Ramses angel

Last night, as we went to bed, we found our little cat Ramses had passed away. He had always been very skinny and frail, and only became more so as he aged. He'd had to have surgery as a kitten merely to survive (he could not eat enough, and pass it through to his intestines, to thrive - surgery helped, but he was always very thin). He missed his big brother Misty very, very much. He'd never had a good prognosis, but he'd always kept on going. We had hoped that he would keep on doing so, that we would be with us longer. We'd been giving him lots of attention and extra love. He'd even been active and playful enough this past week to learn a new trick... Honor would hold a basket and ask him to get in, he would, and she'd carry him around the house for a ride... he also re-discovered the fun of sitting on my lap and 'helping' me as I used the sewing machine. But he was distressed and lonely too. Maybe he got a cold? Maybe his heart was stressed? This came on suddenly, but was not too unexpected given his long term, general condition.

Ramses was always my special baby. Siamese cats can be very personable anyway, but Ramses demanded love and attention from all who knew him. I cannot believe we have lost both of our kitties so suddenly. I am not handling this loss very well. I guess it was easier with Misty because he was a 'mature adult/elderly cat'. Ramses was at the end, as he always was, my baby. He was so sweet and trusting and needy. He was a baby, and babies do not die of old age. My brain tells me I'm wrong, I know that Ramses was as old as, and definitely more frail than, Misty, but my brain says that our kitty-baby was stolen away wrongly.

I am glad that Misty and Ramses are together... but our home is so much emptier now. He missed cuddling with his big brother while the kids were in school, and adopted this big toy sheep to snuggle... now he's with his real buddy again.

His first toy was a small furry mouse, tied to the string of a giant batman helium filled mylar balloon.

He later found 'the pink thing' ... an ugly knobbly cloth cat toy, bright pink, with a bell on its tail... he loved that toy so much he would beg to play fetch. We had to hide it at night.

When we lived in a house with a mail slot on the door, he trained all who used it to play tug of war... we were used to mail and papers delivered with claw marks.

He was afraid of new flooring and could meow loudly for 550 miles.

He loved to gaze lovingly into my eyes, and would grab my face with his paw to make sure I gazed at him when it was gazing time.

He lay across my tummy and purred at the babies when I was pregnant with them, he lay under the babies on my tummy... who needs a special boppy pillow?... as I nursed them.

He snuggled. It's hard to find a picture of a sleeping child without a snuggling Ramses.

As the kids got big enough to crawl, he followed them around and played with or near them... there are times that I am sure he knew what he was doing when he made them laugh.

He trusted the kids to 'drive' him madly around the house in the laundry basket.

He has been a constant companion and cuddle buddy to both of the kids as they've grown, and demanded attention from each as they came home from school... he'd hide in the entry closet to make sure he was the first at the door to greet the kids.

He loved. Ramses loved us. He loved our kids. He loved our visitors, friends, neighbors or strangers, and un-cat-like that he was, he even loved the loud and playful children that sometimes came with our visitors. All were loved.



He loved his brother Misty. I believe that Ramses was definitely affected by losing Misty. Perhaps if he had been a stronger kitty, he may have made it past this depression. He was getting tons of extra love from everyone, but he had become listless and was not interested in eating like usual... and his usual has always been very little. We even tempted him with chicken, soup, ice cream, and fish sticks - his favorites. He'd eat a little to please us, then walk off. Perhaps if he'd had more reserves, he may have had the strength to survive losing his appetite temporarily, but he didn't have an ounce of fat. When he started down, he had a very short trip.

Honor repeated again today that the trouble with having a cat is that you love them so much that it hurts when they die. But you love them anyway.... you better believe it.

The Rainbow Bridge

inspired by a Norse legend

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
Where the friends of man and woman do run,
When their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,
Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.
On this golden land, they wait and they play,
Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,
Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care,
Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.
All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,
Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met;
Together again, both person and pet.
So they run to each other, these friends from long past,
The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart,
Has turned into joy once more in each heart.
They embrace with a love that will last forever,
And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.

© 1998 Steve and Diane Bodofsky. All Rights Reserved.