Rest in Peace, Phillis !!!

I got Phillis from the animal shelter in El Paso.  The instant I saw here I knew she was the cat for me!   I loved her distinct looking face.... mustache and all!  After we got her home I sent a picture of her to my kids and asked what I should name her.  Angie had the best response.  

She asked me, "Mom, who is your favorite person with a mustache??"  

 " Dr. Phil, of course!"  was my response.  And so my kitty became Phillis!

Phillis died today and I am sad!!   She had practically ruined all our furniture with her constant scratching and clawing!  We got her a scratching pole but she refused to use it.   We tried spraying the furniture with something that was supposed to make it upleasant for her to scratch.   That didn't help.   So, when our remodeling project began... (we are planning to buy some new furniture too!)  Frank took her to the vet to have a front claws removed.   After we brought her back from the surgery she just seemed so depressed!   She hid from us!   After a few days I noticed she wasn't eating or drinking anything.  I told Frank that I thought she was depressed. so I began to pay more attention to her.... petting her and talking to her.  I even called Shauny to ask what I could do for her but she didn't answer.   Finally on Wednesday evening I told Frank that I thought she was going to die. I think the minor surgery, plus the big remodeling mess, and constant pounding and hammering as they took out walls and floor were just more then she could handle.   Frank took her back to the vet and asked them to keep her and treat her for a couple of days.   The vet called this morning to say that she had died.   I feel like we murdered her!  I feel really sad!   Although she wasn't a friendly cat, I loved her!  She slept on the bed between mine and Frank's feet!   Frank often laughed about her skiddish personality!   He said she was "one mixed up cat!   Any why wouldn't she be??   First off, she was abandoned by her mother and left in a shelter.  Next.... what female with a mustache would have good self exteem???   Then her female reproductive organs were removed!   She must have had a hormonal imbalance!  (something I can relate to!!)   And I guess the straw that broke the camel's back was having her "fingernails" removed!   That was just something she could not handle, I guess!   So this post is my little tribute to Phillis!   I loved her and will miss her!  (tear rolling down my face!)   I have always loved cats but right now don't feel like I wanna go through this again!   It's happened many times in my life!   You love a pet and then you HURT when they die!   We will especially miss you at night, Phillis!    Rest in peace!

Maybe Phillis will be buddies with Nacho up there in "kitty heaven!"   Nacho was a unique and very smart cat the belonged to Darron and Shauny!   He would play fetch with them!   Eat fruit and drink water out of a glass!  He liked to sit on the bathroom counter and watch Shauny get ready for the day in the morning!  I also shed a few tears when Nacho died!   He was a special feline!!

This past year we also lost Echo and Thriller!   They were Jared and Meghan's dogs.  When Jared and Meghan moved to El Paso I took to taking them walking with me in the morning so they could get out of the yard!   They LOVED running through the orchards chasing rabbits and birds!   One day.... after our walk they didn't return home with me!   I didn't worry too much about it because I thought they would eventually show up.  But they didn't!    About a week later we learned that they had wandered down to Longhurst's pecan orchard and were bothering a horse there so the Longhurst foreman shot and killed them both!   Besides making me just so sad, this also made me furious!!   These two dogs were beloved family pets who 99% of the time were locked behind a fence in the yard.   One time the run off and were senselessly murdered!  

                         And so in 2010 I have lost some dear friends!   It's sad and my heart aches but I still am glad to have known them!   The love you feel for a pet is a special kind of love because they love you back unconditionally!   They keep you company without demanding a big investment of time and money!   Just knowing they are "around" puts a smile on your face!    I will miss you Phillis, Nacho, Echo and Thriller!   You have gone to join the many, many cats and dogs who have belonged to the Hatch Family!   I wonder if we will get all our pets back after the resurecction and if they will be a part of our eternal family!!   ???????