I do and always have.
They have always covered a huge section of my jigsaw.
They have been brightly coloured pieces with both smooth and jagged edges.
But I have now lost some of those pieces so I have glaring great caverns in my jigsaw.
These voids will now remain forever.
In two years I have had three pieces disappear from my jigsaw, with black spaces now remaining.
When a pet leaves our lives it can never be replaced. Oh yes you can welcome another furry member into your family but each pet has its own personality, so needs its own place in your jigsaw.
Our furry friends are chosen to join our families.
How did you find your new member ?
Did you go to an animal shelter and give an animal a chance at a new home, to be loved and spoiled.
Or perhaps you visited a friend who had new babies looking for homes.
Maybe you found a stray wandering aimlessly around looking for it's next feed.
If you were after a specific breed then researching and visiting breeders would have been the place to go.
Whichever way they came in to your life , they were welcomed with love and warmth.
The first hole left in my jigsaw was my bright eyed and happy little dog. She chose me when I visited my local animal shelter.
I just had to take her home !
She would greet me with a dance when I ventured outside with her food bowl. She always warned me when visitors arrived. And sometimes she warned me when people were just walking down our street. I probably got more exercise back then , due to walking to the door to check on the subject of her warning bark.
Sadly at 17 years of age , and struggling with old age, I made the decision to send her over the rainbow bridge to run and play with all those other dogs.
My grey and white moggy came from a farm. One of many kittens who were running through the farm sheds.
But I have a soft spot for grey and white cats so home she came. And did she enjoy being loved and spoiled! Sunning herself in her contained yard but accessing the house whenever she wanted some cushioned comfort.
At 20 years of age I could not watch her suffer any longer.
In 2002 I became the owner of a brown Burmese girl. She was my second Burmese. Sadly my first little kitten who also arrived in 2002, took a liking to wires and chewed a small piece off which caused her sudden passing.
So in December 2002 I picked up Roxi from Melton in Victoria.
A sweet little girl with attitude.
Burmese owners know all about the differing attitudes that this breed possess. I honestly believe that they know that they are more expensive and of a different heritage, hence they think that they are above the other plain felines.
Roxi always commandeered the best spot in front of the heater or snuck off and climbed under the blankets. She turned her nose up at perceived lesser quality foods and looked at you with disdain until something to her liking was placed in her food bowl.
She would need to approve of visitors and you would be her friend if you offered a lap at the right time. Mind you ,once you did offer you were there to stay, even if it meant dozing off, until she was ready to move on.
Burmese become the boss of the household.
They have their own distinct meow to command attention.
I knew Roxi's meow if she wanted the back door open so she could sun herself on the back deck. Hubby would laugh and say " You've got to be kidding ! Surely you can't know that she wants to go outside !" As Roxi ran after me and out the back door !.
Yes all you Burmese owners can understand.
I can see you now, all nodding .
I was constantly searching for the correct shaped bowl for her food. We ended up with a very large soup bowl for water and a bread and butter plate for her food.
Only the best for the "Miss"
Over many years Roxi's needs and wants were constantly changing.
As she aged her food choices became more difficult to understand. Yes, never buy large quantities of food as she would then change her mind.
I swear these cats could open the cupboards and see how many cans, pouches or packets were in there.
Roxi felt the cold so a heated cat bed was needed throughout the day.
When we had central heating installed I was adamant that an outlet had to go in the laundry to keep the cats warm on those cold nights.
You see Roxi was one who never wanted to stay in our bed. She would like to crawl in and have a snooze but then spend the remainder of the night in her igloo.
Cats are creatures of habit. They do not like change. So any renovations or furniture purchases will be met with a cautious sniff and a slow walk around before being giving the feline nod of approval. If it was a new place for a afternoon nap, then you were on a winner
We all do our best with our animals.
We love them and care for them.
And then the time comes that we have to make the difficult decision.
We would be selfish if we expected them to stay with us . But wouldn't it be good to be able to be selfish. To continue having that cuddle or having that face look at you before the head butts began.
Yes, it was heart wrenching , but I made the decision to let my Burmese girl go.
After 15 years of the love and devotion that she gave me. All those funny looks she made. The knowing meows
My family always called her grumpy. I knew her looks just as love .
To all those who have loved their pets and made the choice to let them wander off along the rainbow bridge, I send you my love.
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| Roxi 16/9/2002 - 5/11/2017 |
