And then there was one

Once upon a time, there were four kittens adopted from a rescue shelter by two sisters in 2005. Two for each of them. Three were from one litter nicknamed the “Irish kittens” because the shelter thought they were born on St. Patrick’s Day. The fourth was found behind a dumpster and put in with the Irish girls shortly afterwards.

The shelter named them Bridget, Colleen, Darby and Ripley. Colleen and Bridget went to one sister; Darby and Ripley went to the other. Colleen was renamed to Midget because she was the smallest of the two adopted by the youngest sister. Each of them weighed only about a pound and could fit in the palm of a hand. This is how they began life in their forever homes.

Although she looked just black and white, Midget was technically a calico. Her coat had to be brushed in the opposite direction before anyone could see the orange coloring. She was always the timid one, but quick to jump into a lap to cuddle. Plagued by an upper respiratory virus that never completely left her body, she was the first to cross the bridge in 2015….despite my best efforts at the end with antibiotic pills (thank goodness for pill shooters) and injecting subcutaneous fluids for dehydration (never dreamed I’d be able to do that).

Early in 2019, Ripley joined Midget after she lost her battle with a tumor in her jaw. She was classed as a Tortie because of her multi-color coat that resembled a tortoiseshell. She ended up the smallest of the four when she got older. Ripley was cuddle bug but we thought she really wanted to be a dog because she would actually play fetch with a pair of Halloween fangs. True story.

Then, last Monday night Darby joined her sisters at the Rainbow Bridge. She was the most bossy outspoken of the four, letting everyone know exactly how she felt about all things. Even with unexplained weight loss she still possessed the ability to rule the house. But, eventually she stopped eating and drinking and it was only a matter of time at that point.

And then there was one.

Despite kidney issues, Bridget is still holding her own at fifteen years old. I wonder if she has some sense she’s the last one because she has been very vocal the past few days and unusually affectionate. Almost as outspoken as Darby, she never backs down from “nosey” dogs who invade her space (Tanner and Cabo). A few well-placed paw slaps on the nose has kept them in line. And, since she is “fully loaded” with front and back claws in tact, there is no doubt she means business. But, she’s never drawn blood from any her warnings.

Sharing our lives with fur babies is filled with both joy and sorrow. The unconditional love they bring is truly inspiring. I think the quotes below sum it all up nicely.

Animals are such agreeable friends—they ask no questions; they pass no criticisms. ~George Eliot, British author

Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened. ~Anatole France, French poet

Any glimpse into the life of an animal quickens our own and makes it so much the larger and better in every way. ~John Muir, Scottish-American naturalist

I’m posting today but linking up tomorrow with Brian’s Home Thankful Thursday not because of Darby’s passing but because I’m thankful for all the fur babies who enrich our lives and help us to aspire to be better versions of ourselves.