in raising money for Jerry Lewis’ kids!  Widget and Jerry were locked in jail until family and friends could raise enough money to bail them out, the funds going, of course, to Jerry’s Kids. Plenty of funds came in to bail out The Widget, but it took an act of “Widgetry” to get Jerry out!

It was after the Girls arrived, and we prepared for breeding that Widget suddenly began to slow down.  He didn’t walk far from the house, and got to where he wasn’t able to walk up the steps.  We rushed him to the vet!  It took exploratory surgery to find out what was wrong.  Sadly, they found a cancerous growth, and we had to say farewell.

This boy was magical, especially to Jerry who later had Widget’s likeness tattooed onto his chest above his heart.  As I said, he was a part of our heart, and will always be with us.

Darby

 “The Ladd”

August 3, 1986 to June 18, 2004

Male - Seal Point Himalayan

     My First “Baby”

You would think that there would have been lots of pets in my own home, having grown up with them all my life, but my adult life was complicated.  I traveled and had a high-powered position, and just didn’t have time for pets.  And, frankly, I just didn’t like cats.  That was, until I met a lovely family who lived with four of them.  They showed me how loving and delightful cats could be!  And, boy were they right!

Darby came from a local breeder, one of those “big” catteries where no attention had been paid to him to socialize him or to work with him, but I loved him on sight and took him home!  He loved me dearly, but no one else.  He never quite got over this unfortunate beginning.

I met the man I would marry, Jerry, and discovered that he was deathly allergic to cats.  Instead of trying to find a home for The Ladd, he collected some of his fur, took it to his doctor, had a serum prepared, and took about 40 shots to become un-allergic to my cat.  Is that love, or what??  The Ladd never fully appreciated the favor Jerry had shown him, but he came to accept him.

Years passed, twelve to be exact, and The Ladd began to slow down.  Our fear was that he would soon be gone, and we wanted to soften the blow of his loss by getting another little kitten to share our love.  Here came little Biggles, and all of a sudden, The Ladd seemed to grow ten years younger overnight!  He began to play with the teaser again, and purr, and suck up to us as if to say, “Hey!  You don’t need any young whooper-snapper to replace me!  I can be young!  I can be fun!  See!!!”  Oh, and he never gave The Biggle-Bug an easy day for the rest of his life!  Not until right before he died.

We knew that he was truly nearing his end when he gave up irritating Biggles, and began sleeping on top of me all night.  He started to lose weight and his coat grew slimy.  We knew his kidneys were failing, and did all we could.  I had a trip that couldn’t be delayed.  He waited for me, or tried to, but died just 30 minutes before I walked back in the door.  Jerry held him in his arms as he passed away. 

 I just loved that hateful old cat!