I knew this day would come. I wanted it to take its time, to meander toward us slowly, passively.

Patches has gone to the Rainbow Bridge.

As I had reported back in December, the seizure that Patches suffered had some lasting effects. I noticed her gait was off; her movements a bit clumsy. She was urinating in strange places.

These things were not normal for her.

She was seeking me out more for attention.

She was climbing into my lap.

She abandoned the heated bed — a spot she had claimed for years — in favor of sleeping beside me in my bed.

She would curl up beside my neck, nested comfortably between my neck and shoulder, or paw the blankets until I lifted them up to let her lay atop my torso.

These things were not normal for her.

From the first day I brought her home in April of 2015, I knew our time would be limited. She was 18 at that time and turned 19 the month after. She was already beyond what would be considered geriatric for a cat.

She was special.

For almost four years, Patches was a bright little spot of light in my life. She was the size of a kitten, older than dirt, and a die-hard fan of my pet water fountain.

Each year that passed, we marveled a little more at her magic. Even as the downward spiral of age turned on her little by little, we marveled at this little black and white tufted being, full of life.

And then the downward spiral started becoming evident. And then it was more evident and more evident and more evident still.

I saw her ears no longer pointed upward with interest, drooping. I saw her eyes, once bright and sparkling with the secrets of the universe, dull and downcast.

It was time. It was unarguably, heartbreakingly, time.

When I brought her into the veterinary suite at Tabby’s Place, I was overwhelmed with the love and support as the staff gathered. They each in turn kissed her and pet her soft unkempt fur and whispered secret confessions of love into her ears.

I, too, basked in the love and support. Here was a cat who had stolen our hearts our souls and held them deeply inside her. Here was a cat who was homeless at 18, and, through extraordinary circumstances, ended up at Tabby’s Place — and with me.

How lucky we all were to have known her. How blessed I am to have loved her so closely for almost four years. As she took her last breaths, gently and quietly slipping off to everlasting sleep, I was overwhelmed with gratitude.

I thanked her for letting me love her. I thanked Tabby’s Place staffers for letting me foster her. And I thank you for supporting her these last years.

I wish you great peace.

With eternal gratitude
Carrie

Since Patches has passed away, we have transferred your sponsorship to the Elderly Care Fund which nurtures all of our senior kitties. Each month you’ll receive an update on a different elderly cat you’re helping. Unless we hear otherwise from you you will receive updates on the Elderly Care Fund each month going forward.

However you may do one of the following:

• Choose to have your sponsorship transferred to support another Special Needs cat of your choice. You can see all of our Special Needs cats here. If you wish to do this, please contact us by email and let us know your wishes.
• You may choose to discontinue your monthly sponsorship. To do so, please contact us at 908-237-5300 with your request.

We do hope that you decide to continue supporting our cats in need. And whatever you do, thank you for loving Patches so generously.