Tip 6– Our animals need attentive protection when living in the city
Linda Fortune
Author of Regal: An Intimate View of One Magnificent FelineAdult and in the City
Tip 6: Our animals need attentive protection when living in the city.
Welcome!
As an adult, I moved to the city and realized that taking on the responsibility of having a pet in that environment would create a much different scene from the one in the country. I lived on a busy street and so my first pet, a silver miniature poodle that I named Revel, was kept in the yard or house except when I took him for walks with a leash or let him run free when at the beach or in the woods. After Revel, a cat that I later named Regal found me. Finding that I did not have much choice in her decision to be with me, this very strong presence of Catness came to live with me. To be with me, Regal had to give up her freedom. She became an indoor cat except when I took her – or rather when she took me – out for walks utilizing a halter and leash.
Living in the city set up a different scenario regarding their longevity. I found that with my greater protection, both Revel and Regal lived very long rich lives. During those wonderful years, we became fast friends and very close. Our relationships were tight, committed, and very mutual. I have since found out that outdoor cats usually live on the average between 3 to 5 years while indoor cats can live up to 20 plus. Those numbers certainly fit my experience.
Because of our closeness, their passages were much more difficult to deal with. The mutual bond was incredible.
Next Entry: Tip 7 and Intense and Emotional Passages
With blessings, Linda
Filed under Understanding Pet Loss & Grief | Comment (0)Tip 5- Cats who live outdoors usually live much shorter lives then indoor c
Linda Fortune Author of Regal: An Intimate View of One Magnificent Feline
Childhood Cats
Tip 5: Cats who live outdoors usually live much shorter lives then indoor cats.
Welcome!
Since we lived in the country, all of our cats were outdoor pets for the most part and had the run of the countryside. Each animal, Figaro, Little Lord Lovely, Mamma, and Mamma’s Boy, became very important to me as we spent time together and they always responded to my engaging energy. I remembering training them as kittens to use the flower garden for their business, sharing the responsibility of taking care of them with my brother and sister, calling them to dinner, “Here kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty”, and playing for hours on end with them outside. They spent most of the day outside and would come inside sometimes during the evenings.
Sadly to say and, which I thought was normal at the time, our cats’ presence in our lives only lasted for a matter of a few years. You see, living in the country and being independent and free, they were out and about in the fields and crossing the road every day as they went about their adventurous lives. Then at some point, they would not come home. Their disappearances were often unexpected and I was always left with that unanswerable question as to what happened to them. They seemed to come into our lives with much joy but they left in silence and without any warning. I always experienced heartache and tears for a number of days when one did not show up again. On one occasion – I learned much later – my brother did try to protect me by hiding the remains of one of my cats, Little Lord Lovely, who had been hit by a car or logging truck and lay on the side of the road.
As I said those first weeks of disappearance were always very difficult. I would call and call hoping to hear a response and have my animal friend show up for dinner as usual. My heart would ache with the loss of their presence and then a final acceptance would come, and life moved on.
Lucky for us, we usually acquired another feline fairly soon and the whole love journey started all over again.
From there, I grew up and finally went off to college. During that time I had no pets but resumed my animal connection as an adult when I bought my first home.
Next: Tip 6 and Adult and in the City.
Blessings, Linda
Tip 4- Children learn invaluable lessons by taking care of and being with a
Linda Fortune Author of Regal: An Intimate View of One Magnificent Feline
Spot
Tip 4: Children learn invaluable lessons by taking care of and being with animals.
Welcome!
After spending one year in Michigan, we returned to live in the country in Washington. Lucky for us we inherited our second dog from the people who were moving out of our newly rented house. He was a white and brown cocker spaniel named Spot and we quickly became friends. His previous owners were quite amazed at how fast Spot responded to me. Evidently, Spot had not liked being around children in the past but, when they saw that I had won him over in just a few minutes, that arrested their concerns and Spot became our new family member. I’m touched to remember how Spot responded to my love and positive energy. That alone is a powerful lesson of life.
We enjoyed Spot for many, many years. He followed us everywhere, chased after balls, and was involved in many of our adventures outside. We had such freedom to play in the orchard, in the adjacent field, or at the swamp.
On one particular day, Spot had been playing outside and, for some reason, had gotten quite wet and muddy, which was very unusual for him. Since then, I have often thought that he must have felt very poorly and had somehow fallen into a mud puddle. Anyway, we children cleaned him up when he came home and then he went to snooze at his favorite spot behind the warm kitchen woodstove. Much to our surprise, Spot passed as he slept snuggled behind the warm stove that night. When mom discovered him in the morning, she removed his body and buried him in the back yard before we kids woke up in the morning. I’m sure she had hoped to spare us some pain. When she gave us the news, we were shocked and cried. But with time, our emotional response gave way to a quiet acceptance. As I reflect on it now and having had more experiences with the passing of animal friends, I think letting children participate in the passage of an animal friend may be a better way to go. There can be a sharing, an honoring of the pet’s life, and a special burial spot.
I don’t remember having any cats while we had Spot but they did come soon after. Figaro, Little Lord Lovely, Mamma, and Mamma’s Boy entered our lives over a span of years.
Next Entry: Tip 5 and Childhood Cats.
With blessings, Linda