First of all this is not to belittle the sacrifices made by our men and women in the armed forces who have given their lives to protect our way of life.
I propose that we take a moment on 09/09 at 9:09am to remember those feline friends and companions who have left us. Although I know it it is a little close to 9/11, I chose this date and time in honour of the nine lives our feline friends choose to give to us, their human companions.
The profound loss I felt after hearing about Eppy, Fergus and Silas who I only knew though cat-blogging made me think. Many times co-workers and friends sometimes laugh at us and the attachment we have to our cats. If we ask for time to take care of one of our precious charges, we are dismissed or mocked.
I, for one, do not ask that they accept or understand. I have made a decision that a cat will always be part of my life. I have even "project managed" my life to determine when the last cat can cross the threshold of my home and be assured of a comfortable and safe life.
Edit:
Here is the site we can use for the Cat Remembrance Day. Nothing on it yet is sacred so anyone who wants to help, please do.
We like the thought of 09/09 for rembrances also. Beau Beau & Angie
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to see that someone else has also time-lined the events of being able to safely care for their furkids. After having two other cats who lasted to approx. 16 years, and as I was about to adopt Beau Beau and Angie, it was an awakening when I realized I was old enough to have to consider it.
Brenda, the furkids Mom.
I like the idea too. So much sadness.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of rememberance day. I'm glad I'm not the only one who has thought into the future to ensure that my babies will not have to be sent somewhere else to live out their days. As I have 2 cats that are approaching 18, and 2 Siamese babies who could live to 20 or more, it is a careful consideration. I know that I will have to take in my parents 2 kitties when they are gone, as they are both over 70 and their babies are both under 5. - Mary, the Meezers Mom
ReplyDeleteWe like the 09/09 Remembrance Day too. A very thoughtful post.
ReplyDeletegood idea, will you remind us?
ReplyDeletei too have considered my "advancing" age in terms of kitties. i struggle with the idea "is it better to give a kitty or two a GOOD home for ? number of years, risking that i could go to the Bridge before them?" i waffle - some days thinking that a good, loving home for ? years is better than not having that chance. it's tough.
We likes the idea of a Remembrance Day too.
ReplyDeleteGood idea, 9/9 for those of us with 9 lives.
ReplyDeleteThe Mom says only another cat lover would understand us; and they dont know what they are missing!!!
ReplyDelete9/9 is a wonderful idea!!!
I think its a wonderful idea. We could turn our blogs over to our humans and have them tell about the ones who came before us. 'Cause we all know how their eyes get all leaky when they just think about the ones who came before.
ReplyDeleteWe love it! And Petey has a good idea to let the humans blog on that day to tell about special ones who came before. A day dedicated to love. What could be better.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! Count us in. Mom's got pictors an memries to share bout her two cats before us. But we better gets lots of tissues for her!
ReplyDeleteI lilke the 9/9 Rememberance Day too. We would certainly celebrate it at Caturday. Our shelter has a plan where you can leave them in charge of finding a good home for your animals if you go to the Bridge before them. My sister is the person who will take Harper and Ramona if something were to happen to us now, but when I am older I will write it into my will how much will go to take care of my cats and where.
ReplyDeleteOur shelter is also planning on building a hospice for people so they can be near their animals when they are near the end of life. The animals will be in the shelter, the humans next door. So you can see each other sometimes.
It is a good idea for all of us to have a caretaker person who will be there just in case. And you can write it into your will.
What a good idea. And another advantage is that 09/09 looks the same written as a British date and an American date (e.g. today here is 27/4 but you in the USA would say 4/27. Confusing. Anyway, the remembering is a good idea. All this talk about looking after kitties when their owners go makes us think of a group we know called the Cinnamon Trust. We will blog to tell you about it.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of a Remembrance Day. Our furkids give us so much companionship, amusement, and love. This is a very nice way to honor them. All us Dads and Moms should give our furkids a special treat or dinner too.
ReplyDeleteI do have one other thought I'd like to put forth. Some of you have written that you have considered not giving a loving home to a kitty/doggy/pet after you reach a certain age. Have you considered that when you reach or pass that age and would love to have another furkid in the house that there are very many older pets in shelters, many who are put to death because no one seems to want them. Why not save one of these poor creatures? True, they may not have the energy or playfulness of a kitten/puppy; but they would still be capable of love.
Dee
We thinks the 9/9 remembrance day is a great idea! But we might need reminding.
ReplyDeleteAs a corollary to what David said above, maybe when we are at the age when we can no longer commit to a cat for its entire life (15+ years), we should start looking at fostering cats.
ReplyDeleteI blogged about the Cinnamon Trust, in case you want to find out about what they do.
ReplyDeleteAlso in the light of what David said - we were adopted last year by an elderly gentleman cat (vet believes he's anything up to 20 years old) who we found literally starving, living on nothing but grass and too weak to get any food any other way.
ReplyDeleteHe's not starving now!
He's given us SO much enjoyment already; he's a real character. We call him Fred. I loved seeing my other cats grow up from kittens, but we're really enjoying getting to know Fred.
I can recommend elderly cats.
I think that's a wonderful idea!
ReplyDeleteI feel so attached to kitties I've never even met. A reminder would be great, though.
This is a great idea!
ReplyDeleteCat blogger unite!
*ABBY
Cat Remembrance Day is a great idea. It would be great if you could host a cat-blogging carnival on your remembrance site on that day, with everyone contributing links to their posts about their felines who have gone before.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea. I love my kittens, but I still miss the ones which went before. Would like to honor their memory. Thanks for planting the seed.
ReplyDeleteI too wonder if I might be coming to the "last chance" - am I too old to know that my cats will not outlive me? The next couple years may be my last kitten opportunity in good faith - after that it will have to be older cats. Luckily the kids are cat lovers and will take care of anyone left behind.