It’s not been a good day today around the Rants household. Our 14-year-old cat Jenna crossed the rainbow bridge this afternoon, to the place where she could be free of the pain that has been afflicting her.
My lovely yet talented wife (and I was using the phrase long before Tbogg) got Jenna when she was just a kitten. A friend called the missus (who was not yet a missus, of course) and said two stray kittens had followed him home, and he didn’t know what to do. Jason couldn’t keep them because he already had two cats. The future missus suggested that he call another friend, who promptly adopted both kittens. The missus went to visit this friend a couple of days later… and came home with Jenna.
Despite my being a dog person, even I could tell Jenna was a sweet cat, even though I met her late in life when she was already well past her prime.
I don’t think Jenna ever really forgave mommy for bringing home “that stray human” back in 2003 (when we got married), and I know she never forgave me for bringing home Emily (the Labrador). Every once in a while, though, Jenna would deign to sit in my lap (usually when I was trying to work on the computer or read), and would allow me to administer a “bilateral four-knuckle neck rub.”
Those of us who are lucky enough to share a life with a non-human-American should take a little extra time and give our companions a little extra love. Remember that pets love their humans unconditionally (well, at least dogs do; cats are a different matter). We owe it to them to make their lives as comfortable as possible.
If any of my 3-4 readers would like to share memories of their pets, please feel free to do so.
