Fourteen years is a long time. Sometimes marriages or relationships cannot make it that long, but this little Sweet Safari Boy and I fell in love as soon as my neighbor Alaina handed him to me. Today with much sadness my little love went peacefully over the Rainbow Bridge to join Bailey, Tarzan, Cheetah, and Freedom in Hyfryd, where all my babies live in a magical place with fresh food, grass, air, clean water and peace. There is no pain there, no cancer – only goodness, just like the kind they bestow on the parts of the world we inhabit.

Safari was never an affectionate cat to my husband, only to me. He would let him feed him off the kitchen table because he knew he was the soft touch however. Safari at one time weighed 18 pounds. He was always a big cat and he loved to eat. When he would not eat anymore and his respiration was failing, we knew it was time. I, however, never want it to be time even though I had accepted the inevitable.

For 11 years he was an only cat and a spoiled one at that. He has always lived in two places and at one time three places at a time! He loved the sunshine here in Florida more than anything, which is good because he never dealt with winter. Bailey,a senior Border Collie we adopted when he was 11,  was his first companion because he always liked dogs more than cats. I never had one cat at a time but I made the sacrifice for him because he was that special. Bailey only lived for 3-1/2 years, but six months later, Joy would enter our lives because Bailey gave me the sign.

After burying Safari in a special spot in the yard, the house seems quiet. Joy watched everything I did and seemed to understand what was going on since his illness had been taking a turn for the worse. Border Collies are very smart you see. She now has us as her only playmates. I told Safari this morning to send me a sign and I know he will. Soon we will head North for the summer and the search will begin and Joy will part of that journey as we have to make sure the two get along famously. I think our young Joy will love a frisky little kitten to romp around with when the time comes. Another part of our life will begin in as much the new kitty’s life will begin as well.

Us pet parents have it the hardest I think. We do this over and over despite how hard it is because we want to give a furry child a great life of love and happiness. I cried so hard today because I will miss his little characteristics and adorable idiosyncrasies but most of all his cuddliness and deep purr. I know Bailey was probably very excited to be reunited with Safari after four years and I am sure she will be telling me everything on her blog, http://www.baileysjournal.com.

I will see Safari again someday and it will be just like yesterday in the place where reunions have no span of time and no know no boundaries.

      

Safari and Joy                                                                Safari & Bailey

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