Sadness

Our dear sweet cat Tiger got run over by a car one week ago today. Justin left for work in the morning and saw him laying out in the middle of the street. He said it had just happened because he was just out there and he was not in the road. We all loved Tiger so much. He had really become a part of the family. We recently started up our evening walks around the neighborhood and Tiger always went with us! He would walk right beside us the entire way. It was the cutest thing. It was such a joy having him run around the yard with us when we were outside. He loved to have his belly rubbed and would purr loudly anytime he came near. He always slept on a little cushion on the back porch and would jump up on the window ledge every morning meowing to be fed. He will be greatly missed! I have vowed that I will not have another cat as long as I live in this neighborhood. We live on a very busy street and the cars just speed down the street.

We buried him in the backyard next to Gracious and we decorated his grave with pretty flowers. We said a prayer over his grave thanking the Lord for the sweet time we had to spend with Tiger. James insisted that we kneel down by the grave as we said the prayer. Later he asked me if cats go to heaven and I told him that I'm not really sure. The bible does not say specifically if they do or not, but wouldn't it be wonderful!

Right before we left on our trip to go to West Texas, Tiger got into a fight with some animal and got all scratched up. I doctored his wounds the best I could but they later got infected anyway and so I took him to the vet and had him neutered while we were there. I gave him antibiotics and he was feeling better in no time. That was my birthday present, spending the money that we really could not afford, getting him better. And I would have done it all over again for such a sweet cat.

Callie drew this picture the day before Tiger died

In Memory of Gracious

Coconut, Tiger & Gracious

We have some sad news from our home....Our dear sweet cat Gracious died yesterday. Our next door neighbor called and said he was laying dead on the other side of their house. We could not tell how he died. No visible signs to give a clue. He was laying peacefully on his side. We are guessing he maybe got hit by a car or perhaps drank or ate poison somewhere.

The kids seemed a little upset but got over it quickly moving on to wondering what kind of pet should we get next...but me on the other hand, I seem to be the saddest about it. I'm trying to go on and not think about it but he was such a sweet loving cat. We only had him for 6 months but I feel like I really bonded with him. You know... I had not had a cat since I left home for college and since then I came to think that pets were too much trouble and could not relate to people who were so attached to their pets..I mean their just animals right? But I was wrong. Pets can bring so much joy to people's lives.

They say they improve your health and lower your blood pressure.

This picture was taken the day before Gracious died. Notice how Tiger is licking him!

We buried him in the backyard and the kids decorated his grave with pretty flowers. I thought that was sweet. I will miss him and I know Tiger will. They had become such great buddies. Always sleeping cuddled up and playing so cute together. Here is a video I took of them playing together on Easter.

Last week we had a major ordeal with Gracious which makes this even more sad to me. The day after Easter Gracious did not come to eat with Tiger and I did not see him for a while...then later that day I heard him meowing out in the woods behind our house but he could not get home. So I thought he was hurt out in the woods and went looking for him. I found him stuck about 60 ft. up in a tree and would not come down. Tiger actually lead the way and stood at the base of the tree! We tried everything to get him down. Justin made this pvc pipe contraption and hoisted some tuna up in a bucket to him and that did not work. He was so terrified to come down and just meowed and meowed.

On the fourth day he was up there I decided to call a tree service to see if they would get cats out of trees. The first place I called said they would come and do it for free! So they came later that day to get him down.....then more bad things happened. As I was showing them were Gracious was, Joshua got out of our fence and ran out into the street. A man who lives down the street stopped and then called the police. I am so thankful Joshua was not hit. I got to him before the policeman got there. That was very nerve racking to say the least!

Thankfully they got Gracious down from the tree just fine and after eating and drinking seemed like his old self. But that is not the end to the story....... Justin came down with a miserable breakout of poison something...ivy,oak or sumac, we don't know. It must have been the vine going up the tree Gracious was in. He broke out all over both his arms and on his chest and stomach!! He has been just miserable the last several days. But it is finally starting to heal!

So that is our sad story. Oh yeah.... and we found a hermit crab from our trip to Galveston last month and he died last week. We buried him out in the backyard too. Hermie...may you rest in peace as well :)

We have a Tiger!!

We have a new pet Tiger. He showed up in our backyard about a month ago and has not left since. He would jump up on the window sill and he and Gracious would stare at each other. Sometimes they would play with each other through under the glass door and sniff at each other when the window was open.

About a week after Tiger showed up he started limping around and I noticed he had an infected wound on his leg with puss coming out of it. I debated on what to do. I called the pound and asked what they would do and if they treated animals. They would have just put him to sleep. He seemed like such a sweet and loving cat. I decided to try to treat the wound and see what happened. So I put peroxide and antibiotic on it for several days and it healed up just fine and he stopped limping. I gave him a flea bath and he is now officially our cat. I thought about putting up pictures of him over the neighborhood to see if he belonged to anyone...but I can't think of parting with him now....he didn't have a coller on and he was hurt and I fixed him, he has been free to leave for over a month now and has not left...so he is ours!

It's a good thing Tiger and Gracious became friends because.......

Gracious started spraying in the house and Justin freaked out. Argh! Cat smell in the house is NOT a good thing. So I immediately wisked him off and had him neutered hoping that would help the problem. But then Justin swears he saw him do it again and Gracious instantly became an outdoor cat. And do you know it has been the BEST thing in the world!! No more litterbox to clean!! Gracious just loves being outdoors to climb trees, chase bugs, and explore. I was so worried he would run off and we spent so much time chasing him every time he would escape...but no more.. he is a free cat and has the best of both worlds. He and Tiger have become just like brothers. They play so well together and are so affectionate giving kitty kisses to one another.

We have been letting them come in and out during the day but when night comes they like to sleep outside. Sometimes they curl up side by side...so cute! Maybe they are out there catching mice. But they like to be out even if it is really cold. One morning really early before the sun came up I heard the front door shaking and I was afraid someone was trying to break in. I ran over to the door to make sure the deadbolt was locked and I heard, "Meeeoooow, meeeow!" What a relief to know if was just the cats wanting inside!

Kitty brothers: Gracious and Tiger (I just love his stripey tail!!)

Goodness Gracious

September 28th...a day that I will never live down the rest of my life! The day I brought home a kitten knowing full well my husband and I have a history of feline allergy. Knowing my husband *HATES* cats. What possessed me to do such a thing?!?

The story goes like this: The kids and I went to the dairy to pick up milk for our milk co-op. As I was getting the milk we heard this loud continuous, "Meeeoooow, meeeooow..." Of course the kids went on an expedition to find the source of all the commotion. "Mommy, mommy there's a kitten in a hole under the barn....I have to get it out!" says Callie. She pulls the poor little thing out...dirty...pitiful...scared of the big dog that had chased it under there.

She hands it to me and it clings onto me for dear life with that constant meowing!! All I can think of is that it must be a hungry stray. "Mommy, can we keep it...can we...pleeeaaaase?!" No we can't possibly....then it looks into my eyes still clinging for dear life. I think..let me call the owner and ask him if it's his....I leave a message saying we found a cat, a stray, I think. We'll take it home and feed it and bring it back if it is his and if it's not I had every intention of taking it to the pound if Daddy absolutley said No. I just couldn't leave it. The kids are so excited as we drive away...a cat in the car.. still meowing continuously.

I'm thinking we could make it an outside cat! That would work wouldn't it? "What should we name it Mommy?" I was not sure if it was a boy or girl kitten at this point. After arriving home we feed it some fresh milk which it scarfs down quickly. It's lunch time.... I hear the garage door opening....reality sets in, "Daddy's home!" Quick, throw the kitten in the laundry room! Don't say anything about the cat kids. Let mommy handle it! Daddy walks in...."Meeeoooow!" GULP!

"What in the world were you thinking Cheryl?! #$%&*"!!!! Well to make a long story short.. Daddy now tolerates the cat. He actually remarked to me the other day, "You know...cats really are fun pets..AND... you must be keeping it really clean because my allergies are not bothering me." *SMILE* He's even been known to play with it once in a while!

I decided to name HIM Gracious. To remind all of us to show Grace to others when difficult situations come up...for instance when your wife brings home something your allergic to. "We also showed grace to him by rescuing him, Mommy!" Yes, that's right! Then I realized Gracious is a Gray kitten!! A (Gray + Precious) Kitten...... Providence I would say!

Gracious has been part of our family for 3 weeks now. He has one of the sweetest cat personalities I have ever seen. So playful and loving. And so smart...he is only about 2 mo. old and he has never had an accident and actually meows and scratches at the door if he needs to go to his litter box! That is amazing to me. I now remember how comforting and therapeutic it is to have a cat purring loudly in your lap! AND...I never thought in a million years I would ever hear my kids fighting over who would get to take the poop out of the litter box!!!