As I've often said, as a little girl in my playpen I had a cat in one corner and a stack of books in another. Patch was that cat. He was my parents' "first child," as he came into their lives a year and a half before I was born. He was abandoned as a three month old kitten on my father's family dairy farm and my grandmother, knowing how much my mom loved cats, asked if she'd like to take him home. Prior to Patch my mom had been over a decade without a cat in her life! Once I came into the picture, Patch wasn't about to give up his spot on mom's lap without a fight, so when she would hold me in her arms, she would have to put her feet up so he could nap on her legs.
We lost Patch to a brain tumor at age 15. Other than when his own parents died a few years before, the night we lost Patch was the first time I saw my father cry, I think because he knew our hearts were breaking. I know for a fact that Patch was my mom's "heart cat," and I've always felt that she never again let herself love a cat as deeply as she did him, knowing how much it would hurt at the end.
My main source of comfort since mom has been gone is knowing that she's been reunited with our beloved cats at the Rainbow Bridge. Many, many years ago she bought this shirt that she loved so much she kept it in a plastic bag and hung on her closet door. This is how I imagine that reunion was, and Patch was the first one back in her arms.
ABOUT RAINBOW BRIDGE REMEMBRANCE DAY:
This special day was created by Deborah Barnes – author, award winning blogger, and cat advocate in tribute to her cat, Mr. Jazz, who she had to say goodbye to on August 28, 2013. She shared the journey of letting him go in her book, “Purr Prints of the Heart: A Cat’s Tale of Life, Death, and Beyond,” a warm and heartfelt book that is written in the wise and comforting voice of Mr. Jazz himself as he shares his life and death journey to offer guidance and understanding through a cat’s perspective as to why sometimes letting a pet go can be the greatest gift you give them.A special event page for Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day has been created on Facebook so that people can share blog post links, pictures, poems, favorite memories, etc. Please click here for the link.
12 comments:
Patch was adorable and sounds like such a wonderful mancat. <3 I'm so glad he came into your lives. I have no doubt that your mom is with him now. And I have no doubt that they are both watching over you and Mudpie <3
Thank you for sharing such a sweet story about the first cat in your life. This sweet kitty started out before you got there and evidently had a wonderful life up until the very end. I love that t-shirt so I'm glad actually that your mother managed to keep it looking so lovely and new. Now you get to enjoy seeing it all the time yourself.
What an adorable cat Patch was! As much as you miss your mother, it is a comfort to know she is with the furbabies you loved so much.
Thank you from me as well for sharing this deeply personal and just as deeply loving story. I understand each word, thought and feeling.
XX
Soft purrs and a warm hug ~ for little Patch, for your own special angels, for you beloved Mom, and for you Melissa on this special day of remembrance.
This is such a touching story of sweet little Patch. Thank you for sharing your memory of him and how special he was to your family. Love and purrs from Deb, the Zee/Zoey gang, and Purr Prints of the Heart.
Thank you so much for this story about Patch. You loved kitties from when you were in the womb!!!!! I love it! This was a beautiful story (((hugs)))
I love that shirt. I am sure your mom and Patch are together again. XO
Love and hugs from all of us. We just never get over those losses.
Purrs to you as you remember Patch. Mom has that t-shirt.
Patch was such a handsome boy! I'm glad he found your family.
Patch was adorable. We love the thought of him and your mom being reunited forever and ever.
Post a Comment