Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies they go 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 mode whole and strong again, just as we remembered 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 pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together...

Some families have expressed interest in memorials for their lost kitties. One idea is to purchase a memorial stone. Artistic Etching is a company that offers custom stones for reasonable prices.

If you are interested in having your memorial on this page, please contact us.

Sammie
Sammie came to us in November of 2005, rescued from an industrial site where his mother (a stray) had disappeared. He and his two sisters had been left behind and were in danger from trucks.

Sammie was a delicate cat and his weak immune system left him susceptible to opportunistic infections such as ringworm and intestinal parasites. He came to dislike all the medications and bathing, etc. and did not socialize well. Rather, he identified with the unsocial kittens that we get from time to time. After a year of trying with Sammie, we decided to allow him to leave the adoption program and to join our feral colony. He was thrilled - being free to hang out with a bunch of cats and run around chasing lizards and butterflies.

Sammie's weak constitution followed him to the outside colony. Despite his joy in living, his health had never been very strong. Lately he had begun a decline that led ultimately to his death in his sleep on June 18, 2009. Now Sammie rests with his buddies and other cat friends in our little pet cemetery. RIP Sammie. We loved you.

Tom Thumb
Tom Thumb, or "Tom" as we called him, was dropped off at animal control without a mother. He was taken in by a nursing mother cat that we had in our foster home. Although he was a bit younger/smaller than the other kittens in his foster litter, Tom did just fine. He rarely had any trouble keeping up with the bigger kittens and he joined in all the play and nap times.

Sadly, Tom caught an upper respiratory infection (URI) and was too tiny to fight it off despite our best efforts to save him. He died in his sleep in the middle of the night, May 21, 2009. We miss his tiny footsteps.

Fluffy But ...
Fluffy But ... was a young male with identity issues when he showed up a few years ago at the feral colony that we manage. He looked vaguely siamese but had no tail and long fur. As he matured, he turned out to be a lynx-point snowshoe / himalayan / manx mix-up, with an attitude.

This young cat wandered between several colonies in our area and it was not uncommon to miss him for several days. However, this last time it was because he had met his demise. We found his battered body on Sunday, May 17, 2009, in the outfield of the local little league ball field. RIP - he has gone to a better place.

Buster
Buster was a stray cat that started hanging around with our feral colony in the spring of 2008. He was very timid at first and would run away anytime you would look at him. Gradually he became more accustomed to our presence - but he never felt secure here (too many other cats ?) and he would generally just eat and run.

Buster was not an old cat, but he lived a very rough life out on the streets where he liked to roam. He caught a severe URI during the cold winter months and finally became so sick that we were able to medicate him.

Surprise Suprise. Turns out Buster liked his medicine and the experience turned him into the most friendly and attentive of all the feral cats. So much so that he actually became somewhat of a pest, following us everywhere and weaving between our legs when we walked about the property. Unfortunately, Buster's URI came back with a vengeance and it laid him low. He passed in his sleep on our front porch on Easter Day, April 12, 2009. We like to think he is restored now and living the good life in cat heaven.