The first time I saw Charlie he was in a cardboard box with five other kittens.  It was so cute, five little gray stripped faces staring at me and one little orange face with blue eyes.  He was five weeks old at the time and I had to wait a whole, long week before he could come home with me.  He turned six weeks old on a Sunday, and Monday he was at the vet's for a kitty check up. 

We were the best of friends.  He was my confidant, let me cry on his shoulders (so to speak) and helped me through some very difficult times.  He was always there at my side, on my lap, on my chest, etc. and cuddled with me every night when we went to sleep.  

Charlie was a real character.  No matter who you were, or whether or not you liked cats, if you presented him with a lap, he was on it.  Numerous people told me that they didn't like cats, until they met him.  We used to play games together, our favorite was hide and seek.  We'd run around the house after each other for long periods of time.  I know it was great exercise for him, and to be honest, I needed a little exercise myself.

In March of 2000 he seemed a little listless and had taken to sleeping in the living room.  I took him to the vet, being very optimistic that nothing bad would ever happen to my Charlie.  I told the vet that he couldn't be very sick because he was still purring away, to which he replied with much compassion "Cats are very stoic animals and will not show how much pain they're in, but believe me, he is in a great deal of pain."  Charlie had a mass growing on his kidneys and it was inoperable.  My vet told me to take him home for a few days and say my goodbye's.  In a way, I knew somewhere deep inside that he had been really sick, and had been saying goodbye to him for days.  He meant so much to me, and was always there when I needed him.  Now he needed me to help him.  Knowing he was in pain, and not wanting him to suffer any more than he already had, I asked the vet to put him down.  I held him close and talked to him about all the fun we used to have, told him how much he was loved and held onto him until he crossed over the Rainbow Bridge...

Charlie is buried under a big tree on our property.  I miss him terribly and will never forget him.

The background on this page was chosen because it reminds me so much of Charlie.  He really thought he was a big old lion trapped inside an itty bitty kitty body.

THE RAINBOW BRIDGE

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 pets, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together ……..

Author unknown

More Rainbow Bridge stories

The next story is dedicated to all the unloved and unwanted cats. What a shame our humane societies have to deal with so many. Please spay or neuter your cats if you are not a registered breeder and please, love the ones you have now.

I AM FAMOUS NOW

I was born today. One of 6. My daddy was very famous. I have lots of half brothers and sisters. My mother is very famous. Since she got famous, she has only had kittens. No more loving hands, no more fun trips....just kittens. She is always sad when they leave her.

I left home today. I didn't want to go, so I hid behind my mom and my three littermates that were left. I didn't like you. But one day they said I would be famous. I wonder; is famous the same as fun and good times? So you picked me up and carried me away, even though you were concerned about me hiding from you. I don't think you liked me.

My new home is far away. I am scared and afraid. My heart says BE BRAVE. My ancestors were. Did they go to good homes like mine? I'm hungry because I can't eat too much because it will be bad for my bones. I can't hiss or scratch when the children are mean to me. I just run and play and pretend I am in a big green field with butterflies and birds and frogs. I can't understand why they kick me. I am quiet, but the man hits and yells at me. The lady doesn't feed me good things like I had with my mother. She just throws dry food on the grounds, then goes away before I can get too close for touching or petting. Sometimes my food smells bad, but I eat it anyway.

Today I had 6 kittens. They are so wonderful and warm. Am I famous now? I wish I could play with them, but they are so tiny. I am so young and playful that it is hard to lay here in this hole under the house nursing my kittens. They are crying now. I am so hungry. I scratch and worry about my fur. I wish someone would give me some food. I am also so very thirsty. I now have four. Two got cold during the night and I couldn't make them warm again. They are gone. We are all very weak. Maybe if I take them out on the porch, we can get some food. 

Yesterday they took us away. It was too much trouble to feed us and someone came to take us away. Someone grabbed my babies, they were crying and whimpering. We were put in a truck with boxes in it.  Are my babies famous now? I hope so, because I miss them. They are gone.

The place smells of urine, fear and sickness. Why was I here? I was beautiful, like my ancestors. Now I am hungry, dirty, in pain and unwanted. Maybe the worst is unwanted. No one came though I tried to be good.

Today someone came. They put me in a carry box and took me to a room that was very clean and had a shiny table. They put me on the table. Someone held me and hugged me. If felt so good!! Then I felt tired and laid over the last one who cared. I AM FAMOUS NOW. Today someone cared.