Winnie

Winnie was never one to be left out, and we often joked she must have been raised by a dog before we adopted her. With her polydactyl paws and playful spirit, she was a fierce fetch player, a loyal desk buddy, and always in the middle of family life. Adored by our two kids and loved by us all, Winnie’s presence filled our home with warmth and joy. She will be deeply missed. We’re heartbroken to say goodbye to Winnie but relieved and grateful she could pass peacefully in my arms, at home where she belonged.

Sapphire

Misty

I will always remember the day Misty and I first saw each other. I had just lost my grandmother and was deeply sad. As I've heard it said: "Grief is love that has nowhere to go." I decided I wanted to take in a cat to love and care for. As I met the cats and kittens that needed homes, it felt as though none of them really cared to engage me which, in my fragile state at the time, made me feel unsure whether I was worthy of any of these animals' love and affection. Just as I thought maybe I should just leave, a tiny but mighty kitten with a beautiful quicksilver-grey coat and emerald green eyes walked right out of her cage, straight towards me on the ledge abutting it, looked me in the eye, and roared, "I'm Misty, and I want to go home now!" At that moment, it was decided. This was my soulmate. I brought her home that day.
Misty was a beacon of light for me through a time of darkness, and her love had brought me so much joy through 15 years. She was such a talker, unafraid to voice her thoughts, and we developed our own language between us, me with my various vocal intonations and her with her varied assortment of chirps, squeaks, meows, yaps, and yelps. (I often think she was on the verge of mastering English.) She loved the peace and quiet, listening to the birdies outside, and lounging on my lap or in my arms whenever I was seated for more than a moment. She would follow me from room to room, eager to participate in whatever it was I was doing, and loved to lay on my lap and watch TV together.
She was very dignified, regal, and particular (others often called her 'spicy'), even for a cat: she liked things the way they were, she liked her routine, she liked her chosen human, she wanted to be pet but only after checking to make sure your hands are clean and cleaning them if need be. ("I don't keep my coat this luxuriously shiny just to have to dirty it up!") If anything sought to disrupt her patterns, she would make her dissatisfaction heard, and I loved her for that. Despite this, I eventually met the human love of my life, Estephanie, now my fiancée. We all moved in together, and, shortly after my fiancée's mother passed, Misty came to be as bonded as strongly with Estephanie as she was with me. I believe Misty had such a big heart that she only had time for people who really needed some extra love and comfort. She wanted to give her entire heart and devotion to only a select few and couldn't be bothered to spread it too thin for anyone else. Her inclination for depth over breadth, I feel, was reflected in the depth one could see in her eyes. Misty had now selected her two humans for her preferred company and made it known to us that she was at capacity, thank you very much. She wanted no company but us, and she wanted our company almost all of the time, unless she didn't, in which case she wanted us in the room in case she changed her mind.
When Misty reached 14 and a half, she was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure and we were devastated. Through the years I still saw her as the tiny kitten who could stand on the palm of my hand. We were resolved to give her the most peaceful passing we could, and with lots of worrying research and planning, painful decisions, the help of two kind souls, some luck, and the grace of some higher power, she passed as peacefully and gracefully as we could've ever hoped for, free of fear, in the comfort of her own home, in our bedroom, on our (collective) bed, in the arms of her two chosen humans as they showered her with love.
The house now feels full with her absence--every little thing reminding us of her and bringing tears to our eyes because things are not as they should be. The loss of our beloved Misty has brought us grief so strong that it only further confirms the love we had for her and that she had for us. As I've heard it said: "Grief is love that has nowhere to go."
We love you so much Misty, and you're always with us in our hearts. And we look forward to the day when we see you again. Please help us find our way in the next life, since you'll have likely established your routines and marked your territory there by the time we can catch up to you.
With all the love in our hearts,
Mama and Papa
(Estephanie and Cody)