R.I.P. Flower Pretty Flower

[Woodland]

The best darn barn cat bar none. Went to her reward today after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Flower Pretty Flower was named by my son during his Bambi period he is now 22! Flower would have been 18 this March 22nd.

A luxurious short haired tortoiseshell she was known for her beauty and lovable disposition.

Once Grand Champion at county fair Flower had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer 3 years ago and was sent home to die. She defied the odds, living out her life in my living room wanting for nothing and purring like a rickety old freight train as she slept. Always ready to cuddle silently she wasted away.

Two days ago the large tumor in her right ear finally ruptured through the skin and oozed and was so gross and stinky that words can not even describe it.

She maintained her wonderful dispostion and was mercifully put to sleep dying in my Son's arms - now buried under the maple tree she loved to climb as a kitten.

Bye Bye dear Flower Pretty Flower - we will never ever forget you. In God's arms tonight you purr fat and sassy like I like to remember you. :cry:

[appychik]

Aww. So sorry to hear about your loss, Woodland. She sounded like a nice cat and had such an adorable name.

[PSD]

Very, very sorry to hear about Flower Pretty Flower's passing. They ARE part of our families. My condolences.

[shea'smom]

Sorry :(. I lost two kitties this fall. You sure had alot of time with your girl, though.

[SandyHTF]

So sorry to hear that you lost your girl. Thankfully you had a long relationship with her and it sounds like she had a wonderful life. Maybe she is up hanging with my Bob cat... I certainly hope to see him again some day. :sadsmile:

[abbydp]

I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for giving her such a great life. I am sorry for your son - he has loved her his whole life! How wonderful for a young man his age to want to be there for her in her final moments. Sounds like you raised a good one.

[Rider in Training]

It sounds like she was a very special cat and very much loved. She had a good life and a peaceful passing in what sounds like her best friend's arms- what a lucky cat!
RIP Flower pretty Flower.
Hugs to you and your son

[2ndyrgal]

My Corgi, Miles, lost his beloved "Shy Kitty" last year about this time. Born in the barn, and one of three black kittens in that litter. Her sister "Deuce" was black with two white patches under each "armpit" and one triangle patch in the obvious place. When she stretched in the window it looked like someone painted a bikini on her. She never came home one evening. Ace, the third sister, is still with us. Shy had not one white speck, and her hair was like a fine mink coat. She let no one near, save Miles, whom she litterally followed everywhere. She'd trot right next to him, with her tail draped over his back, nuzzling his ruff. As much as he warned off the other cats for their familiarity, he simply loved her. One rainy winter morning, we went out to the barn, and we were missing a cat. I knew this because Miles looked everywhere for her, whining and even barking at me, as if to ask "where is my friend". Just then, the phone rang, my husband, who was leaving for work, called the barn to ask if I was missing a cat. I was. Shy was in the road, in the rain, right in front of the drive. It simply looked as if she was taking a nap. Miles stood stoic in the rain as I dug her grave, and when I went back in the tack room to get her, the other cats were flanking her blanket wrapped body on either side. All three of them followed me back out in the pouring rain as we placed her under the big pine tree she loved. It took Miles weeks to stop looking for her, and looking at me like I should do something about it. Glad you got to love your kitty for so very long. Somewhere there's another little fur ball that needs all that love.

[Houdini1220]

I have two old ladies with me now who are living their last years in luxury. I can only say while he waits for grandkids, my father is substituting old lady kitties lol.

I have never seen two more spoiled cats.

I can also say that I have sadly watched many brave kitties struggle with cancer. It can be so hard to watch. You have my deepest sympathy.

It is so wonderful to be able to make another living being happy. In this, I feel we as people find our own happiness.

Thank you for giving Flower a wonderful life. I am very sorry for your loss.

[NoDQhere]

So sorry to hear about your Flower. Losing them is always tough. She was lucky to have had you and your family!

We too have a Flower, also named for the Bambi Flower but in a different way. Our Flower was a tiny "fit in my palm" kitten rescued from freezing to death. She is a tiger stripe with white "trim" and had a white stripe down her back, like a skunk. We started calling her Stinky but she was so sassy and contrary that I thought a nicer name was in order, hence Flower. She is an adult now but still tiny, only about 6 pounds, but still a spitfire. Her skunk stripe is all but gone. We love her dearly.

[HorsesinHaiti]

Condoleances. Lost our childhood dog to cancer, I thought Sneezer had it earlier this year. It's never fun to deal with.

Glad you did right by her, Glad she had her guy to love on to the end.

[danceronice]

An amazing life span for a barn cat--she must have had a very, very loving home. My sympathies and know you did so well by her!

[horse-loverz]

Godspeed Flower.. :cry:

[Woodland]

I wanted to tell you how Flower came to be. It's a good story I promise.

My Son when he was just toddling found an orange and white kitten in a stables we were looking at to buy. She was so small and he was so earnest how could I say no :) On the way home he pointed to her little face and said "look Momma she has chechup on her face". Sure enogh the little ginger and white kitty had a white face with a mustache of orange that looked like she had been a sloppy eater. And thus "Ketchup" was our kitty for many many years.

"Ketchup" was promiscuous to say the least. Every time I took her in to be spayed she was pregnant :no: She was repopulating the world with ginger kitties! For what I was determined to be her final litter she was caged to delver and nurse her 8 EIGHT kittens - then it was off to be spayed.

About a year before the above story, I had taken a group of ducks to a swap meet - they were pooping every where as ducks do. At the swap meet I met a man that ran a Chinese restaurant that wanted to trade me 5 ducks for one of his Siamese kittens. To which I agreed. He did bind the ducks in duct tape to bring them home - a cruel irony - but they lived in his pond many years and were none the worse for it - albeit surprised though. Any way that is how we got "Simon" the Siamese cat.

Any way the day had come for "Simon" to get neutered and "Ketchup" to get spayed and she went into a flaming heat :no: To keep track of them I had placed them in the same cage - not realizing the in heat part. The one and only love child "Flower Pretty Flower" was conceived. She was the only kitten from the pair and they were certainly spayed and neutered IMMEDIATELY after "Flower" was weaned. I was certain to have Flower spayed as soon as possible to prevent her mother's promiscuous legacy from living on in her.

"Ketchup" never came home one day. I am not sure what ever became of her. Spaying her made her very depressed - I think she was happiest pregnant. Within two years she was gone - never the same as she was. Perhaps hormone replacement therapy was in order for the poor dear. Like her daughter she was so cuddly and loving. And "Simon"? Well he died in a tragic van accident. The neighbor use to cook for him as he was so very charming. After one such meal he curled up in her driveway directly under her vans rear wheels and was killed instantly when she headed out for Gymboree. The neighbor was desolate over it crying buckets for weeks - she loved "Simon" so! We all did!

So that is Flower's "back story" - she did lead a grand life. Always so chubby as a youngster. Could not hunt worth a lick. But made her way on her beauty and personality. Her body was so worn out. My Son says she purred with her last breath - so like her to offer comfort :cry:

[Buffyblue]

So sorry! Thanks for sharing Flower Pretty Flower's lovely tribute with all of us. Godspeed, pretty girl!

[pintopiaffe]

Vale, Pretty Flower...

(((hugs))) to your son. <sniffle>

[amdfarm]

Very good story. RIP Flower and ((((HUGS)))) to you and your son for giving her the best life possible.

[CB/TB]

RIP Flower. Years ago a barn I was at had a "Flower". She was a tough old tortise shell kitty who hunted with a vengance, but would curl up in your lap in a heartbeat. Sorry for your loss. TOO many friends over the Bridge this year.

[equineartworks]

RIP Flower...such a pretty name!

I hope I get my guys as long as you had her (((hugs)))

[DeeThbd]

Hugs to you Woodland....you gave her the most generous gift even though it hurt like hell to do it.
That`s the special grief of an older furry family member - even those years just aren't long enough. We are grateful for what we had, but always wish for a little more.
I believe that there is a "next world"....so don't be terribly surprised if you catch glimpses of her out of the corner of your eye, or see things out of place even though she is gone. As someone told me, even though we can't see them, their love still surrounds us.
Warmest wishes,
Dee
(dang, I hate crying at work).

[tikihorse2]

I'm crying here... I love kitties, and your story is so touching. *HUGS* My love to you, and may you find another special kitty when the time is right.

Kim

[Woodland]

Your kind words made Flower's passing at this season far more bearable.

Over the summer a tortise kitty appeared in my stables. Flower has always been our only tortise kitty until she appeared. Now it appears the new girl is staying I will have get her spayed and get her her shots, and think of a name - Any ideas?

[abbydp]

What about Lily?

[NoDQhere]

How about Dandilion?

[Instant Karma]

So very sorry of your loss of such a special kitty:cry:

[Tiempo]

I'm sorry about Flower :(

I've been afraid to open and read this thread as our Scuffy kitty is sick, so I'm feeling a little delicate kitty wise.

Flower was so lucky to have such a wonderful life :sadsmile: