Thank you, Cassandra - I will. elizabeth
On 4/1/07, C & J <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Thank you for sharing the beauty of Mama Kitty's grave with us, I also hope that you will show us pictures one day. Cassandra ----- Original Message ----- *From:* elizabeth trent <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> *To:* felvtalk@felineleukemia.org *Sent:* Sunday, April 01, 2007 11:16 AM *Subject:* thank you Thank you. I am such an independent cuss -- never thought I would need support from anyone but you all have done so much to help me through Mama Kitty's illness and her death. This group has been a valuable source of information and comfort. I've come to think of you as family and I just can't see unsubscribing at this point. I hope it is ok to stay. I do have one FeVL+ interest. One of my ferals that I've been feeding for a couple of years -- I named him Zulu -- was captured and neutered by my neighbor (who is involved with cat rescue) last year. He tested positive for FeVL and they would not allow him to be PTS (I am grateful to them for that). He is so very feral that there was no hope of ever being able to adopt him. We all wrestled with the decision but we decided to return him to the wild. We are well outside of the city limits and reasoned that since he is neutered he would be far less likely to bite anyone. They clipped his ear to indicate that he was neutered and vaccinated. The decision to set him free was a controversial one -- but I've seen too many cats here have to live their lives in cages and I pleaded with the cat rescue to set him free and they agreed. We have one neighbor here who has outside kitties - and we contacted him first and sent him a lot of information on FeVL+ (although he was already very well educated) and he agreed that for our Zulu in this situation - this was by far the best decision. Since they released Zulu, I've constantly kept good food in the bistro here at Liz's Kitty Boutique and Day Spa (and sometimes infirmary). He has a healthy appetite and eats very well. Zulu will now let me stand within one foot of the door (inside) while he eats (outside)..but he is constantly on guard to see if he needs to flee for his life. I give him as much peace as possible since meals should be eaten in peace. If we were ever to test him again, we would have to trap him - and he is now very wise to that. I figure the best I can do is keep giving him quality food and clean water and sneak in supplements when I can. As I grieve it is good to know that there are so many of you who do understand. There is nothing more heart wrenching than literally burying someone you love. I can't remember if I told you but one neighbor gave me a beautiful granite stone that he found in Colorado the week before - it is about a foot wide and made of granite. This stone marks Mama's grave...along with a beautiful gift from another neighbor: she brought Mama a beautiful copper shepherd's hook...from this hangs a stone bird bath from a black chain that hangs low beside Mama Kitty's grave. Mama did so love to watch the birdies. Mama's grave is surrounded by roses -- not just the wonderful perfectly formed Hybrid Tea roses for cutting (only fragrant ones planted here) -- but also several OGRs (Old Garden Roses) that are so wonderfully fragrant - like Bayse's purple (a rugosa) and some beautiful pink and fragrant pink bourbon roses..two Loetta Liggett's...can't name them all. Clematis' wind up the old roses that bloom once so that there are blooms on them throughout the season There are also daffodils, irises and beautiful pink and white impatiens. I planted a mini rose beside her grave this weekend - a prolific bloomer..fragrant and a soft peach color..delicate and beautiful like she was. I've been thinking of getting some guardian figures to protect her grave -- like Bastet or some lions...but I mostly want for it to be beautiful and peaceful and a place that calms the spirit of all who visit. The place where she is buried will be the most beautiful part of this yard. It meant so much to me that my parents asked if they could come over to see where she is buried. They cried with me. I am so very fortunate to be surrounded by love. I cannot tell you how many times this weekend I have seen Mama Kitty with me as I was sitting on her porch. I see her everywhere. I know she is with me. Thanks for listening to me ramble...and most of all, thank you to all of you. i love you all so much. elizabeth ------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.24/741 - Release Date: 3/31/2007 8:54 PM
