Our Furbabies Are Our Biggest Supporters

Who needs medicine when there are cats? I have to say that my life is significantly better with cats in our lives. Our 2 cats names Marco and Marcia arrived in our lives more than 8 years ago. They are the best of friends and Marco, the big orange cat, loves to dress up for holiday occasions-- Halloween is no exception. I lucked out and found the very last 2 pet costumes at my local dollar store. In general, Marcia, the tortoiseshell cat, is more shy and more curious as to why I even bother to put on a costume for her as she knows nothing about this crazy holiday season.

Both cats love to go outside under careful supervision. We have a backyard and on sunny days, I would watch them eat grass and smell the flowers. They both love to roll on the grass. On my lunch break from work, I would quickly take them outside where I, too, could enjoy the sun on my face and shake off the memory of a few tough customer service calls.

We got the 2 cats separately, not too long after the death of Simba, the orange Turkish Van cat owned by my husband, who was my boyfriend for many years before we got married.

My husband says he never intended to get a cat, but he found Simba sitting on the side of the road in the small lane behind his apartment. The kitten was alone and hungry. My husband took the cat home and for 11 years, the cat was a part of his life. And mine. Prior to meeting my husband, I had a terrible time finding someone who was compatible. I had discovered that I needed someone who was little bit like me: hardworking, an animal lover, someone who likes to travel, etc. I had always grown up with cats, and so finding someone who likes cats, was a miracle.

I loved Simba, and he was a very sociable cat. When friends came over for dinner and other social events, Simba was sitting there on a chair, too. He was checking out the guests and he also enjoyed the attention. As the only cat in the household, Simba got lots of attention.

Over a few days, we discovered that Simba was ill and wouldn't eat and couldn't pee. The vet advised his kidneys were failing and his days were numbered. No drugs were available that could prolong his life. Seeing Simba suffer, we felt it best to take him to the vet and put him to sleep.

Saying our "Good bye's" to Simba was heartwrenching but necessary. When we finally left the vet without our beloved pet, we silently went to our car to drive home. Suddenly, my husband experienced a feeling that was hard to ignore. At the very moment we wanted to drive away, my husband felt that Simba's spirit left his body. He felt and heard in his mind a big sound like "Whoosh!" He also said he saw a flash of light leave the vet's building. It was an unbelievable moment. I was silently jealous that I didn't experience this beautiful moment.

Many months went by and each day didn't pass by without me sobbing and feeling so alone without Simba. Simba had stuck by me when I had days of unemployment and other heartbreak. It was hard to let go. One day, during the weekend of Easter, I was lying down on my sofa and feeling sad. As I looked near the curtain, I noticed a light glow near the wall and I felt a presence. In the next room, my husband would later say that he looked up and saw what appeared to be a tunnel of light show up just above his head. The light appeared, then disappeared a few minutes later.

At that moment, I knew in my heart that Simba had showed up briefly to say that he was alright and it was time for us to move on. His presence briefly was loving testimony that he would never forget his owners.

A few weeks after that incident, I went to the pet store and through a rescue agency, brought home Marco, who was a precocious kitten then. A few months later, my husband selected a small tortoiseshell cat that I named Marcia.

Although we know have the 2 cats to brighten our days, I will never forgot Simba, who brought me happiness during his short life.

Cats' lives are shorter compared to our own lives, but perhaps that is a lesson we all need to remind ourselves. Life is short, and we need to treasure each moment and be kind to each other.We should always have love in our hearts --just like cats.