Guestbook for Paw Paw
Posted By Mom on Jun 12 2014
First of all I want to thank each and every one one of the Vets and their wonderful staff at Country Hills Animal Clinic that took such loving care of Paw Paw almost from the start. Without their loving care, Paw Paw would not have lived as long as he did. They saved him from many an abscess from fights with rats or other cats that roamed the canyons as he was a protector of our property. They caught the crystals in his urine at a very early age and we switched his diet so his bladder didn't burst causing him to die on the spot in pain. They caught his sluggish bowels that really created a problem for him in his elder years as he continued to gain weight despite his diet. And in his final months when he was in and out of our great vets or the Emergency Animal Hospital they did their best to try to get him to eat, or break his fever when he caught an infection, and lastly, after giving us the go ahead to travel over seas for a family wedding for 10 days because he had turned the corner and was out of danger, 5 days later our great vet etch who took care of our 3 kitties noticed that Paw Paw was lethargic and just not himself and took him to Country Hills Animal Clinic and from over seas we made the decision to have him euthanized rather than keep him alive and suffer until we could get home. They did everything they could so he would be comfortable , loved, and relaxed when they had to give him the shot to end his suffering and he gently went to sleep without suffering any effects of the shots that can sometimes happen. As I write this I cry, because everyone at their clinic truly loved my Paw Paw and knew he was not just a pet - he was family and I was his Guardian Angel. Paw-Paw came to me as a gift from my husband 15 years ago. My husband knew that I was deeply grieving my most recent loss of Ginger a soft fawn female colored tabby that I had rescued when she was a starving kitten left to fend for herself at 6 weeks of age of whom I had to euthanize just days before. My husband talked me into going to see these little kitties one of his dear friends knew were being shown for adoption at a Petco. We walked in and there he was - this tiny little black and white tuxedo male with HUGE paws holding 6 toes each. Instantly, my husband and I turned to each other and thought of Pa Pa Hemingway who had been known to own 6 toed cats. Since we both loved Pa Pa Hemingway as well as reading - this adorable little kitty was named Paw Paw after Hemingway because of his 6 toes on each paw. Paw Paw brought me so much joy and laughter and he truly was a blessing in my life. He was quite a character!! full of personality with a deep soul so full of love that there was plenty to go around to anyone who wanted or needed any. Paw Paw brought his warmth and laughter to all. I am a psychotherapist and Paw-paw became on his own accord to be my therapy cat. He always knew when a client was coming and would greet them as soon as they settled and would sit by their side purring away knowing that his special purr would relax them and bring them comfort. If they wanted to rub him or stroke him - he thought that was great and encouraged the rhythmic motion of each stroke that would also take my clients away from their discomfort to one of deep relaxation. He loved to nudge them with one of his magnificent huge six-toed paws or gently head butt them to remind them to stroke him or paddle his huge tummy as he not only got a benefit from it but they did. Often he would then sit quietly or go to sleep next to them or leave if they so wished. He is greatly missed. Paw Paw was not just a therapy cat. Of all of our 13 cats in our 44 years of marriage, he was our first real hunter. We live in a canyon and it was a great hunting ground for Paw Paw. We were brought many gifts/treats on a daily basis in his younger years. One morning, I awakened staring at a tiny baby mouse placed gently by my head on my pillow and of course I automatically screamed and pushed it off the bed laughing at Paw Paw at the same time & thanking him for his precious gift of love by scratching him under his chin - telling him I liked his kisses better!!. However, he never stopped hunting until the day he was taken to kitty heaven. His absolute favorites were lizards - he loved to catch them from the tiniest baby to the largest ones that any visitor would insist was a snake. Paw Paw loved to stalk the lizards, chase them round and round, and then pounce on them. After catching them - which without a doubt was a sure thing with those great big paws of his - he would play for hours tossing them in the air or batting them around like a soccer ball until he tired of the game and then he would finish them off as a snack. His other favorites though were moles, mice, rats, and gophers - none of which I liked. Rarely did he bring in a bird - which was a blessing - as I loved birds and they were plentiful - often nesting in our trees, above house lights, or even on our door wreath -as we have a beautiful garden full of all sorts of song birds from tiny hummers to red breasted sparrows, morning doves, peacocks, and great big hawks. Paw Paw also knew not to tangle with the skunks as he would not have liked a tomato juice bath!! at all. Of all of our cats, Paw Paw loved to eat. One could say he had an eating dis-order as he would just eat and eat and eat to the point we had to put him on a diet. He did not like that at all!! and just hunted when he got hungry to show us who was boss. In his elder years as he began to suffer from old age diseases he took his medications fairly well - rarely giving my husband any problems. He didn't like the bitter taste of some and would shake his head, spit and foam at the mouth - trying to get rid of the terrible stuff - but all in all - given that he had to take 3 types of medications 3 times a day - he was a real trooper. Paw Paw knew when meds time was and tried at first to run and hide but he soon learned that he couldn't outsmart his Master and accepted his fate. Even if he stayed out at night and refused t come in the morning he knew at some point he would have to take them. Another wonderful attribute of Paw Paw was his sounds. he had the most tiniest and pitiful meows for a cat his size. You could barely hear it. yet when he had his prey, he was like a lion growling letting all know that he had his feast for the day. His purr was so loud you couldn't help but be reminded of the sound in utero of our mother's life giving blood pulsing through to us to give us life. When you slept your snore was like sawing through a heavy piece of lumber. All of your sounds were unique to you and music to my ears. Thanks you for the songs you brought to my ears. So to Paw Paw, I thank you for all the years that you gave us your trust and love. I thank you as with all my cats for loving me unconditionally and attaching to me as I did to you. I know your soul is with me each and every day. i promise you will never be forgotten as I have a lifetime of memories to keep you in my thoughts as our souls connect - heart to heart. And lastly - your ashes are a piece of artwork and are front and center on my family room table so you are present in both body and spirit. Be well and be happy in kitty heaven. Hunt to your hearts' content and eat like food where never be take from you again. Show all the kitties up there who is boss. Show off those great big beautiful Paws that are your namesake. Play with our other kitties up there and let them know they are not forgotten either. You are and will forever be deeply loved and missed by us and all whose lives you touched so warmly, tenderly,and deeply. So here is my MEOW to you and my singing your name so lovingly Paw Paw Come here!! Your Mommy -