Hi, all -

It's been almost a month since we lost our sweet cat Jack. He was 13 years old, and we lost him to renal failure. It's been SO hard for both me and my husband. We miss him terribly. It's been especially difficult because I'm expecting my first child in November, and people are SO insensitive! I've actually had people ask me how i could be so upset about a cat when i have a baby on the way. Jack WAS my baby for 13 years!!!! I am excited about my baby, but that doesn't take away the pain of losing my amazing, devoted companion! It's like.......people think i'm crazy or something! Would they think i was crazy being so devistated if i'd lost a memeber of my family? Because that's basically what happened. It's not fair that society tells us it's ok to grieve for one type of loss, but not ok to grieve for another.

Well...to make people think that i'm even MORE crazy, my husband and i stumbled upon an amazing cat at a rescue shelter. We had NO intention of adopting another cat anytime soon because we're still missing Jack so very much, but this cat just really, really touched us. He'd been hit by a car and left for dead last winter. He was so injured that he got frozen into the snow. But somehow he managed to get loose and drag himself to a shopping center, where a girl from the shelter worked. She found him outside emaciated, dehydrated, and all the skin on his backside and legs had been severly frostbitten. Amazingly, this cat survived, and has been healing for the last 6 months with the incredible devotion of the woman who runs the shelter. He is the sweetest, most affectionate, most grateful cat i think i've ever met. He has the most amazing heart and spirit, and really connected with us when we met him. Even though he's still healing and will need a little more treatment, we decided to adopt him and give him the loving home that he so very much deserves. Again, when i told people what we were doing, most of them thought i was completely off my rocker. They think i'm completely insane for taking on a pet with a medical need when i have a baby due in 2 & 1/2 months. I even had one friend suggest that when my baby comes, i won't care about my cats anymore!! She said when she had her baby, she just didn't really care about her dog anymore. That made me furious!!!! I completely disagreed with her, but she just kept saying, "just wait....just wait."

I refuse to believe this! I refuse to believe that in order to love something new you have to take love away from something else! And people have children all the time while they have other things in their lives to take care of! I tell you.....the more i talk to people.....the more i really appreciate the inteligence of my cats!

Jack was an amazing cat, but he also had a medical need. He was diabetic, overweight, and had a hard time holding his bladder. If he had ended up at a rescue for some reason, no one would have adopted him because of all his needs. Yet, he was the most amazing cat ever. I feel it honors his spirit to take this cat in and give him the love and chance at a life has so earned and so deserves.

Thanks for listening.....and many happy thoughts to all :>)
-Vikki

All I can say is...BRAVO! What you are doing with this new baby is commendable. What a sad life he has had up until now, and how lucky he is to have found your hearts.
I don't think you will love your furbaby any less when the baby comes. I, myself, don't have kids, but I agree completely with what you said,


I think kids are great, but they are better when I can send them home. I have always loved animals, and they surpass most humans anyway, so for me, children are not an option. What I think you will find is that whenever any human annoys you, ( and even a beautiful child can and will at times) you will be able to turn to the unconditional love and understanding of your furbaby. He'll always listen, never judge, and probably won't talk back too much.
I know how much you miss Jack still, but what you have done, bringing this new kitty home, says alot of great things about you, and it is an honor to Jack. Perhaps Jack brought you together .
I wish you all of the blessings on your new arrival and your upcoming new arrival.
Love,
Michelle

It is amazing how insensitive people can be. When my mini pom Baby died last month I was very depressed....still am, but getting better. My family understood, but many people kept saying the same thing...it's just a dog. Well that's not how I see it! Baby was part of our family, just like all of our pets. I have kids and don't love my pets any less because of it. They are all part of our family unit. My kids love animals just as much as me and my husband do. I am very sorry for your loss, but glad to see that you were able to bring another furbaby into your home who desperately needs you and your husband. Good for both of you! I wish you much happiness with your new kitty and soon to be arrival of your baby. Congrats!