Thursday, March 15, 2007

A Heartbreaking Time

Thomma Lyn here, Chairman Mao's mommy. He isn't blogging today because he's been cuddling in my lap most of the day. Brainball has been reclining on my feet, and Dorydoo and Marilyn have stayed ever-near.

As many of you know, hubby and I have four indoor cats, but we also care for a group of stray kitties who showed up last year by the creek branch near our back yard. Most of these kitties started out 100% wild and feral. Over many months, I managed to tame them, and gradually, they have bonded to me. Hubby and I have begun the process of having them spayed and neutered.

Though they're tame with me, the outdoor kitties still behave as feral cats with everybody else. I have a special relationship with them all, but I had a particularly close bond with my little Moonlight, a gentle-spirited boykitty who was love shaped like a cat. And he started out the wildest, most feral kitty of them all.

Well, night before last, Moonlight was hit by a car and killed. A beautiful, shining light snuffed out by a brutal world. We buried him in the yard and I placed spring flowers on his stone.

Moonie, I will miss you, and though my heart hurts because I will never hold you again, you will always live in my heart and in my memories with me. We will be together. I will never let you go.
Ample make this bed.
Make this bed with awe;
In it wait till judgment break
Excellent and fair.

Be its mattress straight,
Be its pillow round;
Let no sunrise' yellow noise
Interrupt this ground. ~ by Emily Dickinson
I will always love you, my little Moonie Moonlight.

I've been weeping for the plight of stay and feral cats who live daily with such danger. Hubby and I do the very best we can for the feral kitties, but a death like this is simply heartbreaking.

19 comments:

Daisy said...

Oh no. I am so sad to hear this news. Poor sweet Moonlight. My thoughts are with you and your family. It is very nice that you are doing what you can for the feral kitties. At least Moonlight knew love and kindness from you.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much, sweet Daisy kitty. My heart is hurting and my tears are flowing, but I'm thinking of the many happy days I was privileged to share with Moonlight: those early days during which he got accustomed enough to my presence that he wouldn't run for the woods when I came outside, then the days that followed when he let me approach closer and a little closer still, until one wonderful fall day he bumped against my hand. Then came another day he let me pet him, and then the glorious day when he first purred in my lap. From then on, it was nose kissies and headbonkies all the way. How happy and honored I was to have earned his precious love and trust.

I am also thinking about how I'd sit outside and watch him and his feral kitty friends running and playing, dappled in sunshine. Oh how little Moonie loved to wrestle. But he was always so gentle. He was a kitty who loved life, he was a kitty who loved being loved, and I am so glad I gave him the love he needed in his too-short life. And I was blessed to be loved by him.

It is those memories of Moonlight which will prevail, and I will carry in my heart those memories, the love I hold for him, and the indescribably precious blessing and honor of his love for me as long as I shall live.

Hugs to you, precious Daisy, and thank you with all my heart. Chairman Mao sends you rumbly purrs.

Dragonheart, Merlin, Devi, and Chloe said...

Oh no. That is so sad that poor Moonlight was killed. :( You have my deepest condolences. Moonlight was very lucky to have you looking out for him and the other ferals and was fortunate to have your love.

You are in my thoughts and prayers. Take care.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much, sweet Dragonheart. I will miss little Moonlight so much -- I'll always feel there's someone missing when I go to look after the feral kitties. But Moonie will never be missing in my heart and I will always hold dear what we shared.

Chairman Mao sends big rumbly purrs to you and yours, and I so appreciate the kindness and love here in the kitty blogosphere.

Tiki, Kirby, and StanLee said...

We are so sorry to hear about Moonlight, but we are glad that you made his life better in the time he had here. We are sure that he is now a little angel kitty watching over you. Sending you purrs and hugs.

Anonymous said...

*sniff*, thank you from my heart for your precious and comforting comment. I love imagining my precious Moonie that way. He was an angel kitty in life, and I'm sure he is still one now, too.

Big hugs to you and again so many, many thanks.

Bad Kitty Cats & Megan said...

OH we are so sad for your loss. He indeed was family. What a tragic situation! Our hearts for you and your kitty families, indoor and out. We are so very sorry to hear this. Moonlight - what a beautiful Kitty Cat. You are a saint for helping these kitty cats out! Purrs and Love

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much, kitties and Megan. Your kind and comforting words are balm to my hurting heart. Purrs and love back to you.

Emma's Kat said...

Oh no...I'm so sorry to hear of this tragedy! I can imagine how much your hurting, but like Daisy said, at least Moonie knew love, care and a full tummy from you. I will be thinking about your family in this difficult time. Tell Mao that he is kitty of the day today at Kat's Cat!

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much, precious Emma and family. I've told sweet little MaoMao that he's kitty of the day, and he's happy and excited! He'll be blogging about it soon.

I so appreciate your words of comfort and kindness about dear little Moonie.

Victor Tabbycat said...

We are so sorry! We know how much it hurts. Moonlight was bootiful! He was furry lucky to know the love you gave him. His love fur you was a reflection of yur love fur him. His trust was most precious since it was so hard to gain. You did so much more fur him than most beans.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much, precious Victor. It is the love Moonlight and I shared that is comforting me at this sad time, and the special and heartwarming words from people and kitties like you.

Myst and Blackie said...

Oh, no... we are so sorry about little Moonlight. He was lucky to have you to show him love. Thank you for caring for our feral relatives. Without kind humans - lots of kitties would have an even harder life.

Purrs....

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much, Mia and Ghost. Your kind and comforting words mean so much to me -- it's kitties and people like you who make the kitty blogosphere such a special place.

Forty Paws said...

Oh no! We just read about this! We're all so sorry for Moonlight's passing. Thank you for giving him some good times while he was here. We're very glad that you and your husband are doing TNR on these precious kitties. That's very important work!

Luf, Us

MaoMao said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Please excuse the deleted comment above -- that was me; I accidentally used Chairman Mao's account.

Thank you so much, Forty Paws -- your kind and comforting words do my heart good. I'm hugging all you precious kitties, and the Ballicai send purrs.

The Lee County Clowder said...

What terrible news. Moonlight was a gorgeous kittie.

At least he knew you loved him, and he loved you.

Puurrrs and {{hugs}} to you from all of us.

If you haven't seen this already, perhaps it will help a little.

http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html

Anonymous said...

From my heart, thank you, Radcliff, Allie, Luna & Ozzie for your kind words and your link to the Rainbow Bridge. A beautiful comfort and so precious -- I am shedding tears. My arms ache to hold my Moonie again and to feel his precious nose kisses.