Saying Goodbye

Almost 20 years ago, this scrawny little thing appeared at our backdoor looking for a family. Her bones were poking out beneath her matted fur and she was freezing cold. I was 8 years old and had been begging my parents for a pet so when this tiny creature appeared on our doorstep I surely thought that my prayers had been answered. My mom instructed me not to feed it or it would stick around, so of course I quietly put my own blanket outside along with some lunch meat for this shivering critter. Night after night she continued to return to our backdoor and she eventually warmed her way into all of our hearts and our home.

Kitty-Kitty was so much more than just a pet, she became an important part of our family who was there for us in ways that are indescribable. When I left for college, she stayed behind to keep my parents company (a.k.a. boss them around). Kitty was diagnosed with kidney failure awhile back and my parents had been giving her an IV each morning to keep her hydrated. It was difficult seeing our family member get older and go through these changes but she still had her same sassy personality. More recently, she started having difficulty walking and began shivering uncontrollably. My parents had a difficult decision to make. Yesterday morning my mom fed Kitty-Kitty ice cream, a treat that she always went crazy over but we never allowed her to have, and my parents held her as she left us.

Words cannot express how much joy she brought into our lives and how much we'll miss her. We're very lucky and grateful that she picked us to become her family. Hug your pets a little tighter tonight because their time on earth goes by way too fast.