Dear moon_beam and DannysMom,
Thank you so much for your kind words. I very much appreciate your support. You have been a shoulder to cry on in this grief journey. I'm not sure what I would do if there were not others I could turn to. I don't always post but I come to this site often and when I come into this string and reread posts, I feel like I'm in a safe group of friends I can cry with. You are good people- and I know Rusty would have liked you.

My dear little black cat Siegel gets thinner and thinner. She is energetic and feisty with the new cat Cami but I know from experience this can turn on a dime. There is nothing I can do because is the cycle of life. Knowing sure does not lessen the sadness. I know our time together in this life is limited. It all hurts so much but it tells me it is because the love is as deep as I think.

Dear Rusty,
A Saturday morning like this a year ago (tomorrow is your death anniversary) I held you and looked into your eyes for the last time in my life on earth. I miss you sweet cat. I long to hold you again and hear you purr. Thank you so much for the years of friendship and the memories I cherish. Love you Rus and I always will. Until we meet again my love....

I've recently had an abdominal surgery and recovery has been painfully long and rocky. Through it all, I know Rusty has been with me.

The first time my surgery has scheduled I was pulled from the operating table because of complications. I developed a severe headache and vomiting that could have been a brain bleed. I was sent to emergency for the rest of the day for testing and medication for the pain. I was alone for the day as no one in my family knew I was pulled and I was feeling so low. In my sedated state, who should I picture jumping up on the gurney and sitting with me- Rusty. I had the surgery a week later and the pain meds gave me very memorable dreams. One I recall so distinctly. I was trying to sleep but was feeling so much pain. In the dream Siegel and Cami were sitting on the bed with me but there was a moving lump under the covers. I lifted the covers and said "oh, you are here too Rusty" and there was that flash of orange fur. A few weeks later when I was taking my first walk outside I put on a throw I hadn't worn for awhile and what should be weaved in the fabric but a bright strand of long orange fur. I held that part of the throw close to me all throughout the walk but by the time I got home the wind had blown it away. I'm on the road to recovery with less pain now and this weekend I've cried so much with images of seeing Rusty's sweet face looking at me the day he left me. The extra closeness we've had in the last few weeks is gone again, but I know I've always got my friend.

"When you're down and troubled and you need a helping hand and nothing, whoa, nothing is going right. Close your eyes and think of me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest nights. You just call out my name, and you know where ever I am I'll come running to see you again. Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you have to do is call and I'll be there, yeah, yeah, you've got a friend."

Thank you for coming my friend. I love you Rusty and always will.

Dear sher_mark, I am so sorry to hear about your surgery and the long, painful recovery. I hope you are doing much better now. I am so glad that you had signs of Rusty throughout this, like the strand of orange fur on your throw. Your Rusty was such a special boy kitty, and losing a beloved fur kid is so hard. It's been almost 2 years now since my Danny died, but I still miss him. I'm sure it's the same with you and Rusty. These little creatures are so special and they give us so much love.

Take good care of yourself,
DannysMom

Sher_mark I am glad to hear you had a chance to see your Rusty. I know what it is like to have such a strong bond with a cat - my Mr. Cat came to me almost the same way, and he was my little buddy for such a long time before he passed last month. He was more like a dog than a cat, and everywhere I went he was with me. I still cry about losing him nearly every night and I wish I could see him again, even just once. Even if it is just in a dream.

I hope you are doing better too and that you continue to gain strength and feel better, and that your Siegel is doing well. It is amazing how our pets can affect us so deeply and give us such joy and love.

Dear DannysMom,
Thank you for your good wishes. I am feeling better now but it sure has been a long haul.
Good to hear from you. I often think of you and wonder how you are doing. You are right we never stop missing our beloved friends- like Danny and Tina.
The holidays will soon be upon us and that is a time that brings back memories too. Wishing you and your kitties all the best and may your holiday memories of Danny and Tina bring you joy.

aepheva,
Thank you for stopping by my post and for your well wishes.
You are right that our bond with our fur friends is strong and our sadness when they leave us profound. I am so sorry for the your loss of Mr. Cat. So clear you loved him very much and that he had a wonderful life with you. That love goes on. I'm sure of that. The first few months are so hard--looking around and expecting to see him there. I wish you strength and consolation.

Hi, sher_mark, thank you so much for sharing with us how you're doing. I hope your recovery is continuing to progress each day, finding you stronger and healing without complications.

How so very wonderful that your beloved Rusty's sweet Living Spirit came to comfort you during your recovery. Indeed, even though he is no longer physically with you - - he continues to share your earthly journey as he always has and always will - - his sweet Living Spirit is always and forever with you.

I hope today is treating you and your precious Cami and Siegel kindly, and that you will have a peaceful evening blessed with your beloved Rusty's sweet Living Spirit to comfort you. Please know you and your precious companions are in my thoughts and prayers, and that I always look forward to sharing your treasured memories of your beloved Rusty.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Dear moon_beam,
As always thank you for stopping by and your kind words. Shed tears when decorating the tree and remembering Christmas times with Rusty and Simon (died in 1998). A smile broke on my face along with the tears and this is a blessing. (love you boys and miss you lots).

I wish you all the very best in 2014 moon_beam.

Hello sher_mark, I hope you had a good Christmas and that you are feeling much better from your surgery and are able to get around better. I too shed some tears as I decorated my tree this year. Tried so hard to enjoy Christmas, but I sure miss my Danny this time of year. Your Rusty is such a special kitty. It is good but also sad to remember all the precious things about him, how he loved you and how Christmas with him was so special.

Hello sher_mark, I was thinking of you this weekend as this marks the 2nd year since Rusty joined the angels. I know you will always miss this special, sweet kitty boy, and just wanted to let you know I'm thinking of you and wishing you well.

Rusty's story sounds so similar to my Fane. He's been gone over 7 years now and it feels like just yesterday. Reading your tribute made me remember.I just lost his sister (20years old), Gatsby last Monday from renal failure. The end of an era. My kitties went through so much with me and were always there. Now that Gatsby is gone, my final connection is gone. I always said as long as we had her, we had Fane too. So sorry for your loss.

Dear Tclmom,
Thank you for your kind words. It is 2 years ago today I that my beloved Rusty died. It does feel like yesterday. The kitty who was not a sister but who lived with him all the time I had him, Siegel, is still with me but she is very thin. She has the issues of old age going on but is still full of life though so I am grateful for every day we have together.

Gatsby is a wonderful name for a kitty. I'm sorry for you loss and I'm thinking of you because I know how difficult it is.

Hi DannysMom,
Thanks so much for thinking of me. Yes it is two years ago today that Rusty died. This anniversary comes at a sad time. My dad died May 6. I was with him when he died and we had a wonderful visit at Easter time. Said all our good-byes and talked a lot then. We talked about Rusty and I know now my dad gives him pets like he did whenever he came to visit me. He and Rusty were pals. Dad also knew my Simon (died in 1998) and I know they are all together. My dad had dog friends in his life when we were growing up (Sasha a feisty lhasa apso and Scampy a beagle). Neither would have been fond of cats so it makes me smile to think about all of that going on around my dad. I'm so grateful for the love of animals in our lives. Can't imagine ever living without their gentle and unconditional love.

Think of you often DannysMom. I watch the Humane Society website and whenever a black and white cat is pictured, think of Danny.

Because it is May 26 - here to tell you I love and miss you Rusty!
I will always love you my friend.

Christmas time is never the same without you Rusty! Love you forever.
I know you are with Dad this year.

Hello sher_mark, I am so sorry you lost your Dad. I hope that despite missing your Rusty and your Dad you had a good Christmas. The holidays can be tough as they remind us of loved ones we wish were there with us, and all we have left are fond memories. I am glad that you were with your Dad when he died and that you had such an Easter visit with him. I hope this year will be a good one for you. Sending kind wishes and hugs your way!

DannysMom