How My Pet's Love Is My Holiday Gift

I don’t need much, never have, never will.

But what I DO need are animals in my life.

I have been blessed.

For 18 years I experienced the love that a true soul kitty could give.

I was loved, protected, adored, licked, rubbed on and adopted by a handsome tabby boy who became my “Baby Bobo”. Bobo was my life and I was his. I cried into his fur so many times, too numerous to count. He would lay with me as if he knew that it was his place to comfort me, and comfort me he did.

Bobo passed at the age of 18. A piece of my heart went with him.

I missed Bobo with all of my heart and never thought I would ever get another cat but two weeks later while visiting an adoption at a local, major pet chain, I met who would be my next lover boy, my crazy, cuddly and curious Cody.

Cody seemed to sense from the first time I held him that I was hurting.  When I picked him up he curled onto my lap as if he had already found his forever home.  He knew I needed him and he needed me.  I must have held him, petting him gently for nearly a half hour. My fingers missed the soft feeling of cat fur, the two weeks since Bobo passed seemed to be an eternity, I longed for the comfort that only the love of a cat could bring.

I felt so guilty adopting another cat. What would Bobo think? Should I have had a longer mourning period?

My vet comforted me by saying “you aren’t replacing Bobo, you can never replace him. But you CAN create new memories with another cat. Bobo would want you to give some of the love that you gave to him to help another kitty in need”.

Cody has never ceased being a “gift” in the nearly 4 years that I have had him. He still wraps himself around my neck like a furry boa, he is my little “close talker”….he asks for nothing (well maybe a big bowl of kibble) but gives so much in return. There isn't any gift I could ever purchase at a store that would even begin to compare to the love from my cat.

He is a gift to me as well as being a gift to our crazy Sheltie (Dakota)…he is patient, never once hissing but accepts Dakota never once seeming to realize that Dakota is NOT a cat!

I owe it to both my Cody and Dakota to return the gift of unconditional love that they give me every day, not just at the holidays but EVERY DAY. EVERY DAY they show me they love me by their kitty purrs, doggie licks and cuddles.

There is nothing like coming home to fur babies that give me a standing ovation...just for being ME!

Some of the gifts I can give to them are the best quality food that we can afford,  a variety of fun and stimulating  toys, comfortable places to snooze, a soft, warm lap to cuddle on, human kisses, quality vet care, love and a  safe haven to live what will hopefully be  very, very long lives.

Another gift I need to give to them both is the gift of pet insurance. I am going to  make 2011 the year I show my Cody and Dakota even more what they mean to me by giving them the gift of good, quality pet insurance. When I make that commitment Trupanion will be the place I turn to.

It is one of many ways I can return the unconditional loving gifts they give to me every day of their lives and for that I am furever grateful!