Cat Scouts

GIANT GINGERSNAP!

Sunday Selfies: Week #464

Ginger cat (nickname gingersnap) framed in gold and orange with orange flowers.

I think most of you know that I am one of three gingersnap cats. The others are my friends and former Cat Scouts, Teddy (Two Spoiled Cats) and Chip. We were roommates at Scouts in the Cat Scout University dormitory. Though Cat Scouts has now ended, we will always be Scouts at heart and great friends.

As far as the giant part goes, I am a hefty boy at almost 20 pounds. Of course, next to my fellow gingersnap and bestest friend, Teddy, I am not that hefty. The way I see it, however, with both Teddy and me, it’s just more of us to love.

So, Mom, thought I looked so handsome in my photo, she made another puzzle. If it is as hot where you live, as it is here, staying inside and puzzling is a good plan.

110 Ginger Cat with Flowers

Hopping Time

Now that I have shared my selfie, it’s time for you to share yours with us and all your other friends. I will admit that I am looking incredibly handsome today, but I also know that each of you are even more handsome, or in the case of all you girls out there, beautiful. And today is the day you get to show that off.

But, of course, as we remind you every week, it is not necessary to post today or even join the hop today. That remains open through Thursday.

Whenever you join our hop or just drop by to see your friends, all my fursibs and I thank you for stopping by to see us, commenting and being our friends.

Now go have an easy Sunday and try to stay cool. I find napping on my back with my tummy exposed is a great way to do just that. (And I know Teddy agrees.)

Purrs & paw-pats, Gingersnap Cooper Murphy

THANKFULS, POETRY & A PRAYER REQUEST

Thankful Thursday

We always are happy on Thursdays to share with you the things for which we are thankful.

A grey tabby cat and a pale ginger cat on a catio.

Sawyer & Raleigh enjoying catio time.

I am delighted to report and truly thankful that Sawyer has not had a seizure (that Dad Tom and I know of) in four-and-a-half weeks. He is delighted to continue to enjoy kitten stinky goodness with his meds.

ginger cat wearing Cat Scout uniform

Cooper Murphy is happy he was able to follow in his big brother, Mau’s, paw steps and become a Cat Scout and eventually share leadership with Teddy (Two Spoiled Cats) of The Wildcats Troop. With the lowering of the Cat Scouts flag for the final time this past weekend, Cat Scouts came to an end. I am not certain what Cooper Murphy will do with all his free time. Regardless, I am thankful he, Mau and I had the opportunity to be a part of this organization. We thank Karen Nichols, Denmaster, for creating this group and dedicating nearly ten years to it.

Kitties Blue and I are so thankful for each of you who follow and support us. We truly appreciate your friendship.

Thankful Thursday is a blog hop hosted by Brian. To participate, click on his badge.

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

As much as I tried to add one of the Kitties Blue to this week’s poetry inspiration photo provided by Angel Sammy and Teddy (Two Spoiled Cats), it just wasn’t to be.

Here’s the photo followed by the Haiku I wrote to accompany it.

Baby wearing an aqua and lime green swim cap in a swimming pool and being held by a woman

Swimming is so fun
The water tickles my toes
Mom, please don’t let go

If you’d like to try your hand at writing some poetry, check out Two Spoiled Cats, by clicking on the poetry badge. You’ll find next week’s inspiration photo, as well as the poem Angel Sammy sent to Teddy from the Rainbow Bridge. I hope you’ll read it. Sammy is a terrific poet.

Purrs & Prayers Please

One of our dearest friends, Raz (Friends Furever), who just happens to be the brother of Sawyer’s girlfriend, Noelle, and Angel Mau’s wife, Angel Allie, is not well. He’s been ill for several months and on medication, but he’s lost a lot of weight and is not doing well. If you can, please send him some prayers. And kitties, if you can add some purrs and POTP that would be wonderful.

Thank you.

June 1, 2023 by Janet Blue Cat Scouts Haiku Poetry Prayers Thankful Thursday Thoroughly Poetic Thursday 11

THE END OF AN ERA

Sunday Selfies: Week #458

No…it is not the end of Sunday Selfies! But yesterday marked the end of Cat Scouts after ten years of adventures, fun and learning. Mau was one of the early members, and when Cooper Murphy joined our family, he too became a Cat Scout. Cooper and I will miss the fun and camaraderie, but it was time to say farewell. At this point, there are more angel Scouts than active ones.

Preparing for the end the past few weeks has had Mau in my mind constantly. He was a great Cat Scout and a wonderful member of our cat family. I miss him every single day. With him uppermost in my mind, I am sharing one of my very favorite photos of him for today’s selfie. I shared it in the past for a Spark, so some of you may remember it.

So without any additional preamble, her’s Mau!

A tuxedo cat wearing sunglasses and trying to push them off his face with his paw.

I do hope you have enjoyed this look back at our handsome boy. He was a character!

Hopping Time

Now it’s your turn to join us and show off your selfie to your friends as well as Kitties Blue. We don’t even mind if you repurpose a selfie like we did today. We just want to see your adorable faces.

Kitties Blue and I are aware this is a holiday weekend, so if you are too busy to participate today, don’t worry about it. The hop always remains open through Thursday.

Even if you don’t join our hop, we’d like to that you for following and supporting us.

Have an easy Sunday.

May 28, 2023 by Janet Blue Cat Scouts Looking Back Sunday Selfies 28

LETTER TO SANTA CLAWS & THANKFULS

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

With apologies to Teddy and Angel Sammy (Two Spoiled Cats), I am using Thoroughly Poetic Thursday to repost Kitties Blue letter to Santa Claws from 2018. Regardless, I recommend you visit their blog (by clicking on the poetry badge) to read Angel Sammy’s poem. I know it will be another winner, as the inspiration photo is adorable!

A Cat’s Letter to Santa Claws

Dear Santa,

Oh dearest Santa, I promise I’ve been good.
Always used my litter box and eaten all my food.
That broken lamp was a minor transgression.
I don’t think it required that time-out session.
And it wasn’t I who shred the arm of that chair.
Besides, isn’t that why they come as a pair?
The hairball on the human’s pillow didn’t come from me.
I don’t have floofy furs, as you can plainly see.
And all that litter spread throughout the house hither to yon…
It sprang right out of the box long after I had gone.
And you know that sandwich the human left on the table…
I swear it was stolen by a stray mouse named Mabel.
And the Christmas tree that suddenly toppled over…
Was not pushed by me but a marauding gopher.
I have no idea how these critters invaded my space.
I never leave the cat door open or out of place.
Oh. dearest Santa, I’ve truly never ever been naughty.
So please bring me some toys from Jackson Galaxy.
And a big bag of nip to last a whole year…
Please, oh please, oh please Santa dear.
And some nommy treats would be totally pawsome.
I’d eat every one and not leave a crumb.
For I, the cat, have been as good as a cat can be.
So please don’t pass me by this Christmas Eve.
If you’ll stop by my house once again this year,
I promise to leave cookies and a bit of good cheer beer.
And as to next year, I raise my right paw
And promise to be a good cat, oh dear Santa Claws.

Yours truly, The Cat

Thankful Thursday

Each Thursday we like to share with you the things for which we are thankful.

I am particularly thankful this week to have my bout with COVID coming to an end. That Dad Tom did not get it truly is a blessing. He has been exposed at least six times, but has continued to remain uninfected!
I am thankful that all 13 packages with Christmas gifts that needed to be mailed made it to the post office yesterday thanks to Dad Tom. With priority mail, most should make it to their destinations by Christmas.
Kitties Blue and I are grateful for all the holiday cards we have received from our blogging friends. We will share them here after the holidays. We also will share Kitties Blue card on Christmas Day, for those of you who did not receive one via snail mail.
Cooper Murphy is thankful to have the opportunity to earn twelve new merit badges at Scouts prior to Christmas. He has earned eight so far by learning about the animals represented on the badges and passing the accompanying quizzes. The ninth badge is for completing the December craft project.

Nine Cat Scout Merit badges featuring sloths, axolotls, reindeer, platypus, smart dogs, raccoons, cane toads, polar bears and Christmas craft project

Here’s a photo of his Christmas craft project.

Christmas tree made from folded magazine pages with star and round gem embellishments.

And, finally, Kitties Blue and I are most thankful for your support, following, comments and friendship.

Thankful Thursday is a blog hop hosted by Brian. To participate, post on your blog for what you are thankful. Then click on Brian’s badge to go to his blog and enter the link to your post.

Thanks for joining us today!

December 22, 2022 by Janet Blue Cat Scouts Christmas Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Kitties Blue Poetry Thankful Thursday Thoroughly Poetic Thursday 12

CAT DOOR ENCROACHMENT & THANKFULS

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

I had fun today with Two Spoiled Cats’ (Teddy and Angel Sammy) photo for their weekly poetry challenge. We had a similar inspiration photo some months ago. You can see it and our poem at, “Three’s a Crowd With Calista Jo”. Instead of Calista Jo, Raleigh joined today’s inspiration photo.

Original photo is uncredited and from the uncopyrighted site, Affordable Pet Doors Melbourne: https://www.affordablepetdoorsmelbourne.com.au/reasons-pet-isnt-using-pet-door/

Cat Door Encroachment

Hey, get your big nose out of my door.
You know I’ve warned you about this before.
This passage is strictly for felines,
Not gigantic-nosed, slobbery canines.
If you don’t back off, I’ll give you a whap,
And it won’t feel like a friendly love-tap.
Honestly, I didn’t think you were so dumb
Or is this just a case of sheer boredom?
Whatever your problem, I say, “scram!”
I’ve got claws and I’m not afraid to use ‘em.
Now, please remove your colossal schnozz
Or get a scratch from my mighty paws!

If you haven’t been participating in Teddy and Angel Sammy’s poetry challenge, I recommend you give it a try. It’s the perfect opportunity to get creative. Check out Two Spoiled Cats, by clicking on the poetry badge, for next week’s inspiration photo. And please read Angel Sammy’s poem. He’s one of our very favorite poets.

Thankful Thursday

Thursday is also the day we share the things for which we are thankful. Then we join Brian’s Thankful Thursday blog hop.

It’s been ugly and rainy here where we live, but its still been a pretty good week. Several of the kitties and I have thankfuls to share.

Audrey is thankful to have her spay surgery behind her. She had it yesterday and came through like a champ.
Talk about champs…Sawyer has been eating like one and hasn’t had a seizure, that we know of, in 11 days.
Cooper Murphy is thankful for earning another merit badge at Cat Scouts for learning about Wild Cats. Here’s a fact, that unless you are a Cat Scout, we bet you don’t know: The Rusty-Spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus) is the world’s smallest wild cat weighing only 1.8 to 3.5 pounds. It is 14 to 19 inches in length minus its tail, which is approximately half the length of its body. (Just as a side note: Cooper Murphy weighs 19 pounds!)

I am super thankful I have almost finished decorating and addressing the Kitties Blue Christmas cards, and I have finished all my shopping. Please don’t tell, but the gang are getting some pretty great gifts this year!

If you’d like to participate in Brian’s hop, post on your blog for what you are thankful. Then click on his badge to link up.

Thanks for visiting us today. We’ll be back tomorrow with some fill-ins.

December 8, 2022 by Janet Blue Cat Scouts Christmas Health Poetry Thankful Thursday Thoroughly Poetic Thursday 15

MISSING FIONA, THANKFULS & A POEM

Ooopsie…I just discovered I didn’t post this at midnight!

Thankful Thursday

Kitties Blue and I are joining the Thankful Thursday blog hop hosted by Brian. If you’d like to participate, post on your blog for what you are grateful, and then click on Brian’s badge to visit his blog and linkup.

Today is the sixth anniversary of our precious kitty, Fiona, receiving her wings. We definitely are not thankful that she is no longer with us, but eternally grateful to have had her in our lives. I think of her everyday. If you haven’t read the poems her sister Giulietta and I wrote for her, they are on the sidebar. This is the link to her obituary post, “Farewell Fiona.” She’ll be loved always.

Grey cat on couch

I am thankful I have completed a good portion of the Christmas decorating and have started addressing Kitties Blue holiday cards. These projects are eating up hours each day, so I must add to the thankful my apologies for Kitties Blue and my lack of visiting and commenting.
Cooper Murphy is thankful for earning another merit badge at Cat Scouts by learning about turkeys and passing his quiz.

Dad Tom and I are thankful Sawyer has been eating well lately; though, he did have a seizure prior to our returning home this past Saturday after celebrating Thanksgiving with family.
As always, Kitties Blue and I are especially thankful to all of you who follow, support and comment on our current posts and those we are sharing in our Looking Back links. But, more than anything, we are blessed to have your friendship.

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

It was definitely a difficult task this week to figure out how to add Kitties Blue to Teddy and Angel Sammy’s inspiration photo for their poetry challenge. Requiring even more effort was coming up with a suitable poem. The poem is a bit lackluster, but the gang and I hope you’ll enjoy it nonetheless.

An African woman carrying five clay pots on her head and four in her hands with cats and five cats around her feet.

Potted Cats

This nice lady is bringing us nine pots,
So we each will have our own cozy bed.
Four of us are trying them out,
But none of us are on her head.
Lisbeth actually enjoys being up high,
But if she fell, there might be blood shed!
She’s waiting ’til her bed’s on the ground
Where she’ll add a nice warm bedspread
And curl up for a good long nap
Until it’s time for Kitties Blue to be fed.
We thank this lady for her generosity,
Because we Kitties Blue are all well-bred!

If you haven’t been participating in Teddy and Angel Sammy’s poetry challenge, I recommend you give it a try. It’s the perfect opportunity to use your imagination and creativity. Check out Two Spoiled Cats, by clicking on the poetry badge, for next week’s inspiration photo. And please read Angel Sammy’s poem. He is a terrific and masterful poet.

So that’s it for today. We look forward to seeing you all again tomorrow.

December 1, 2022 by Janet Blue Angel Cat Cat Scouts Christmas Kitties Blue Poetry Thankful Thursday Thoroughly Poetic Thursday 9

SNOW CAT & THANKFULS

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

I totally enjoy creating poems and joining Angel Sammy and Teddy’s (Two Spoiled Cats) weekly poetry challenge. They provided a really “cool” inspiration photo this week, but unfortunately my poem is totally lame. I apologize to Teddy, Angel Sammy, James Pierpont (author of “Jingle Bells”) and each of you reading it. I had what I thought was a good plan, but it just didn’t turn out that well. Top that off with the fact Cooper Murphy hates snow after being abandoned in it, and it’s even more pathetic. But I already had Cooper on the sled from a Cat Scouts event, so…

Dashing Through the Snow

These snow people look so sad
Bent over, trudging down the mountain.
The wind at my back makes me go fast!
Sadly, it causes them to slump over.
Many days of sunshine will be needed
To release them from their heavy burden,
So they can stand tall and proud.
I will watch them as I fly by daily—
Thankful I’m a cat and not a tree.

If you haven’t been participating in Teddy and Angel Sammy’s poetry challenge, I challenge you to give it a try. Check out Two Spoiled Cats, by clicking on the poetry badge, for next week’s inspiration photo. And please read Angel Sammy’s poem. He’s one of our favorite poets!

Thankful Thursday

It seems as if most of the thankfuls this week are mine. To begin, I am especially thankful for those of you who have read and commented on the past posts I’ve been refurbishing and linking to here.

I also am thankful for completing 2300 Peloton rides and receiving a shout out from the instructor.

I am super thankful for completing lots of my interior Christmas decorating (excluding trees).

All of us are thankful for your support, following, comments and friendship.

Finally, I am thankful my camellia bush is in full bloom. It is always such a bright spot once all the leaves have fallen.

Large camellia bush covered in pink flowers.

This photo was taken on November 8, so there are many more flowers now.

Thankful Thursday is a blog hop hosted by Brian. If you’d like to join us on the hop, click on Brian’s badge.

November 17, 2022 by Janet Blue Cat Scouts Poetry Thankful Thursday Thoroughly Poetic Thursday 11

SAWYER’S ADMONITION & THANKFULS

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

On Thursdays we enjoy joining Angel Sammy and Teddy (Two Spoiled Cats) for their poetry challenge. As this blog is dedicated to everything feline, I try to add one of the Kitties Blue to each week’s inspiration photo. This week, that cat is Sawyer. He also has tried his paw, once again, at writing the poem.

Sawyer's Admonition: Grey tabby cat tells a little boy with a hobo pack and his pet piggy not to runaway.

Sawyer’s Admonition

Tommy, please don’t runaway.
For your and piggy’s sake, I beg you to stay.
It’s really not any fun to roam
And be away from your wonderful home.
When I went on my walkabout last year,
There wasn’t a day Mom didn’t shed a tear.
Your mom’ll miss you and piggy when you’re gone,
And it really doesn’t matter for how long.
Even just a few hours will make her sad,
And she will also be really mad
That you didn’t think home was good enough
And you took piggy and left in a huff.
Those snacks won’t last you both an hour,
And tummy grumbling has lots of power
To make you regret your rash action
And then lose your way by distraction.
That’s what happened to me, and it was scary,
Especially as it was totally unnecessary.
So, please don’t cause anymore pain or drama.
Head back home now and hug your momma.

To play along and write a poem, check out Two Spoiled Cats, by clicking on the poetry badge, for next week’s inspiration photo. And please read Angel Sammy’s poem. It is always a winner!

Thankful Thursday

Now it is time for our weekly thankfuls, so we can join Brian’s Thankful Thursday blog hop.

Not only is Sawyer the author of this week’s poem, he’s also up first with a thankful. He has finally broken that once-a-week seizure occurrence. He is now nine days past his last one. All the Kitties Blue have their paws crossed that he can continue to extend this seizure-free episode.

Cooper Murphy is thankful that he earned another merit badge at Cat Scouts for taking the class and passing the quiz (with 100 %) about Trap Door Spiders. Cooper also was one of two winners of an Amazon gift card in the Cat Scout Halloween Bingo Game.

I am thankful that we have had some decent fall weather, and I have been able to spend time in the yard planting bulbs and cleaning up my flower beds. I am hoping to have a few more nice days, so I can continue the process.

As always, Kitties Blue and I are thankful for your following, support, comments and friendship.

If you’d like to participate in the hop, post on your blog for what you are thankful and then click on Brian’s badge to pop over and add your link to his post.

Thanks for joining us today. Kitties Blue and I are always happy to share our posts with you.

October 27, 2022 by Janet Blue Cat Scouts Health Poetry Thankful Thursday Thoroughly Poetic Thursday 12

RALEIGH & THE DINOSAUR TEETH

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

Another fun, inspirational photo was provided by Teddy and Angel Sammy for their poetry challenge this week. Raleigh thought he’d enjoy joining the photo, and the poem is written from his point of view.

Two children and a ginger cat inspect the teeth on a dinosaur fossil.

Oh My, What Big Teeth You Have!

Those are the biggest teeth I’ve ever seen.
I bet that dinosaur was really mean.
Meeting him would have given me quite a fright.
He’d probably gobble me up in one bite.
But the jokes on him, as he is dead,
And I’m right here staring at his big head!
I am certainly lucky to be a cat—
Dinos couldn’t have slept on anyone’s lap.

Check out Two Spoiled Cats for next week’s inspiration photo by clicking on the poetry badge. When you visit, please take time to read Angel Sammy’s poem. He transmits it to Teddy from the Bridge, and he is a masterful wordsmith!

Thankful Thursday

Kitties Blue and I are always happy when we participate in Brian’s Thankful Thursday blog hop.

Cooper Murphy is thankful for earning a new merit badge from Cat Scouts University after taking a course and passing a quiz about jellyfish.

Though, Sawyer had a seizure on Sunday afternoon; he, his dad and I are thankful he went just shy of six weeks without one.

Kitties Blue and I are thankful we were able to make a donation to Feral Friends Community Cat Alliance by purchasing $51 worth of items (eight crinkle balls, 10 pounds of cat litter, and two 24-can cases Fancy Feast kitten food) from their Chewy Wish List in lieu of a $40 donation. Lone Star Cats selected Feral friends to receive the donation from our comment-a-thon celebrating Misty May and Angel Mau’s birthday.

And, as always, we all are thankful for your friendship, support, following and comments.

I’ll let you know next week if Dad Tom and I are thankful that for the first time Wednesday night the kittens were allowed to remain out of their enclosure. (They got out once unbeknownst to us until we discovered them romping around the following morning.) This is their first authorized night of freedom.

Finally, we have many friends living throughout the state of Florida, and we are praying that all remain safe.

September 29, 2022 by Janet Blue Cat Scouts Comment-a-thon Health Kittens Kitties Blue Poetry Thankful Thursday Thoroughly Poetic Thursday 10

THE LIBRARY CAT & THANKFULS

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

Kizmet and I are here today to share a poem. I went a couple weeks without writing a poem, and last week I did not include any of the Kitties Blue. So, this week I am happy to have had the opportunity to add Kizmet to Angel Sammy and Teddy’s (Two Spoiled Cats) inspiration photo.

It’s not one of my best efforts for which I apologize. Hope you enjoy it anyway.

Man sleeping on a shelf in a library with a grey cat sitting on top of him.

The Library Cat

As a library cat I am responsible
For making our patrons feel welcome,
But I think this fellow has gone too far.
Napping in the stacks is frowned upon
Unless, of course, one is a cat.
I do it all the time!
Snoring is never allowed; it breaks
The library’s tradition for quiet.
Possibly a lick to the face or a paw swat
Will wake our sleep-deprived, young scholar.
If not I’ll need to call in reinforcements,
And the librarian is not as gentle as I.
She’ll whack him with her ruler and grab his ear
To haul him to his feet. She’ll whisper
Her displeasure, shake her finger in warning.
She’s a bit old-fashioned. Tolerating my fur
Flying about is as much as she’s willing to bear.
So, I will do my duty and wake our sleeper.

To participate in Teddy and Angel Sammy’s poetry challenge, click on the badge to find next week’s inspiration photo. Please read Sammy’s poem when you visit. He’s one of our favorite wordsmiths.

Thankful Thursday

Thursdays are the day we like to list our thankfuls. Being grateful for the good things in our lives makes it so much easier to manage the days and times when we are facing challenges. We are particularly thankful that our friend Brian gives us the opportunity to share these thankfuls with you.

Well, Sawyer’s streak has been broken. He had a seizure on Tuesday evening. But the fact that he enjoyed seven-and-a-half weeks being seizure free is something for which we are all extremely thankful!

Cooper Murphy is thankful for recently earning three new merit badges for classes he took at Cat Scout University as well as a new crafts badge.

Four Cat Scout badges.

We are all thankful Audrey and Raleigh are thriving. I am particularly pleased they are willingly allowing me to put harnesses on them for several hours each day. With a little luck and a lot of hard work, we may be able to train them to be Adventure Cats.

And, of course, Kitties Blue and I are thankful for your friendship and support.

If you’d like to join Brian’s Thankful Thursday blog hop, enter his URL in your browser to be transported there.

August 11, 2022 by Janet Blue Cat Scouts Health Kittens Poetry Thankful Thursday Thoroughly Poetic Thursday 15

YOU
For Fiona

It seems like only yesterday…
You were just a kitten.
When I saw your pleading look,
I was completely smitten.

Now at only six years old,
You are getting ready to leave,
Soon you will have your wings.
I’ve already started to grieve.

You’ve fought hard for the past year,
And I’m not ready to say good-bye.
I can’t imagine you not in my life
I am so sad…today I had to cry.

I am grateful and blessed
For my six years with you.
You’ll live in my heart forever.
You’re one of the best ever Kitties Blue.

YESTERDAY

Many yesterdays have passed since
You gained your angel wings. Today
Is six months since you left us behind
To remember and mourn. Our hearts
Continue to hurt, and we miss
You as much as the day you left.
Giulietta whined from the catio
Yesterday as I worked in the yard.
I know you put her up to it. That
Was your way of getting me to,
Allow you to join me as I
Gardened. You were there with me
In spirit. With every meow
I thought of you and how much I miss
Your sweet face and disposition.
In these past few months, many friends
Have traveled your same path in your
paw-steps. I am certain you were
Waiting to greet them with purrs and hugs.
I pray you and your friends are laughing,
Frolicking and having fun together.
Picturing that makes me smile, but
Does not lessen my sadness at your
No longer being here to snuggle
And receive our love, care and kisses.
Fiona, please do not ever forget
You are still and always will be loved.

ONE YEAR MISSING YOU

One year has passed since you flew away,
And I still think of you everyday.
I see your sweet face in my mind’s eye
And wish we’d never had to say good-bye.
It’s nice you’ve sent us kitties needing a family,
But my dearest love, we are now at capacity.
You thought it would take more than one cat
To take your place in our habitat.
We love Cooper Murphy and baby Sawyer dearly
But thinking either could replace you makes me teary.
You were one-of-a-kind and will stay in my heart
Until the day I join you and we’re no longer apart.
When once again I can hold you in my arms
And revel in all your love and feline charms.
Together with you and all who have passed.
I will spend eternity contemplating how blessed
I was to share my life with my furry children,
Each and every one of you one-in-a billion.

UNTIL

I miss you each day.
Until we meet in heaven,
The pain will remain.

ONE OF A KIND

I don’t know how to say good-bye.
I thought you were invincible; though,
You used up many of your nine lives.
You ruled us all with an iron paw;
Never took “no” for an answer
And always got your way.
If not, you’d bark to signal your
Displeasure and sometimes raise a paw.
I always joked that you were bi-polar.
When I told people you were a calico
They immediately understood what I meant.
Today was unnaturally quiet in the house.
Can a home seem empty with eight cats?
I will miss waking up at night to find you
Sitting next to me and staring at me.
I will miss you yelling at us as you did
When you wanted breakfast and dinner.
I will miss watching you lounging and snoozing
On the porch settee on a warm afternoon.
But most of all I will miss your kisses!
When kitten Sawyer befriended you,
We suspect you were imparting your
Wisdom and secrets for controlling us.
Time will tell if he was a good listener.
But whatever he may have learned,
Neither Sawyer nor any other cat
Can or will replace you in our hearts.
Lily Olivia, you were one-of-a-kind.