15 May 2008

Over the Rainbow Bridge to Catnip Land

The Rum Tum Tigger-Tugger, January 1996-15 May 2008


It's a perfect spring day here--the wind has exhausted itself, the sun is a warm balm, things are growing faster than the price of fuel...and I'm in a pool of tears. Our senior cat, Tigger, our big orange bobtail cat, died sometime overnight; I found him in the garden, no marks on him or signs of distress. I suspect it was simply a heart attack and he went to sleep. That's some comfort...but still my own heart feels like it has been ripped open. It's been nearly a year since we lost Quincy, and of course the upset with Dexter is still tender.

My son and I got Tigger and his sister JennyAnyDots from friends of ours who had six kittens. The three males were all orange bobtails; the females, all mackeral tabbies. Tigger had a strong personality, intensely affectionate, inclined to climb into a lap and then put his paw up on our faces. And purr! He was always a champion at purring, but even more he was a champion at putting the other cats in their places. He had, we would say, the fastest paddy-paws in the east.


Tigger was always my gardening companion, and I never saw a cat with more of a taste for catnip. He was obsessed with it. When we moved here 9 years ago, the first spring there was a giant catnip plant in the back yard, with gazillions of babies under it. Tigger was in catnip heaven as a result, and he ATE. EVERY. PLANT. He even ate the roots of the little plants. Now, granted, this took him quite a few weeks, and he did have help from the other catchildren, but he was the chief eater of catnip. The next year the big plant did come back a bit, and he finished it off; but he always went back regularly to the spot where that plant was, even this spring, remembering his glory days of overindulgence, I guess. He'd eat catmint in a pinch, too, but his main love was for his drug of choice.


Over the Rainbow Bridge, there are probably big fields of catnip, and cream and all the other delights that our beloved companion animals love to share. I'm sure that Tigger has already been greeted by Captain Sam Bucus and other members of the Bliss Dream Team, and by those beloved cats lost by Kylee and Joy and others (at the moment I'm in no shape to go check other blogs or I'll simply saturate my keyboard).

And the rest of the catchildren? They KNOW I'm sad. They're sticking to me like honey to velvet. Mungus and I will go out in a little while to bury our friend and to plant a shrub in his memory, of course. So there's no Bloom Day report from me today. The only happy note of course is that my Idol pick is in the top two...but even his music isn't lifting me right now. Though as I was writing this, one of his Axium songs came on my iTunes mix, and some of the lyrics seemed fitting for a final farewell to Tigger.
Walk away, it's your time
Deny the tear in my eye
Your memory will never die
At peace I trust in you every step of the way
To stay with me 'til the end of the day
So move on to your tomorrow as we all say goodnight
…Your memory will never die

"Balance" by David Cook


We miss you, Tigger. Your memory will never die.

42 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry you lost Tigger. He was such a sweety. I cried for days when I lost my old orange Maine Coone cat, Kig. *hug*

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  2. Sadness. Tigger sounds like he was a most bodacious marmalade cat, and I know your heart is broken. The lyrics are perfect for today. Be good to yourself. I know the other catchildren will be giving you lots of loving today. Take care.

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  3. How sad it is when beloved pets pass away. So much joy when they are here and so much sadness when they go.
    /Katarina

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  4. Always hard to lose a member of the family. How sweet that he went to the garden to say goodbye. It's there that he'll always watch over you.

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  5. I'm sorry about Tigger, Jodi. He was a cutie.

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  6. Oh no! I actually yelled that when I read your post's title. And here I sit crying as I read your loving tribute to Tigger.

    I'm so so so very sad for you. He looks like such a character and ginger tabbies have a very special place in my heart.

    I wish I could say something that will make the hurt go away, but know that's impossible.

    Big hugs.
    Charmian

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  7. I am so very sorry for your loss. It is so difficult to lose a loved one, especially a beloved companion you shared each and every day with. My thoughts are with you as you bury your dead and grieve. As you plant something in his memory, and water it with your tears. Hugs.
    Brenda

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  8. My dear friend, I am so very sorry that your sweet tigger reached the end of his days. Going to sleep in the garden seems like a desirable way to cross the bridge. Our thoughts are with you and the catchildren as you let your grief have its due.
    Frances

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  9. Tears always come to my eyes when I read of a beloved pet crossing the Rainbow Bridge. Tigger will live on in your hearts forever.

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  10. I'm very sorry for the loss of your dear gardening companion. My heart is heavy thinking about your pain and sorrow.

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  11. Sorry about the loss of your little tiger. He sounds like he was a sweetheart.

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  12. I'm sorry to hear about your furry friend. It's amazing how the little creatures come in and become such an integral part of the family. He sounds like he was an amazing kitty. TTFN.

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  13. Oh, Jodi! What a hard cat year you've had. I remember vividly sobbing so hard I couldn't even see to dig when I buried my own beloved Maine coon, Diamondridge Seamus Beaumaine, in our garden. At least Tigger died in the garden he loved! And now he'll be at rest there. Perhaps you could plant a catnip on his grave.

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  14. Ack--Jodi! I was in such shock reading your post that my brain went on pause. I should have shared a beautiful passage I read earlier today on Kate's blog (katesmudges). It's from Helen Humphreys' "The Lost Garden," and boy is it apt: "Every story is a story about death. But perhaps, if we are lucky, our story about death is also a story about love." Clearly, Tigger's story is about both.

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  15. So sorry to hear this, Jodi. As a pet lover, I know it is tough. The best to you,
    Sandy

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  16. Tigger was a handsome one wasn't he! Majestic may be the word the last picture paints for me. I am sad for you and yours.

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  17. I am so sorry for your loss. Tigger was a very handsome cat. I can tell he was very well loved--and you can tell that he knew it, too. Take comfort in knowing that those who are close to us, never really leave us--they are just beyond our sight.

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  18. Jodi .. I just saw this now and feel such an ache for what you are going through. Tigger must have felt such love in your home with the other cat children.
    You have had a heart wrenching year with your little ones. I'm so sorry such loss and sadness has happened. I still ache thinking of our Molly, and then Lucy, gone from us .. going to our vet clinic still makes me so uneasy (even though the staff and our vet are such wonderful people to have care for our girls) .. having lost those precious ones .. you just never quite get over it .. I'm terrible at trying to word what I want to say.
    Tigger had a wonderful life with you and the family. No cat could ask for more. It is a long process that never seems to be completely over because you never forget.
    Maybe that is the way it is supposed to be ? .. we keep a little of each furry soul alive within us ..
    This will knock you over physically Jodi .. so take care .. let the cat kids comfort you .. curl up on the bed and rest as much as you can.
    I'm thinking of you, hubby, and the cat kids.
    Joy

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  19. Jodi....my heart is breaking for you. Your Tigger sounds exactly like our Max, also orange, but with a tail. I can't imagine life without him, especially when working in the garden. I'm so sad for you. Mimi and Jinx are likely comparing notes with Tigger right now about what life was like living and working with us and having to tolerate the other cats. And I'm betting they're trying to one-up each other with how good they had it here.
    (((((((((((Jodi)))))))))))))

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  20. i'm so sorry to hear this, jodi. losing a feline friend really, really hurts. I wish you all the best at this difficult time. i'm sure tigger knew how much he was loved.
    irena

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  21. Jodi - I am so sorry for your loss. I know your heart must be breaking and I feel for you. Having just lost our beloved dog, Sierra, just over a month ago, I know how painful it is to lose such a wonderful friend. I hope thoughts of the Rainbow Bridge and Kitty heaven will someday bring you some consolation. You're in my thoughts.

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  22. I can't get over my dog being gone so I know how you feel. I can hardly write about it or stand the thoughts of it. Here's all the hugs you can stand!!!

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  23. Jodi, I am so sorry for your loss. It's been two years since we lost one of our cats, Max, and even a little longer than that since Roco, our dear dog, left us. I still miss them.
    Tigger was a beautiful cat, and I'm sure he couldn't have asked for a better life than living with you and enjoying your garden. I hope that with time memories of his affection and antics will help to console you.

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  24. jodi - that just sucks!! i'm really sorry. i'll be sending positive thoughts your way today.

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  25. Many hugs as you mourn your good friend Tigger! It sounds as if you provided a wonderful life for him. I'm confident he's snoozing in a sunny patch of catnip in heaven.

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  26. I'm so sorry for you loss of Tigger. He sounds like he was a fab cat. I know he had a wonderful life w/ you. take care of yourself.

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  27. Jodi, I am so sorry to hear about your Tigger. I am sending you many hugs and love to help you through your grief.

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  28. So sorry. There've been many bloggers losing cats lately--what is going on? At least, yes, it seems your little fellow went the way I'd hope to go.

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  29. I was just trying to catch up on my favourite blogs and am so sorry to read this. I am a mad cat women too, and have a motley crew, we had 8, now 5 ... I know how much this hurts and you are in my thoughts.

    {{{ Jodi }}}

    Warm regards

    Zoë

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  30. Jodi - My heart goes out to you, your husband and the other cat children. I know the emptiness that losing a beloved animal leaves in our lives- it's really tough not having that special purr around anymore. Wish I lived nearby so I could give you a big hug.

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  31. Jodi, I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. I like Ben's idea of planting a catnip on top of his grave... he did seem to like the roots and everything, after all, and the leaves would remind you of his silly overindulgence. He sounded like a wonderful kitty.

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  32. Jodi, I feel so sorry for the loss. Tigger seemed to be a very special personality. Catnip fan - let the catnip remind him :((

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  33. I am so, so sorry. Losing a beloved pet is a gigantic blow.

    We lost our dear kitty in February. We're planting a memorial garden in his memory featuring blue and white flowers (he had blue eyes).

    I'm so sorry you've lost your furry friend. :(

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  34. I'm so sorry for your loss :( I remember losing my fur-baby 13 years ago, I still miss her.

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  35. Jodi - sorry I came across this so late and I'm really sorry about Rum Tum Tugger. Skimble and Jess send big furry hugs to you.

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  36. Oh Jodi my dear, such heartbreak to lose your sweet Rum Tum Tigger-Tugger! What a very special boy he was and with such a sweet face too. It must have been quite a shock for you when you found him so unexpectedly. :-(

    Fortunately Tigger had the bestest life a kittycat could possible have this side of kitty heaven and his end was good too (no pain or suffering).

    How you have spoiled him rotten all those years. Looks like he enjoyed all the paw fights with the other cat-children and the amount of catnip he ate is unbelieveable.

    Rest in peace dear Tigger, you wonderful kittycat.

    Loads of hugs,

    Yolanda

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  37. I am so sorry to hear of the bad news about Tigger. He looked like we would have great buddies if we had ever met.

    This hit just a bit too close to home. My Pity Patty now 17 is slowly fading away. She no longer can walk and needs help eating and drinking. But as long as she purrs with our touch we will keep her going. We know the end is near and we won't suffer the shock you had.

    Again I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. Tigger like my Patty have a hold on our hearts that will never let go.

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  38. So very sorry to hear about your loss Jodi.It sounds like Tigger was a very special boy, and beautiful as well.Hope you are doing okay. Take care,
    Chey

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  39. Jodi, I'm so sorry to know about the loss of you beloved cat. He was such a beautiful animal.

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  40. My heartfelt sympathy on the loss of your beloved friend and companion. A sudden loss is probably better for the pet, but oh, so much harder for the ones who mourn.
    Be comforted by all those happy memories!

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  41. Very bad this. Seems somehow weird to say this via blog, as I am also a cat mom.

    Robin at Bumblebee

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  42. i'm so sorry for your loss! it's always terrible to lose a pet, even when they go peacefully like that. i'm glad your cat family is appreciating your feelings. it's a rare gift to have such empathy with animals.

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