This is beyond surreal to me. Wally was a special kitty. He was incredibly handsome. He lived in Michigan, (maybe 40 or so minutes away from me), but while I had gotten together with his Mom, I never had the pleasure of meeting him or his kitty siblings.
 |
| Hoping The Island Cat Family doesn't mind that I "borrowed" this photo |
My heart goes out to The Island Cat Family, Ernie, Zoey, Mom and Dad. I know that Wally was adopted at an extremely young age, which makes this even harder. Losing a beloved pet is ALWAYS hard but living with them for so many years....as so many of you know and as I know all too well, the void is cavernous.
I am also sad because Wally's family had recently moved to a new home and Wally barely got to enjoy it.
The purpose of National Love Your Pet Day (WHICH TO YOU, ME AND EVERYONE WHO LOVES PETS IS EVERY DAY) is "to encourage pet owners to spend some time with their pets and show them the love and affection they deserve. It doesn’t matter if you own a cat, dog, bird, fish or reptile, today is the day to pamper them and show them how much they mean to you."
I think if we are all candid, we would admit that we have times that we are just "too busy" or "too stressed" to actively play with our pets. I am at the front of the line on that one. While I adore both of my boys, I know I don't actively play with them as often as I should. But...they are deeply, deeply loved, are kissed and cuddled daily, and they know how much they are loved.
Wally was deeply loved too, not just by his family but by his blogging family, his facebook family and by all who read their blog.
One of the most awful parts about blogging for many years as The Island Cats have been, and as we have been, ( we will hit 10 years blogging in October), is that when we all first began blogging our kitties were babies (Cody was 2 years old and now he is going on 12)...after spending multiple years reading someone's blog you become attached to the pets often more than to the humans (sorry but it is true!!) Losing yet another long-time blogging kitty is painful for everyone, but especially Wally's family.
Cody and I want Wally's family to know how much we loved and enjoyed reading about Wally, and we want them to know how much he will be missed......I am sorry for this disorganized post, but as I write this, my heart is getting in the way.
Thank you Sue for sharing Wally with us, Wally thank you for being YOU.....
To all of you, you can stop by The Island Cats and leave them messages of sympathy and comfort, and hug your pets a little tighter, I know I will.
Oh, NO:(
ReplyDeleteI have been lax in visiting blogs of late and now I read this...
Wally will be greatly and sorely missed. He was ever so special.
Off to pay my respects...
My human always feels better after playing with me! So she should do more of it. Just like all the other humans who don't play with their pets enough.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, we are so sad to hear about Wally. We'll head on over there. Let's you know life's short. I just turned 15 today. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYour post reflects what's in MANY hearts after hearing about Wally. We knew he had kidney disease but somehow we just thought Wally would go on forever - like we do when we love someone so much. Wally was one of Sammy's first buddies at Cat Scouts too. I just know Sammy gave Wally a big hug when Wally got to the Bridge - and I am sending HUGE HUGS to Mom Sue and his family. We all know the heartbreak. But it still hurts every single time.
ReplyDeleteLove, Pam
I am very sad about Wally. Whenever I saw him in a post he reminded me of my Chris, especially when he would try to get attention from Ernie.
ReplyDeleteThat was lovely Caren, that Wally was so special to all of us and he leave a huge hole in our hearts.
ReplyDeleteWally was a very special cat and loved by so many. It is so sad that he had to go to the bridge. Caren, great tribute to a great cat.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful tribute to Wally and family and description of the relationship between bloggers over many years.
ReplyDeleteWe has a sad this week. What a nice tribute you wrote. I try to remind myself every day that life is short--pet with or play with your kitties because they may not be here tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a lovely tribute to Wally, Caren. I am very sad that Wally has made his journey to the Bridge.
ReplyDeleteWe get to know the cats so well through their blogs, and when it is their time it is like losing one of your own.
We still can't believe that Wally is gone. Along with you guys, they were a couple of our very first blogging friends when we started several years back. It's so heartbreaking when this happens. You wrote a lovely tribute post to the handsome Wally!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Kylo Ren thanks you for the birthday wishes!
(((hugs))) I can't believe it either :( Give Kylo Ren and the rest of the gang kisses from us!
DeleteThat makes blogging so hard sometimes, Caren. It feels like we known them for so many years and when they have to leave our planet, a part of our heart goes with them. Thank you for the beautiful tribute to Wally and for the words, that we weren't able to speak. Very heartfelt <3 He will be missed sorely😿 Soft Pawkisses to comfort you all🐾😽💞
ReplyDelete((((hugs))) love and many, many pawkisses back
DeleteWhat a beautiful tribute to Wally. So very sad.
ReplyDeleteHave a purrfect National Love Your Pet Day. My best to your thoughtful mom. ♥♥♥
we are very sad xoxo
DeleteWe've always loved the Island Cats. Our parents are from Michigan and loved that they knew where Miz Sue, Wally, Zoe and Ernie all lived. We are so very sad to hear about Wally going OTRB. Doesn't matter how long he lived with Miz Sue, it still hurts that he had to leave. You wrote a beautiful tribute, Miz Caren and Cody.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right that it doesn't matter how long he was with Sue...it hurts horribly no matter what. Yes, we are in Michigan too, Farmington Hills.
DeleteWhat a beautiful post, for Angel Wally. I was thinking the same thing; he barely got to enjoy the new house.
ReplyDeleteit's just heartbreaking........so sad. Loved that boy. You are so lucky you got to meet him.
DeletePurrs and prayers for all at Island Cats - it's such a terribly hard thing to go through.
ReplyDeleteCaren, thank you for putting our feelings into words. We all loved Wally and share his family’s loss.
ReplyDeleteAbout play time- until we brought our 9 month old Ernie home, we didn’t realize that we hadn’t been playing with our cats as much anymore. Now we need to tire Ernie out and everybody is benefiting.
xxoo
(((hugs))) I had mentioned to my Vet many times that I don't play with them as much as I played with my Angel Bobo. I think when pets have siblings (as my Vet said), while play IS important, they DO have each other to chase around. I was more cognizant of playing with my Angel Bobo because he was the only pet and was often by himself for many, many hours at a time because throughout the majority of his life I was working outside the home. My 2 boys are lucky because I had already NOT been working outside the home when they both joined the family, so they pretty much have me here with them ALL of the time. xoxo
DeleteWally will be missed so much, it's so sad. Beautiful tribute to our friend. Purrs
ReplyDeleteThank you for this lovely tribute to my special orange boy, Caren. You’re right...one of the things that breaks my heart (among many) is that he never got to enjoy our new home. I prayed for him to be here this spring and summer...he would have loved it. But it wasn’t meant to be. Wally was one in a million...and I will miss him forever. ~Sue
ReplyDeleteSue ((((hugs)))) I just feel beyond awful. I know how much you loved that special boy (and your other kitties too)......I still can't believe he is gone. My heart hurts so badly for you. Sending all of you lots of love and prayers of comfort.
DeleteWhat a wonderful tribute.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about how those of us who follow the blogs come to love the cats (and the people) We pray and worry when some kitty is sick or goes missing. And we certainly mourn when a cat dies.
Thank you for this wonderful tribute to Wally. He was one of our favorites (they all are) in cyberworld.
ReplyDeleteEmma and Buster
you are welcome, I just wish none of these had to be written because I don't want the babies to leave :(
DeleteI am so upset. I always loved seeing Wally and now he's gone.
ReplyDelete#Heartbroken.
What a beautiful tribute to an extra special friend. You are so right - I don't play with Mudpie nearly as much as I should - even though I tell myself one day she won't be so playful and I'll long to return to these days. I pray she knows that I love her more than anything in the world and I cherish every moment we spend together.
ReplyDeleteOh Melissa trust me, Mudpie KNOWS how much she is loved! Are you kidding? I console myself with the fact that Cody will be 12 next month...he still is feisty, but he doesn't want to play as much as he used to. But...like you, I give him tons of love and cuddles at night....so I am sure they both know.
DeleteBeautiful tribute to Wally. He is missed by all. XO
ReplyDeleteWonderful tribute. TW has been using the time she usually comments on blogs to play with me. I'm about 14 and not getting younger and she loves how active and playful I still am. Wally was a special furrend and I'm going to miss finding out what that Wally was doing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful memorial to our beloved pal Wally. Like so many in the CB, we are heartbroken about his passing.
ReplyDeleteWe too are heartbroken over the loss of our dear sweet friend, Wally. It really is amazing how attached we get to our blogging friends.
ReplyDeleteOur hearts break for Wally's Mom and family as well....we will greatly miss him. ♥
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful tribute to Wally and his family. He will be missed by so many.
ReplyDelete