Kitty Lea

Do you remember the first time I reached out to pet you? I do, just like it was yesterday. I reached out to you and you very carefully and gingerly stretched your neck out so that I could touch your head without getting any closer than you had to. But as soon as my hand touched you I could sense all the barriers instantly come down, and you snuggled and purred and you knew you were among friends and that no one here would ever hurt you.

Pam and I started to feed and care for you. We made a bed for you on our front porch and we were so happy to see you in there all nice and cozy every morning! You quickly found your way deep into our hearts, and it wasn't very long until you came into our home and became in indoor kitty and our very special friend and companion.

Shortly after, we took you to the vet for a checkup and shots. That's when we learned some very sad news about you - the vet told us that you were carrying the Feline Leukemia virus. It broke our hearts when he told us that you would probably not live as long as a normal kitty. We were quick to realize that we needed to savor our love and our time together and we were going to see to it that you were going to be as happy, healthy, well-cared for, and loved as possible. Besides, some kitties are able to rid themselves of the virus and we just knew you would be one of those lucky ones! Later, when other kitties showed up here in need of a home, it was quite a chore at times to maintain the seperation required to protect them from your virus. But what were we to do? We knew we were not going to send away those other kitties in need and we were not about to send you away either.

We'll never forget how much you always loved being outdoors. Whenever we had time we took you out into the yard to look and sniff around. You loved to be near Pam when she was working in her gardens. We'll always remember how much you enjoyed laying in the garden and watching the butterflies as Pam worked. Other times one of us would take you outside and you would be so happy just to lay in our lap, smell the fresh air, and watch the birdies.

We had a happy life together, and you seemed healthy in every respect, right up until near the very end. One day you stopped eating and drinking and started acting tired. We took you to the vet right away and we felt relieved as he told us that he thought you were simply experiencing some type of bacterial infection. We started you on medication and we felt hopeful as you started to get better. But your improvement was only temporary. We had to take you back to the vet and after he made X-rays and performed more blood tests he told us what we really didn't want to hear. You weren't going to be one of those fortunate kitties that overcomes the Feline Leukemia virus and sadly your time to leave us was close at hand.

We didn't want to let you go, but the last thing we wanted was for you to suffer. The next day, after spending a very special night together with you, Pam and I took one last trip to the vet's office with you so that we could send you on your way lovingly and peacefully. But don't worry Kitty Lea, as sad as that moment was, you will always be alive in our hearts, and your memory will never fade. We will always remember your special love, and we would like to think that someday we will meet again and then we will be together forever.

But we do miss not having you here in our daily lives, Kitty Lea. Coming home after work just isn't the same without you here to greet us at the door. We miss all the nuzzles and "kitty kisses" that you were always so eager to give. You were always there for us when we needed our lap warmed or a kitty to snuggle up to. Since you've been gone there's one more thing we now understand - we thought we were spoiling you while you were here, but now we know it was the other way around - you spoiled us, Kitty Lea!