Cat Lady Talks: June 2015

Saturday, June 20, 2015

Heart and Soul

A while back a friend said to me, "Everyday I try to be the man that my cats think I am".

It's not hard to understand why we love our pets so deeply. They give us so much and ask for so little in return. And if we let them, I believe that they make us better people.

Sugar was my heart kitty - our connection was very physical. Wherever I was, Sugar was right next to me. Whether I came in the front or the back door, she was there to greet me. When I worked on the computer, she was on the counter next to me. If I laid down on the sofa, she curled up on top of me. She slept next to me at night. When she went to the Rainbow Bridge, her physical absence was huge and a piece of my heart went with her.

Chai was my emotional anchor - my shelter from the storms of life. No matter how bad things were, stroking her silky fur, looking into her blue eyes, and hearing her purr made it better. She was a balm for my pain - a beautiful and serene presence, always there intuitively giving me what I needed. When she made her journey, a piece of my soul went with her.

If you know anything about me, you know that I have a deep love and devotion for all of my cats. Did I love Chai and Sugar more than my other kitties? No, I don't think so.

But each cat is different and so is the relationship. In Chai's case, the connection was a bond between souls. With Sugar, it was a bond between hearts.

Have Chai and Sugar made me a better person? I like to think so. Sugar inspired me to start Sugar Rub!, an organization to raise awareness about feline mammary cancer. And Chai motivates me to raise funds for the Murphee and Sugar Angel Foundation, so we can help others with seriously ill pets.

And they both taught me one of life's greatest lessons. Stay present and live for the moment. Things can change in the blink of an eye.

One word can change everything.

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

A Monthly Sugar Rub! Could Save Your Pet's Life

We all know we're supposed to do a monthly breast exam on ourselves, but did you know that your pet needs one too? Feline mammary cancer is very aggressive and 90% of mammary tumors are malignant. For dogs, the odds are a little better at 50%.

Waiting for that annual vet visit could be far too late for your furkid. I found Sugar's first mammary tumor. I also found her second tumor just three weeks after her veterinarian had examined her.

This was recently posted on the Sugar Rub! Facebook page: "Miri's lumps (one slightly larger than the other) were found by us 2 weeks ago. We brought her to the vet. It's because of Sugar Rub! that we found them." Miri had surgery and now has a chance to beat mammary cancer because her owners give their pets a Sugar Rub! every month.

So pick a day of the month to do your pet's Sugar Rub (breast exam) and circle it on your calendar. Not sure how to do a breast exam on your pet? Check out this page on our website.

And when you finish your pet's breast exam, do one on yourself - humans get breast cancer too.

The Story of the SF Squad

All of our cats are rescues.

Chai

I adopted Chai from the SF SPCA in 2002. I was getting divorced and I was very lonely. Chai was the purrfect companion and she became my soul kitty. In February 2015, part of my soul went to the Rainbow Bridge with Chai. She had been fighting GI lymphoma for eighteen months and it had spread to her eyes and most likely her brain. I miss my beautiful blue-eyed girl deeply.

Little Bit

I met Bill shortly after I adopted Chai. We were living on Mt. Davidson and one day a teensy little grey tabby kitten showed up out of nowhere. She was terrified of us but not of Chai. I started feeding her, so of course she hung around (much to Chai's dismay) and now she's our Little Bit. She's the goofiest cat I've ever known, but her sweetness and vulnerability melt my heart every day.

Sugar

In 2008, we found Sugar at the SF SPCA. Poor baby had been there for six months! She was so sweet and we wondered why she was there so long without being adopted. I guess she was waiting for us! In May 2014 we had to help Sweet Sugar on her journey to the Rainbow Bridge. She had been diagnosed with mammary cancer in January 2013 and it eventually spread to her lungs. I miss my heart kitty every day.

Eve

Eve was in a high-kill shelter in So Cal and I saw her picture on the Blind Cat Sanctuary Facebook page in October 2010. She looked just like Chai did when I adopted her and I knew I had to rescue her. She was s a love, and so brave and precious. She was blind but she helped *me* see new and beautiful things everyday. Over the course of her life, Eve had a lot of illness including diabetes, pancreatitis, asthma, IBD and a heart murmur. She was a Warrior Kitty, with a strong spirit, but her little body could not survive acute kidney failure. In July 2018, we gave her a peaceful journey to her tenth life.

Chex

Chex was a young cat living near the Canadian border in Washington state. A friend tried to add him to her household, but it didn't work out. So in November 2014 I hopped on a plane and flew to Spokane to get him. He is my first mancat and a wonderful addition to our home and hearts!

Max

In March 2015 the Maxie Cat came to us from an East Bay rescue organization. He is the happiest guy! He is so happy that his tail doesn't just go straight up, it leans over his body toward his head!

Keno

In June 2016, I received a message that a 16 year old diabetic cat had been owner surrendered at our local Animal Care & Control and was scheduled to be euthanized the next day. My husband and I went to meet her, and Keno became a member of our household that day. She was with us for 22 months until April 2018 when she earned her wings. She was a grand old dame and we loved her very much!

And that is the story of our Cats!