Kittens who steal your heart and make you melt...

It is funny how you can become so accustomed to the presence of a beloved pet that their absence, even for a mere night, seems to throw things slightly off kilter.  That's how I felt when I dropped off my cat Snoopy the night before a road trip.  I wandered around the house all evening anticipating a furry shadow following me.  I sat on the couch to watch tv and instinctively rearranged the blanket next to me for a soft spot for him.  All night, I resisted the urge to look for him to see how he was doing.... because I knew he wasn't there.

And now, five or six weeks later, I am still resisting the impulse to look for him under his favourite hiding spots.  That is because Snoopy is gone.  Passed away a couple of days after I came back.  The grieving process has been hard.  Often I take it moment by moment.  Having cared for him for nearly 15 years means that I have a lot of habits to undo.  A lot of familiar rituals to let go of.  It's been tough, I won't deny it.  But I found a way to help me cope with it...

I went to the SPCA out in Abbotsford a couple of weeks ago, just as something to do.  It was a nice ride out on the motorcycle and the cats at shelters always seem so grateful for attention and love.  I had pre-scoped out a few kittens that I wanted to meet.  One of them was an adorable white + grey kitten named Bijou.  From the first time I held her, she cuddled her way into my aching heart.  But I was reluctant to take on another cat so soon.  I could barely manage a day without bursting into tears over a sudden memory of Snoopy.  How could I accept the responsibility of another kitten?

Over the next week, I went back to visit that kitten (as well as saw a few others).  After much deliberation, I finally wrestled my doubts to the ground.  I realised that my sense of loss over Snoopy would not go away, but at least by having a kitten, I would be forced to care for her regardless of how I felt.  Something to keep me moving forward.  What I didn't expect was the delight and pure ecstatic joy I would experience in discovering her unique, sweet goofy personality.  She is adorable and gentle and very accommodating.  If I hug her because I miss Snoopy, she does not judge.

What a lovely way to heal a broken heart....



PS  Consider finding your next pet at your local animal shelter.  I've had my heart stolen there twice now.  :)