Update on Toby

[Jilly_in_VA]

I posted a couple of weeks ago about a senior cat, Toby, that was admitted to our shelter at the age of 16 because his human got too old to care for him properly. He'd lived outdoors his entire life and was skin and bones and filthy when he came to us, but was a sweet, friendly boy nonetheless. Everyone in the stray jail fell in love with him and petted and spoiled him, giving him delicacies and the best of wet food and a clean blanket and bed every day. I had decided to bring him home on hospice care, knowing he probably didn't have long, and had set my studio up so that he could live there, where my highly cat-allergic husband would not come in contact with him.

However, when I went in today, I found his kennel empty. When I inquired after him, Natalie informed me that he had crossed over to Rainbow Bridge sometime Saturday night, and when the crew came in Sunday morning, they found him peacefully curled in his bed. It's comforting to know that he was loved by many and that he lived his last days in a warm place where he was spoiled rotten. Many tears have been shed over him. May he frolic like a kitten in the grasses over the bridge!
This is, as far as I know, his last photo.

[Siwsan]

1. Bless his sweet soul

[irisblue]

2. 🕯

[niyad]

3. Lady Bast, please take Toby gently home in Your loving arms,

and send blessings to those who blessed his last earthly days.

[virgdem]

4. So sorry for your loss of sweet Toby

[onecaliberal]

5. Sorry for your loss.

[flashman13]

6. Several years ago a terribly beat up, scarred up, injured, skinny as a rail orange striped

cat (my first orange cat) showed up at my house. I got him treated for his injuries, brushed him, cleaned him up, fattened him up, and gave him a nice warm bed (he wasn't feral but obviously hadn't had a home in a long time). He was very sweet and became very attached to me and me to him. He was with me a little over two years when his kidneys started to give out. Not long afterward, on my birthday, I found him in his bed nearly comatose and I was forced to put him to sleep. Clearly in those last years he was a very happy cat. I'm glad that I could give him a good home.

[Jilly_in_VA]

7. I am prepared now

to take the next hospice cat in. All set up and everything.

[slightlv]

8. I've taken in more than a few older (or feral) cats

whose days were numbered. They live with you just long enough to leave their pawprints on your heart, and that heart breaks when they're gone. Thank you for giving Toby such loving care in his last days. As an elder now, myself, this type of situation is worrisome. I've already begun to make plans should something happen to me before I've got all my affairs in order. That they should continue on in their spoiled, adored lives is the most important thing to me.

Lady Bastet, welcome Toby home with your open, loving arms. Introduce him to the eternal fields of kitty Elysium that he may frolic and play in days of wonder until he's once again joined with those who loved him most. Bless all the 2-leggeds who care for your babies... keep their hearts eternally young and resilient despite the loss. May their way be blessed with the donations and support they need to continue doing their most important calling.

[Fla Dem]

9. Having just lost my 17 year old Baby Girl, I can understand your sorrow and also your

happiness that Toby spent his last days in peace and with love.

That's all I wanted my girl to have in her last days.

Maybe they'll hook up on the other side of the bridge.

Hugs to you.

[roamer65]

10. May my white kitty and Toby meet.