Aloepuppy

As a pet sitter for more than 20 years, the hardest part is when you’ve been looking after a pet and they fall ill.

You can have a client as long as 10 years and in that time you do your best to be of service to the owners. Naturally, you get attached to their furry companions. I remember a group of cats that I cared for. They were 3 lovely cats named Blue, Charlie and Molly.

Blue looked to be a fawn tipped Siamese with beautiful blue eyes. Charlie was a red and white short haired domestic cat and Molly was and still is a Rag doll. They all had their own distinct personalities: Charlie and Blue always greeted me at the door with hungry eyes and a gleeful meow.

Blue was happy to just sit in your lap and be held. He was a good hearted cat that loved to be loved. Charlie reminded me of a Bugsy Malone type of character: All he needed was a mini Fedora hat! You see Charlie was always the most likely to surf the counters looking for the treat bag. If you left it out, you might find a few teeth marks on the bag! Like a thief in the night, Charlie also liked to steal hearts.

Unlike Blue, who was content to be held and sit with you, Charlie always had it in the back of his mind on how he was going to convince you to head back to the kitchen for another treat. he was a crafty cat!

Molly considered herself superior to both Blue and Charlie. She was first to be fed, first at the dish, and if any of the other cats dare try to butt in line, she would hiss madly and arch her back. As if to say; “Back off!” She is currently still living and the sole cat in the house where I occasionally sit.

I can’t imagine that it is easy for Molly to be by herself now, and I wonder if she misses her companions. Each time I am asked to come check in on her, I walk in missing the moments I was greeted by Blue and Charlie. Missing the silly conversations where I felt like the cats and I were chatting about how they had been since the last time I saw them, or asking Charlie if he had gotten into any mischief lately.

Now when I’m asked to go visit the cats, there are two urns sitting on the shelf in the living room. One is marked Blue, and the other Charlie. I cared for both of them in the last few years. Giving their medicine and hoping for the best for each of them.

Unfortunately we cannot control the outcomes when our beloved pets fall ill.

Only provide the comfort and support they need as they live out the rest of their lives. and be grateful for love they shared with us while they were ours.