Without animals, the world would be a place less full of beauty, grace and dignity.  I know that without my cat companions by my side that I would not have had the strength to endure the darkest days of IC.  N and I rescued a cat three years ago.  No, let me rephrase that.  A cat rescued and adopted us, just when we needed to learn about compassion, and the cat needed love, medicine and healing from his tragic first home life. 

With a slender body, his spine showing painfully through his yellow fur, he visited us each day eating food and then, eventually, venturing into our house.  Our other three cats accepted him as a cat in need of food and warmth as he learned to curl up in one of many cat beds spread throughout our house.  Eventually this beautiful yellow Siamese mix cat stopped returning to his other home and decided that we were his family of choice. 

Secretly, I had been calling the thin yellow cat with big eyes Oliver Twist, knowing that if he decided not to stay the naming of him would hurt.  But the day he decided to stay and I called him Oliver he looked up at me with almond shaped eyes and seemed to agree with the name.  Two and a half years of nursing him back to health, a proper weight gain, and injections to help with a preexisting autoimmune condition and Oliver Twist has been a part of our family.  It was with great sadness that we learned earlier this year that Oliver had developed fatty liver disease.  All of the years of love, hard work and good food were quickly destroyed in a matter of months as the disease overtook his beautiful body.  Through it all, Oliver remained a sweet and loyal companion, but when the disease took away his dignity and all that made him 'cat', N and I felt the choking sensation that comes with the knowledge that a dear friend is about to pass on. 

Oliver made the transition last night away from pain and into the calming light of joy.  I imagine him running and playing once again with his brother who passed on a few months before Oliver came into our lives.  The gifts and memories that Oliver left us are many, and we are forever grateful for the moments we shared in the sunshine, or snuggling together in bed.  May your next journey be one filled with pain free days and nights, sweet Oliver Twist.