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Lightning-Strike Pet Loss Support Forum > Pet Loss Support > New Beginnings
nickels
It's been over a year since we lost our precious Nickels. Without all of you and your support I don't think I could have made it through. Thanks to eahc and every one of you!

I was raised on a farm and have had several animals over the years but Nickels and I were Soul Mates from the moment I saw him at the animal shelter in Las Vegas in 1994. He was my car riding kitty and melted everyones hearts. I still have problems thinking and talking about him.

On September 13 (last month) my Husband and I were leaving an estate sale. It was more trash than valuables. We were in the work van and my Husband asked if I heard a kitten. I said "no, I think that's a bird". He got out and walked back toward the house when a tiny 3 week old kitten made a beeline for him. It appeared to be a head in the grass he was so small. Buck (my husband) asked the man if it was his kitten and he replied that it wasn't. He said he was allergic to cats but had set a bowl of water (the kitten was too small to even drink out of it) out for him a couple of days ago. He should have been eating every 2 hours. Buck then said "We'll find him a home". Well we did. Right from the beginning he seemed to want to please us so bad. He slept on our necks and we took turns feeding him in the middle of the night. We take him everywhere in his bassinette. He has even visited the nursing home where my Mother is. I want to register him as a Therapy Cat. He's a real "people person". He has stayed home for a while after we took him to the vet and found he had parasites inside. He also had a skin problem but it is getting better with medication. Our 70 year old vet looked at him and commented that he was very mature for his age. Even when this sweet kitten didn't have good neck control he would make eye contact with us. He follows me everywhere in the house and when I stop so does he and sits looking up at me like a little dog.

When we stopped at the estate sale we were coming from one of our best friends home. He had just told us he has less than 6 months to live. I was devestated. We only stopped at the estate sale to get our minds off of our grief. Anyway we named our new furbaby Sweet Frankee Leon in honor of our friend. Frank and Frankee have become good buddies and Frank lights up when he sees him. Since then 2 other friends including my first and best friend since I was four is dying of cancer. I don't know how the spirit realm works but someone knew I needed a new buddy and the timing was perfect. My Nickels passed on the anniversary of Bucks late wifes passing. It was common knowledge that she loved her "Boy Kitties" so I know Nickels is with her. Maybe she and Nickels chose Frankee for me.

I'll post pictures when I can figure out how to upload my pictures. We have over 80 already!

Michelle

This is Frankee. He loves his bassinette, teddybear, and duck. He also is unable to take a bad picture. He can really "work" the camera!
Moose Mom
Michelle

OMG Frankee is such a doll. What a little face! Great story on how you got him. I think Nickles helped pick out your new friend. I wish you all years of joy and love.

Love
nickels
Thank you Lori. Here is a picture of Frankee the day we got him. He is such a fighter. No food or water for 2 days and left outside alone. We are still battling a skin condition that could potentially be deadly but we are winning the fight.
AlleysMama
He's absolutely precious wub.gif

Congrats on your new little bundle of love smile.gif I'm sure Nickels would be pleased that you found and rescued this little baby.
nickels
Hi Paula. I just read Alley's story and am crying. She sounds like such a wonderful kitty. I laughed when I got to the part about her being fat. Frankee is just like that. We kid that he looks like he ate a tennis ball. Maybe being taken away from Mama a little young developes "tennis ball belly".

I know the guilt you went through. Hopefully the guilt has subsided. I was so busy hosting a family reunion with very difficult family members to notice that Nickels was sick. He was in end stage diabetes. He loved to eat and I also felt guilty about bites of human food I fed him over the years. Same thing as Alley. It sounds like she had a special relationship with the outdoors. Without that freedom her life would not have been complete. You loved her and respected her right to go outside and be petted on her terms. What a wonderful Mother you were to her. I went through the same thing leaving my second cat, Shiloh and my Son, with my parents when he passed. It's a crazy life on this planet but I know even though I wasn't there for his passing he will still run to greet me when we meet again.

I made an appointment for Frankie tomorrow at the vet. Luckily I was referred to a wonderful Dr. here in Tulsa (I saw that you lived in Oklahoma). He will even take payments! No frills but very caring and gentle. Finally after 7 years here we have a vet that we love!!

Please pray for Frankee. He's had a really rough day with his skin condition that is looking like wounds. He's a little fighter but all the washing, and dressing of his sores have worn him out. He's not too fond of the elizabethian collar I've put on him either!

This picture is of our 13 year old Siamese kitty - Awassi. Our Calico, Meeko, wants nothing to do with the kitten and hisses at him but Awassi evidently has a little Mothering in her soul. She can be quite tempormental at times with little patience except where Frankee is concerned. She always checks on "her" baby and hates when he cries when we put the medicine on him.
nickels
Frankee and his good friend Ted. wub.gif
boogi3
What a beautiful story and even more beautiful sweet kitty baby!
Moose Mom
Michelle

Poor little Frankee and his skin condition. Gosh I hope that clears up soon. He is a fighter, the little guy. He is soooo cute. I have Frankee in my thoughts and prayers.

The tiny ones take so much care, you get so close. Our Moose was only 1 1/2 lbs when we got him, and sick his whole life. We feel so blessed to have known him 10 years. Frankee is such a blessing for you guys.

The picutre of Frankee and Ted is adorable! He just doesn't take a bad picture does he?

Love
nickels
Lori, I just read about Moose from back in 2006. What a brave fellow! He was so handsome. The kind of kitty you just want to pick up and love on. I love his mustache and name.

We took Frankee to the Vet. He seems to think that we just needed and stronger medicine in pill form. He slipped him one pill and said that it should clear up by the end of the month when we take him back. We were so happy that we don't have to put anymore cream on him. He just hated that and it breaks my heart to cause him anymore pain than he's already been in since probably his birth. He also received his first shots. I tired him out, fed him, and put him in his litter box before we left so he was all kicked back in his bassinette when we got to the vet. Dr. Cody couldn't help comment on how well behaved he was and loved the bassinette we brought him in.

The stool sample was checked and all the internal parasites are gone. Just for safety we will have it checked again at the end of the month when he goes back for his skin problem and boosters. All in all it was a good visit but all the meds made him a little fevery and he slept & just relaxed till this morning. After the vet he went over to his namesakes, Franks house and spent the evening while we went out to dinner. Frank and Frankee (in Franks lap) spent the evening watching T.V. and when Frank changed the channel Frankee looked up at him as if to say, "Hey! I was still watching that!"

Frankee is much better today running and playing like a normal happy, healthy, kitten. Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers. They are precious to us and knowing there are people like you is such a comfort. After loosing Nickels I find I worry so much about this little guy. I'm that attached to him only after 3 weeks.

Here is another picture. We call this one "King Frankee and his royal blanket".
Moose Mom
Michelle

Another great picture of "king" Frankee! This one made me laugh. I'm so happy to hear that things are going better for him.

It's almost one year since we lost our "king" Moose. It's been a tough year without the king of our house. Not sure how we made it. I'm thinking of Nickels too.

It's hard to believe that the new kitten we adopted is almost a year old now. Majik is such a beauty and so quiet. Such a joy to be around.

Love
Moose Mom
Michelle

Just wondering how Frankee is doing. How is the skin condition? I would love to see another picture of the little guy's sweet face.

Love
nickels
Hi Lori,

Thanks for asking about my ray of sunshine. We're going through so much right now. My Mom is in the hospital, the victim of nursing home abuse. I have to make a decision in 24 hours. Amputate her leg (at 88) or let her go slowly and painfully. She has chosen the latter. For the past two days I've been on the phone with her Doctors, family, and her Priest. Every time I talk to her though, all she wants to know about is Frankee. We finally put him on the phone with her today and as she talked to him, he rubbed and purred. I'll send a picture of him visiting her in the nursing home.

Two of our very best friends are dying of cancer and it's awful.

God sent Frankee to us one day an hour after all of this was starting. I look at him and all I see is Gods love.

Frankee is due back at the vet in the next couple of days. The condition on his legs, toes, ear, and tail seems to have cleared up. He will have a couple permanent scars on his back heels. The end of his tail (3/4") has not regrown hair but the skin looks is rejuvinated.

I keep taking photos but just havn't got them downloaded yet. I needed a nudge (thank you) so here are some new ones.

I also have Frankee stories. I'll try to make time and write some of them out. He's an incredible kitty. Of course I'm partial.
nickels
Frankee's a born star and can't wait to go national!
nickels
My agent says I'm in.
Ken Albin
What a beautiful and personable furkid! You are indeed lucky to have found Frankee. I think that sometimes furkids are sent to us to help us get through those heartbreaking times we all have to face. I hope that Frankee helps you both in that way. He is a real character and he knows it!
Moose Mom
Michelle

So sorry to hear about all the crap going on in your life right now. I agree with Ken, Frankee came to help you through. So happy to hear his skin condition is clearing up, sound pretty much all gone now.

He is such a hoot! More great pictures of personable Frankee, thanks for them!

Thinking of you and your mom. My mom passed two years ago at age 85, it's just so hard to see them fail and go.

Love
nickels
I don't know what I'd do without all of you! They have finally moved my Mom into a special germ free room at the hospital. The meds are costing over $1000.00 a day but hopefully she won't lose her leg. I am just sick about the neglect she has suffered from the nursing home she was in. Also we talked to my Husbands Aunt yesterday. Yes, she too just found out she is dying. Probably 3 months since they missed the cancer for the past 5 months! I just want to scream.

On a happier note. Please scroll back up to the picture of Frankee on his padded play gym. This has been the BEST cat toy I've ever found. He averages about 3 hours a day playing time on it. He's learned to take a running start and hit the sound pads that play music and make animal sounds. He swings from the skaters pom pom at high speed laugh.gif . I got this for $5.00 at a garage sale. It has padded arcs that you can hang all sorts of toys from. Since we brought this home we have had a lot fewer scratches on our hands and arms. It's as much entertainment for us as it is for him. Our two other cats try to get in on the action too but Frankee is very territorial when it comes to his play mat! You can also find these on ebay under baby toys - play gyms. Just thought I'd share! Thanks so much for all of your support and my prayers are always with all of you.
nickels
Frankee and his Grandma in the Nursing home. She loves "her" Frankee and vise versa. wub.gif
forduffy
Oh my God- What a perfect, adorable little kitty! He truly is a little king! I love, love, love the pictures and the one with Grandma is priceless! Best of luck, Michelle. He truly is an angel sent to you to get you through some really tough times. He is absolutely gorgeous!!!!
Moose Mom
Michelle

It's so cute to hear how much Frankee likes his play gym. Moose had a "cat spa" he just adored. The other cats use is a bit, but Moose was on it every day, we had to buy a new one every Christmas for him, he wore them out.

Your mom is in my thoughts and prayers, what a beautiful lady she is. That picture of her and Frankee is adorable. It's so nice to see the bond between someone at the end of their time here on earth and someone at the beginning, we all have things to share with each other and love is ageless.

When I first held Majik and thought that he had been on this earth less then 3 months I felt awe. I'm so happy to hear that little Frankee is doing so well.

Love
katzen11
Frankee and his Grandma
i do love this photo
sincerely eva
nickels
Hi Eva,
I read about your sweet baby Felice. Such a sweet girl. I also love the game you played with your boxer. It's amazing how many ways these precious souls communicate without words. Maybe the world would be a better place if we had less words, or at least the bad ones. I'm always learning from these angels. Even the ones like yours I havn't met.

Bad/Good day. Our attorney is taking on our case regarding the neglect of my Mother in the nursing home. I can't go into specifics but he has a lot to work with. I spent years as an executive secretary and I'm about to dive into miles and piles of work. I don't know where I'm going to get the strength but it's a "must do".

Thought I'd post another picture of the little guy. This one is was taken a while ago but it's one of my favorites. He looks completely different now. Can't believe he was this little.


"They say I'll grow into it by Christmas!" huh.gif
My Buddy
Dear Michelle,
Lots of prayers being sent to you and your family and friends, what sad cir%%stances, that is a beautiful picture of your mum and Frankee, he's about the cutest cat I've ever seen, and we also had a "Frankie" he lived until he was 22 yrs, a beautiful tabby, :-) but really the sweater picture is just too much, he is a doll tongue.gif , he is a blessing for your heart right now. Enjoy him, Lots of love and prayers to you, Tory, Hrudey, Frank, and Auggie's Momma smile.gif
LoveThem
Absolutely adorable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's wonderful things are clearing up. He must be a spunky little boy and is giving you lots of love and joy. He certainly was the one who found you two and it looks like he knew how to pick his special friends!

Good luck, lots of love and hugs, His pictures are just too precious for words!
nickels
Thanks to you all for your prayers. Good news! Looks like my Mom won't lose her leg. She's a tough one but I give this one to God and everyone that has whispered in His ear.

Frankee is getting so big. The end of his tail has completely healed. Today is the first day that we noticed he's resembling a cat. He still snuggles like a "tiny baby kitten" but he's changing sad.gif . I'll try to get some updated photos. He is getting long, almost wirey. Super long back legs. He can be slippery to grab but we try not to let his little feet touch the ground too much. We're always hugging and kissing on him. He's getting too big for his carrier but that doesn't stop him from crawling in. He'll be 20 lbs and smashed into his "ferret carrier". We'll get pulled over for animal abuse laugh.gif . It's his "To Go Box". He loves riding in it in the car, visiting, and shopping. We can't imagine life without Frankee! They are EACH so special in their own ways. We are so blessed to have him.

Michelle
Moose Mom
Michelle

Wow what great news about your mom! I'm so happy to hear that and about how well Frankee is doing. They grow so darn fast! We are so blessed to know each special one.

Love
nickels
Today is a big day for Frankie. In an hour we will be picking him up from the Vet. He is being nuetered. I feel so bad since he was such a big love last night but as my other boys have done in the past, I'm sure that Frankie will love us again. blink.gif

Michelle
nickels
We just picked up our little angel from the Vet. Aside from being groggy he ate and looks fine. He wants to be next to us though. I think he was a little tramatized since this is the first time he has been left anywhere without us. They said the dogs made him nervous. He was abandoned at 3 weeks old outside and I don't think he's ever forgotten that. To this day he will not go outside, even in our arms, without being in his carrier to travel in the car. He associates that carrier with car rides, which he loves, so we used a different carrier that he will probably always associate with the Vet now. Poor baby wub.gif

Michelle
LoveThem
So glad to hear Frankie is doing well. Years ago I had my twin boys neutered at the same time and they were fine also. I think I remember they kind of stayed to themselves for a short while..probably until they realized they were really home.

He will definitely show you love again. After all, home is all about love, food, petting, all the good stuff...what's not to like?

His other memory will just fade while he is involved in being loved and love his family in his new home. Hugs to all of you.

P.S. I think I read in another thread one of your other babies hissed at Frankie when he was brought home from the vet. I don't know if it would help but when I had all 3 kitties and any one of them went to the vet for anything...when they came home the other 2 would hiss at them for some time and then settle back to normal. I assumed they could smell the hospital smell maybe and associate it with being there themselves so I had read in Cat Fancy that cornstarch can help separate mats in longhaired cats, so I would get the 3 kittens together, put some cornstarch on my hands and pat them together then I would rub it all over each one of them lightly. That way I figured they all smelled alike and it seemed to work...less hissing, etc.
Moose Mom
Michelle

I'm so happy Frankee is back home and doing fine. That's a rough one. Give him hugs and kisses from me.

Love
nickels
Hi Love Them and Lori,

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Frankee was a bit tramatized being left in a strange place for the first time. They said he didn't like the barking dogs. We loved on him and held him all night when he came home. Frankee is back to normal. He's back into everything. I love it when he's into things, I know he's healthy.

Ken Albins girls had their spays a week before so we compared notes on his thread. They're doing well also.

Meeko, our Calico, has never accepted Frankee or Awassi, that she was raised with. She would have been very happy being an only kitty. The only other cat she had anything to do with was Nickels. She loved him and I think she doesn't understand why we would take Nickels awayand not bring him back, then bring Frankee home. When Frankee gets a little bigger, I'm hoping they will learn how to play.

Thanks for the tip on the corn starch. I've had that problem in the past and I'll remember that for future use. Great idea!
forduffy
Hi Michelle,
I've been MIA to the boards for a little bit but I wanted to stop by and let you know that it is good news to hear that Frankee weathered his surgery like a little trooper. I can't believe that he is already 20 lbs. In some of those earlier pictures, he was so little. It's nice to see him getting so big and strong.
Hugs to you and your family.
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