This morning, Toots went to join her last owner, Ernie. I woke up to find her lethargic, cold to the touch (her paws were like ice) She had hitching breath and her eyes had checked out. As we were bundling her up into a blanket to run her to the vet- she took one last shuddering gasp of air and was still.

Toots came to us early last year. Her owner had died unexpectedly of the flu and no one wanted a senior cat with no teeth who drooled all over the place. My friend Eddie told me about Toots and so I told her that I would take Toots if she could place two of my kittens. Eddie found a wonderful home for the two kittens and Toots came to live with us.

I think Toots knew her time was coming to an end, because yesterday, she was out of character- coming up to me every time I entered the bedroom and wanting to be loved and petted. Normally, she was reserved and lay in her bed coming out to eat or occassionally to be petted. We had a wonderful time of loving on each other, and I believe she was saying goodbye.

Bye Toots- you were loved and I am grateful your end was quick and relatively painless. I know you are walking next to Ernie where you truly belong. Say hello to the gang for me- and when you see a young man with bright red hair- tell him his mom misses him bunches~ You will be missed-