Shareena 4/7/2007-4/7/2019

GoldyCat

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I wanted a kitten or cat for as long as I can remember. I never got to have one when I was growing up, and then when I was out on my own I was doing so much traveling I thought it wouldn't be fair to a kitty.

Twelve years ago I decided I was going to get a kitty anyway. I found an ad in the employee classifieds at work, someone giving away kittens "free to a good home." I got to meet Shareena when she was 5 weeks old and fell in love instantly.
Kitten2.jpg


I picked Shareena up on my way home from the airport after my vacation, when she was 7-1/2 weeks old. she was so tiny, barely more than a handful of fluff. i don't know how she managed to get up there, but she decided my bed was her playground and sleeping area. She would curl up at the back of my head on top of my braid to sleep. I was afraid to turn over for fear I'd fling her off the bed. About the time I'd go to sleep she'd prop her chin on my ear and start purring like a jackhammer.

Six weeks later Shareena's sister, Miss Patchwillow, came to live with us. There was a day and a half of hissing and spitting. Then suddenly it was, "OK, we can be best friends. Let me show you all the places in the house we're not allowed to go." :p

Shareena grew into a sleek elegant lady, at least in looks.
Posing.jpg

She didn't always act the lady. She was definitely alpha cat and kept all the other kitties in line.

She loved kittens--one at a time. Whenever I was fostering a litter of kittens for the local shelter she would pick one off them to be "her" baby. She wasn't mean to the others, just ignored them.

When she was about 2 years old I started showing Shareena as a Household Pet in CFA. After a couple of years just going to an occasional show she surprised me by moving into the top 10 HHPs in the region. She was 7th Best HHP that year. The next two years she moved up to 4th and 3rd best. In 2016 she was on her way to being 2nd Best HHP when she developed severe allergies and I had to stop showing her. She still ended up in 7th place for that show year. She never did fully recover from the allergies, but she enjoyed being retired and staying home the last 3 years.

A few months ago she was losing weight because her mouth was so sore she couldn't eat. The dental specialist removed a huge mass from the side of the throat. It tested negative for cancer, but I wonder if that was a false negative. She was eating normally again but never gained back the weight. A couple of weeks ago she started losing weight again.

She was still alert and active almost to the end. When I put out the wet food at midnight on Saturday she came running and pushed her way in to be sure so got to the food first. A little later I found her lying on her side next the the dish with some food left in it. She ate a little yogurt from a spoon for me. Then I just held her and petted her and brushed her for about 2 hours. She was making biscuits and purring almost as loudly as she did as a kitten. I left her sleeping on her bed when I went to bed at 3:00 AM.

When I got up Sunday morning she had gone into the closet and curled up on a quilt, too weak to even lift her head. I wrapped her in a soft blanket and held her for an hour until she took her last breath and the light went out of her eyes.

:rbheart:My beautiful Shareena crossed the Rainbow Bridge April 7, 2019, on her 12th birthday.:rbheart:
 

Furballsmom

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What a wonderful relationship and life you led together!! And that you were there for her, and with her in such a loving way speaks volumes to that relationship.

RIP sweetheart, you knew your own mind and lived your life to the fullest
:vibes::rbheart:
 

Norachan

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Shareena, what a beautiful girl you were! I'm not surprised to hear you did so well in those CFA contests. You really had star quality.

12 years doesn't seem long enough, but you packed so much into your life. I'm sure there are dozens of shelter kittens who remember their foster mum, and are much happier cats because of the love you showed them.

Rest In Peace sweet girl. You will be missed.
 

Maria Bayote

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I am so sincerely sorry for your loss.

Shareena, goodnight sweetheart. You lived a full and happy life, and always made sure you did more than anyone could ever imagine you could accomplish. You were born a star, and now let your light continue to shine on the people you have left behind, so they can see a shimmer of positivity in this time of grief and sadness. You will be greatly missed.

Until you meet again.
 

di and bob

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What beautiful memories you have of that sweet girl. She shared your life's journey for a while and brought love and happiness along the way. It's so very hard to lose their physical presence, but the spiritual love is part of you and will forever be there for you to hold and draw comfort from when you need it most. Just as you would want for her if you were the first to go, so she wants for you. To acknowledge her love by letting it grow and bloom in another. To be perpetuated and spread in the lives of others by showing them what true love is. This she leaves you, this she entrusts in your care.
She will always be as close as your thoughts and prayers. Bring her peace and joy by sending her thoughts of joy in life. She lives on through your eyes now, and would truly enjoy knowing you are adding to her love, that you are alright, and will always remember and cherish her memory.
Try not to dwell on her end. She died at home, surriounded by your love and all that she held dear. It is as all of us would want. Do not make her death more memorable than her life, that would never be as she would want. She had all she wanted in life because she had you.
My heart goes out to you, I'll keep you all in my thoughts and prayers. The hurt is equal to the love, but it is never more than we can bear, because teh love is so much more. Take care.......RIP precious Shareena. You will never be forgotten, you will forever have a secure place in a loving heart. May the good Lord bless and keep you, until you meet again. Goodnight, sleep tight, little princess!
 

les26

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I am sorry for your loss, yet another Tuxedo....:( But you and her had 12 WONDERFUL years and you were there at the end to hold her as she moved on in her new journey, she didn't pass alone or in some vet's office, cherish that memory although it is also sad at the same time, but she was in the arms of the one who loved her, what a way to go on....

"Their last breath on Earth is their first breath in Heaven" :rbheart:

I am sorry for your loss, you will see her again one day and it will be wonderful.

I hope your heart heals a bit more each day, Lord Bless you.....:alright: :grouphug2: :rbheart:
 

Mamanyt1953

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Rest you gentle, Shareena, dream you deep. Your pawprints are on your mama's heart forever.

Gone away, gone ahead, but never truly "gone." You've heard me say it so many times, and it remains one of the deepest Truths that I know...love does not die, it only changes form and continues on, still Love. And Love abides. Always and forever, Love abides. She is with you still.
 

will2002

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I could write a thousand words here and I couldn't top what the good people above have posted. We never get enough time on this Planet with our Kitty friends. Twelve more years wouldn't have been half enough.

I am truly sorry that your lovely little lady has passed... and I can tell by your words that you are a wonderful Kitty Mama.
 

1 bruce 1

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I wanted a kitten or cat for as long as I can remember. I never got to have one when I was growing up, and then when I was out on my own I was doing so much traveling I thought it wouldn't be fair to a kitty.

Twelve years ago I decided I was going to get a kitty anyway. I found an ad in the employee classifieds at work, someone giving away kittens "free to a good home." I got to meet Shareena when she was 5 weeks old and fell in love instantly.
View attachment 280401

I picked Shareena up on my way home from the airport after my vacation, when she was 7-1/2 weeks old. she was so tiny, barely more than a handful of fluff. i don't know how she managed to get up there, but she decided my bed was her playground and sleeping area. She would curl up at the back of my head on top of my braid to sleep. I was afraid to turn over for fear I'd fling her off the bed. About the time I'd go to sleep she'd prop her chin on my ear and start purring like a jackhammer.

Six weeks later Shareena's sister, Miss Patchwillow, came to live with us. There was a day and a half of hissing and spitting. Then suddenly it was, "OK, we can be best friends. Let me show you all the places in the house we're not allowed to go." :p

Shareena grew into a sleek elegant lady, at least in looks.
View attachment 280410
She didn't always act the lady. She was definitely alpha cat and kept all the other kitties in line.

She loved kittens--one at a time. Whenever I was fostering a litter of kittens for the local shelter she would pick one off them to be "her" baby. She wasn't mean to the others, just ignored them.

When she was about 2 years old I started showing Shareena as a Household Pet in CFA. After a couple of years just going to an occasional show she surprised me by moving into the top 10 HHPs in the region. She was 7th Best HHP that year. The next two years she moved up to 4th and 3rd best. In 2016 she was on her way to being 2nd Best HHP when she developed severe allergies and I had to stop showing her. She still ended up in 7th place for that show year. She never did fully recover from the allergies, but she enjoyed being retired and staying home the last 3 years.

A few months ago she was losing weight because her mouth was so sore she couldn't eat. The dental specialist removed a huge mass from the side of the throat. It tested negative for cancer, but I wonder if that was a false negative. She was eating normally again but never gained back the weight. A couple of weeks ago she started losing weight again.

She was still alert and active almost to the end. When I put out the wet food at midnight on Saturday she came running and pushed her way in to be sure so got to the food first. A little later I found her lying on her side next the the dish with some food left in it. She ate a little yogurt from a spoon for me. Then I just held her and petted her and brushed her for about 2 hours. She was making biscuits and purring almost as loudly as she did as a kitten. I left her sleeping on her bed when I went to bed at 3:00 AM.

When I got up Sunday morning she had gone into the closet and curled up on a quilt, too weak to even lift her head. I wrapped her in a soft blanket and held her for an hour until she took her last breath and the light went out of her eyes.

:rbheart:My beautiful Shareena crossed the Rainbow Bridge April 7, 2019, on her 12th birthday.:rbheart:
This is a beautifully written tribute to your friend. I am so sorry for your loss. It's a cold comfort for us when they pass in our arms. It's hard for us at first, but comfort for them. I'm glad you were with her, for both your sake.
I also want to thank you for mentioning her wonderful show career! I had no idea such a thing as an altered house cat show even existed, and what a good thing it is. This little give away kitten became a winning show cat, and I'm very impressed that she, as your first cat, was the first cat you decided to show. Many people who get that actively involved don't start with their first animal. That's very impressive.
I'm equally impressed that you realized she wasn't at her best when she had allergy problems, and made the decision to stop showing her for her health and comfort, that's integrity on your part :wave3:
Cancer is natures pretender. It's the "anti nature". Nothing about cancer is natural. We lost a dog that was eating about twice what he normally ate but was still losing weight. It was never diagnosed, but I'm only a dummy when I choose to be and to me, that screams cancer. If she was eating and losing weight, odds are cancer was (or would soon be) in the cards.
Once again, I am so sorry for your loss. What a wonderful journey together you've had.
 

mani

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That really is a beautiful tribute GoldyCat GoldyCat
Thank you for sharing a little of Shareena's life with us. She was obviously very special. :rbheart:
 

sivyaleah

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I'm so very sorry for your loss. How wonderfully lucky for you and Shareena that you were there for each other at the end of her life. It sounds like her passing was easy, we all hope for that much and not many get lucky enough to spend their precious last hours with such love surrounding them, easing them over to wherever it is we all go. RIP sweet one! :hearthrob:
 
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GoldyCat

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Thank you, Everyone, for your kind words. Today has been especially hard. I picked up Shareena's ashes from the vet this morning. I'm not sure yet what I'll do with them. I had thought about getting an urn for the ashes, but they came in a very pretty wooden box that I may just keep. They also made her paw prints in a clay plaque and a brass nameplate with her name engraved.
 

WinniesMomma

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Thank you, Everyone, for your kind words. Today has been especially hard. I picked up Shareena's ashes from the vet this morning. I'm not sure yet what I'll do with them. I had thought about getting an urn for the ashes, but they came in a very pretty wooden box that I may just keep. They also made her paw prints in a clay plaque and a brass nameplate with her name engraved.
I just picked up my kitty's ashes on Wednesday, so I know what you mean. Wishing you strength and that the good memories bring you peace.
 
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