Nutmeg came into my life, along with his twin brother in 1994. They were kittens born to a housecat that accidentally got out. I work for a Veterinarian and learned of this litter thru my co-worker. There were two kittens left in this litter that needed a home…no one else wanted them, so I took them both. They were brought into our clinic, tested, vaccinated, wormed and neutured…then they came home and
joined the rest of my kitty family.
Nutmeg then gave me 10 years of joy and happiness. He was the darker of the two, and Simba the lighter one…both orange tabbys.
Right from the beginning Nutmeg showed a remarkable intelligence. He would play fetch with paper wads and developed a great fondness for people coming to our house…he turned into a ‘door-greeter’ to any and all strangers. He loved attention..to the point of obsession. If you ignored him, he would come over to you and gently grab your hand and pet himself with it.
He also had a ‘voice’ in everything that went on around here. If he couldn’t find a certain ‘something’, be it a favorite person or toy, he’d walk around calling for it till he found what he was looking for. Usually it was either his favorite person or his brother Simba.
He also loved the new kittens I would bring home from time to time. He would use them as ‘his’ new toy and bat them around….all in cat fun.
About a year ago, I noticed a difference in Nutmegs actions. He would call and call…but not be happy with anything other then me holding him. He started to lose weight last summer and started with diarrhea….no matter what food I fed him. I took him into work several times to have him checked and all his blood tests came back normal. But I knew something just wasn’t right, he just wasn’t the same ole Nutmeg.
Finally in October of 2004, I took him in again, he had lost so much weight. Plus he appeared uncomfortable and had suddenly stopped eating. He was there for 2 days till some more blood work came back…this time it came back saying he was positive for FIP.
To spare him any more pain and suffering, I had him put to sleep and he is buried out in our back yard with our other beloved kittys. But the pain……I miss him so much. His poor brother walks around the house calling and looking for him, I try to comfort him; I think he is finally getting use to the fact that Nutmeg isn’t coming back. He left a big hole in all of our hearts.
Nutmeg, I love you, and I’ll never forget you. Have fun, little Buddy, keep Jelly-Bean, Snowey, Teddy-Bear and all of our other beloved little furry friends happy, play hard little buddy and tell “Bee” how much I miss her too. Someday, when my work is done here on earth, I’ll join all of you and pray to God that he’ll let me walk with you
across the Rainbow Bridge together.
For now, I thank God for letting me borrow you for as long as he did. I only wish I could have done more to keep you with me longer. I miss you, my friend. I love you still.
mom
“Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow;
I am the diamond glints on the snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain;
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
Rest in peace.
Till we meet again my little friend....I miss you so.
| Nutmeg |
| Sherriey Miller |