Aloha Oe, Sweet Tiki
I didn’t know I would be writing this so soon after learning the devastating news that our first cat baby together, Tiki, had cancer. On June 13, we said farewell to our darling girl. If you have ever helplessly watched a human or animal loved one deteriorate, it’s probably the worst thing you could go through because you can never do enough for them. We adopted her in 2012. Since then, she had experienced twelve birthdays, twelve Christmases, three younger cat brothers and one younger cat sister, several cat fosters and patio visits from birds, lizards, rabbits, possums and raccoons, a couple of gentle dog encounters, a front door escape in the rain under a bush by the doormat, an asthma diagnosis, teeth extractions, two home moves, multiple adjustments to our fluctuating work schedules, and all the love from us she could possibly want.
We were fortunate to have a wonderful home euthanasia vet come over to warmly guide Tiki to heaven, the Rainbow Bridge, wherever. This was the first time my boyfriend and I have ever experienced this and we’ll do it for all of our furry children. It was more than worth the cost, the absence of stress and most importantly, sparing Tiki an uncomfortable car ride to die inside a cold vet exam room. I LOVE vets and their staff. However, we love even more the opportunity to give an animal the “good death” at home.
I have been working on this blog all afternoon. I would start, stop, procrastinate, eat something, go do something else, start again, get distracted then remember what I was doing in the first place. I was praying for a phone call. Any day now, Tiki’s remains would be returning. About an hour before the pet mortuary was to close today, they contacted us to say Tiki was ready to be picked up. SOOO thankful that she is back home with us! Her ashes were accompanied by a certificate, the ID tag that she was cremated with, a tiny baggie of some of her fur, and her paw prints. Tonight, Mommy and Daddy will light candles that frame her little memorial we set up for her. Until we meet again………
Our last family photo together. Dance with the angels, sweet girl.
