Losing my Stevie Ray in January was quite a shock to me and my family. Stevie's housemates were lost without their king. After a few weeks, all seemed as though they were managing without him, figuring out their place in the new hierarchy when once again, the unexpected happened: BeeBop suffered a major stroke. He had had three strokes prior, the first being after his sister, Tumblina, passed in 2008. This was different. My energizer kitty, the kitty who kept going and going was just not bouncing back. He had stopped eating dry food shortly after Stevie passed and had been eating only morsels. His appetite was very inconsistent for a week. In fact, his whole routine was inconsistent. I knew my Beeper nutter was preparing to meet his friends and his sister across rainbow bridge.

Wednesday, I brought Beebop to work with me. We pulled a marathon day. Although, Beebop had stopped eating that morning, I packed food, water and anything he may need for the day. I'm not sure if he enjoyed the sights but I know in my heart, we both enjoyed those hours together. I rarely took my hand off him: he enjoyed lots of pets and kisses that day. After a sleepless night, my Beebop called to me very much the way his sister had. His trademark "mahwah" meow was a subtle "mow". We left for work Thursday morning knowing we had hours together. Beebop passed peacefully a few minutes after noon on Thursday February 23rd, with his head resting on my arm and his paw holding my hand.

Beebop was a remarkable kitty. He and his sister were born with cerebellar hypoplasia, a disease developed in utero when their mother was exposed to feline distemper. They were brought in to a hospital I was working in a couple of days apart because the woman who rescued them couldn't catch Tumblina! Both kittens were being abused by a group of teens in a Bronx park. I took one look at these two kittens and fell instantly in love!

C.h. didn't stop either of these two wonder kitties from living their lives. They lived; they loved; they played; they bickered with each other; they managed their disability with dignity and a little help from mommy and their human and fur family. Beebop inspired us to shake off our incumbrances: he didn't need or want walking aids. He was born purrfect! He inspired us to always keep fighting because life is worth living. Despite his increased disability over the years, he battled on. He gave everything he had 100% of the time: he propelled himself out of bed, to the water fountain and in and out of his litter box. He often landed on his housemates and his sister. All were patient with him. They cared for him. Later in life, Beebop found love with a rescue kitty, Venus. She groomed him; slept with him; shared "watch" with mommy and Tucker and notified mommy if Beebop needed anything.

For nearly two decades, I cared for my wonderfully different kitties. With Stevie Ray and Beebop gone, I am not without special needs kitties but I am without the kitties who defined me. Tumblina, Spikealicious, Stevie Ray and Beebop set me on a path for which I am forever grateful.

He is with his many ferret friends, his predecessor, Pyewacket, his friends, Spikealicious and Stevie Ray and his sister, Tumblina now. Until I meet my Beebop angel again, I hold on to my many memories of him and look forward to seeing him in my dreams.

R.I.P. Beebop See

June 13, 1999 - February 23, 2017

Princess
A longtime friend of my family is distraught after having to make the decision to rehome her Princess after 13 years of companionship. Princess's mommy needs to move in with her elderly father to care for him and cannot take her. She tried initially but her father, having c.o.p.d., had a severe allergic reaction to Princess.
Currently, Princess is still living with her mommy. This situation is very time sensitive as her mommy needs to move out of her current home and in with her father.
Princess is a healthy, sweet, gentle and playful 13 year old who has lived with small dogs. She is used to being pampered and doted on.
Please contact Kerry directly if you or someone you know are interested in adopting Princess.

Just a day after publishing "Venus gets one last miracle" in the mid-May newsletter, Venus laid her head to rest for the very last time. My gorgeous lioness passed a few minutes after 5pm on May 16th. She had spent another day with me at work. Her breathing that day vacillated between steady and rapid breaths. During an episode of rapid breathing, I stepped away after sitting with her for a few minutes thinking this was another episode. I figured I would hurry and return within fifteen minutes. I kissed my girl; told her i loved her and stepped away for just that, fifteen minutes. When I returned, I found her still. I called to her knowing she was transitioning. She was so peaceful. I scooped her up; pulled her to my chest and heard one last sigh as her life force left her.

My angel, my warrior goddess had joined the angels.

We would have celebrated our 6th anniversary together on May 25th of this year. Six years ago, I was on facebook searching for a black cat for a friend. I found two on the Pets on Death Row list on the eve of May 24th. I contacted the page administrator and told her I would be taking Mischief and JoeJoe through a rescue group I knew. Somehow I wound up taking Marbles, a siamese, because the rescue group had a home for him. I went back on the page and shared the good news about the 3 boys. Someone replied to me, "What about Venus?" I had to look through the listings to find her as this was back when there were anywhere between two to three dozen cats per night. I found her and notified the rescue and the interested woman I would be taking her as well.

Those first few weeks were very difficult. Venus hid behind a dresser; eating there and coming out at night only to use the litterbox or drink. She hissed, swatted and attacked when approached. I tried to treat her upper respiratory but I couldn't get near her. Venus had to have her left eye removed due to the severity of the infection.

One afternoon, I decided to put a cat dvd on, thinking it might relax her as it relaxes my other cats. Well, to my surprise, upon hearing kittens meowing, Venus came out from hiding in search of those kittens! She did not find kittens, of course. She did, however, discover Beebop. He needed a companion more than ever. His sister, Tumblina, had recently passed leaving him without a bed buddy. He and his sister had moderate to severe cerebellar hypoplasia. After Tumblina's passing, Beebop suffered a stroke and had become somewhat bedridden. Venus climbed right in bed with Beebop and for the next six years cuddled, groomed, protected and loved him til the day he passed. She would alert me if he was about to have a seizure or if he had gotten himself in a compromising position.

Venus was truly a mama cat. All my cats looked to her for love and comfort. They all respected her and returned the affections.

Not long after Venus came out of hiding, I discovered tiny pen tip sized growths on her abdomen around her mammary glands. I was told she had been spayed but I knew what those growths were. Venus had the entire chain of glands removed and was spayed shortly after the diagnosis of breast cancer was confirmed. She remained cancer free for about a year or so before more tiny growths appeared in another mammary gland. Venus underwent another radical mastectomy. About two years later, Venus fell very ill. Chest x-rays confirmed a mass in her lung. Biopsy only stated necrotic tissue. I thought my girl was leaving me. I looked her in the eye and said, "Don't you know I love you? You can't leave me yet!" Miraculously, she recovered! The mass was no longer visible on x-ray.

I thought we were in the clear. Venus enjoyed approximately two years of a symptom free life. She welcomed kittens, Rudy, Fig, Sonny, Aurora and Leia and snuggled with her many housemates, Mina, Nico, Stevie, Beebop, Patch, Dizzy and Roo. I think she even snuggled with Tucker and JoeJoe! She enjoyed "combies"; carrying her "babies" to me and eating grilled salmon and chicken.

We went for a routine exam in September of 2016. Her vet felt a mass in her abdomen. Honestly, I noticed her firm abdomen but was too afraid to accept the cancer had returned. Venus was diagnosed with liver cancer and given 6 months.

I called her my right hand woman. Stevie was always on my left; Venus was always on my right. She and Tucker took care of Beebop. Losing Stevie and Beebop within six weeks of each other leveled me. All of us were at a loss. Mina had been taking care of Stevie in his final months. Once he passed, Mina wouldn't leave Venus' side. It seemed even Mimi was keeping a close eye on V. The thought of losing her was overwhelming. How would we all get through losing the elder trio?

I really can't describe how I loved and respected my Mama V. She was elegant and strong willed. She didn't trust readily but once she let you in, she loved you deeply. She didn't like p.d.a.'s but she sure loved to lie next to you and revel in kisses when no one was looking. She took care of all of us. She fought her battle quietly and bravely. She spared me the pain of watching her transition but held on just long enough for me to feel her soul leave, to let me know she is at peace.

I will love her forever.

R.I.P. Venus DiMilo See, my gorgeous lioness.

May 7, 2006 - May 16, 2017