It’s with a very heavy heart that I relate the story of our cat, Karma.
Mollie (with my support, she does not need my permission) decided last year to volunteer as a foster home for the SPCA and took several groups of cats. At first this seemed a good way to test if she was allergic before committing to getting a cat ourselves.
Karma (Jake at the time as we thought (s)he was male) came to us at 4 weeks old with two sisters after mom had died. We had them till 8 weeks old and returned them to the SPCA for adoption because we only wanted two cats, not three, and could not bring ourselves to choose.
Four weeks later, there was only one left, and we adopted Karma. A fitting name, we thought, and after all we couldn’t continue to call her Jake once we found out the little secret!
We always wanted two, figuring that they would keep each other company, and so we brought Rufus home in early January. Rough times ensued, and I’m not sure Karma ever completely forgave us for that one!
A couple of weeks ago, she started acting funny, very listless, and just not herself. Without getting into detail, we watched our special kitty getting sicker and sicker, with Mollie bearing the brunt of it since she is home every day. I get the reprieve of going off to work.
We took her to the vet and they conducted several tests, for the obvious and not so obvious, but by Wednesday it was clear that our little Karma was not coming back, that whatever she had was not treatable, and we had to make the decision to let her go. We are quite devastated as you can imagine. She was only 11 months old.
My sister sent me a poem that goes like this:
FOUR FEET IN HEAVEN
Your favorite chair is vacant now,
No eager purrs to greet me,
No softly padded paws to run
Ecstatically to meet me.No coaxing rubs, no plaintive cry
Will say it’s time for feeding.
I’ve put away your bowl
and all the things you won’t be needing.
But I will miss you, little friend,
For I could never measure
The happiness you brought to me;
The comfort and the pleasure.
And since I know you were here to share
In earthly joy and sorrow,
I’m sure that there’s a place for you
In Heaven’s bright tomorrow.
Anonymous
