Shelter Cats and Redemption

Here's a newsflash for you. I check my Facebook multiple times a day. I'm also a member of several cat groups that have popped up over the years on social media. OK, get up off the floor, I know I shocked the shit out of you.  Now stop it. But seriously, folks.  Yes, I check my Facebook, and what I see more often than not breaks my heart. People posting lovely, heartbreaking, heartfelt tributes to their cats that just crossed the Rainbow Bridge.  Every time I see a post from someone on a cat group, I stop.  I look at the photos of their beautiful cats.  I read their tributes. Sometimes I even tear up.  I always comment or click the "sad face" reaction.  I reach out when I can. Why?  Because I've been there of course. Twice. Saying goodbye to both Tyler and Tiger remains the two most painful moments of my life.  More painful than any heartbreaking break-up I experienced, more heartbreaking than losing touch...

I might have shared this video before, but what the heck.  It's adorable, so let's watch this again. Tyler, three years ago today, distracting me from a Battlestar Galactica episode I've probably seen 800 times. Enjoy!

Guess what?  Today is national cat day. Of the many "days" that seem to permeate our culture, this is the one day I can get behind with all my heart. So....to one and all.....happy national cat day. If you have a cat, or cats, spend time with them today.  Hug them, give them extra treats.  Play with them.  Let them know how much they mean to you. If you don't have a cat, what's wrong with you? I jest. In all seriousness.....go to a shelter, it's a beautiful day!  Adopt a shelter cat, give a shelter cat the forever home they all deserve. Trust me, you'll be glad you did.

Yin and Yang, 2009.

We interrupt our month long Tiger birthday celebration for an exciting update! Ashley, my forever love, took these two great videos of Jackson just a few moments ago! Fully recovered and svelte from his life-saving June 2015 bladder surgery, Jackson is happier and more playful than ever.  This brings tears of joy to my eyes and fills my heart with love to see my boy so happy. Enjoy!

One of my favorite pictures of the original feline dynamic duo.  Sharing an Ikea chair together, 2010 or so.

All October long I mark what would have been Tiger's fifteenth birthday.   Let's continue with another re-post from last year, slightly edited.  Hindsight as they say..... How Tyler and Tiger met I fell asleep with my new cat curled up on my chest.  He was warm, cuddly, and purred the whole night.  I was in heaven.  Despite my love for Tyler, and our inseparable bond, one thing he was not was a lap cat.  I can count on one hand how many times he sat on my lap in nearly 14 years. It was nice to have a cat that liked to cuddle, and Tiger LOVED to cuddle.  I woke up the next morning to evidence that Tiger had eaten and used the litter box.  Both VERY good signs considering how he was just a few hours before at the shelter.  I found him sitting in the window behind my headboard, soaking up some sun and his new view.  "Good morning Tiger.  Enjoying your new view?" MEOWOOO.  He arched his back as I scratched it.  H...