To my sweet boy kitty, Tobe. As I write this, it’s been 3 days since you crossed over the rainbow bridge and I can still and always will feel you with me. The pain seems unbearable right now but I felt you needed to be honored with this writing. You have been one of my most faithful companions I could have asked for. I won’t ask why you had to leave because I know you stayed as long as you could and at 21, you were ready to let go and cross that rainbow bridge. You are now with your pals, Simon and Willie. I imagine you guys are having a blast together again.
So I’ll tell our readers here a few stories if that’s ok with you sweet boy. You were always entertaining, loud and funny. You picked me 17 years ago in 2008 when I was pet sitting for your first mom. You came to me after I went to bed there, jumped on the bed and began a whole conversation. I had never been around a cat who talked so much and so loud. You became a friend that never left. When your first mom had to give you up, she reached out to me first. She knew we had bonded and I had just lost my Gracie Bear dog. So little Simon needed a pal and you came to the rescue.
She brought you over and you and Simon were almost instant friends with the usual cat hissing and checking each other out. It was a match made in heaven with me and Simon. Little did I know how long I would be privileged to be your mom until this time. What adventures we have had too. You were strong for me and very resilient in all our crazy escapades. I recall one of the first nights you were with us. I was reading in bed and you found a sparkle toy in the house. You brought it to me, put it in front of me and told me to throw it. I did and we played fetch for a while. So much fun!
When you came to live with us, I had no idea what could be in store in our future together. One year after you joined our little family, we headed out for Colorado. With the two of you in a large dog crate in the back of my van, we headed west. A good friend came along to help and as it turned out, we needed the help. You and Simon did great on the road with the help of some pheromones to keep you guys calm. What a ride. In and out of some friend’s homes and hotels where we stayed in route. You were such a trooper and probably kept Simon calm. Gratitude doesn’t begin to express how I feel.
After a hotel stay for a few days, we managed to find a short term rental in a nice ranch house where you guys had a lot of space to play. One of the funniest stories is when my friend couldn’t find her computer mouse. Her cursor was moving but the mouse was missing. After a few minutes, you were found out under the bed playing with the mouse. We laughed and laughed about that. After all, you were a cat and were playing with a mouse.
After a few months we moved to stay with another friend before we would be leaving to come to Oregon. I had to keep a close eye on you two since we were concerned you might try to escape, but you didn’t. Time came to relocate to Oregon and once again, you guys got a ride in the huge dog crate. Oh boy! I’m sure you weren’t thinking that but maybe “oh here we go again”. With all the moves, ups and downs you always were resilient and had a good kitty attitude which helped me stay positive.
You and Simon adjusted well to the new home and all that entailed. Except for one obnoxious Jack Russell named Kramer. Between the two of you he got a lesson in how to not mess with cats. Tobe, you were so curious and such a climber and a jumper. I could never imagine where you would go next. You liked jumping on the piano bench to the top of the piano to the top of the 8 foot tall corner cabinet. Always adventurous and fun. You and Simon played like Sumo wrestlers rolling around, kicking and biting each other.
You hated riding in the small cat carrier and in any vehicle. Your meows sounded off so loud that it was clearly a protest. After 10 years in that house, we relocated and it was just you and me. Our beloved Simon had passed November 8, 2019 and you became best friends with Willie the Jack Russell Parson Terrier who passed October 9, 2020. Those were tough times but once again, you as the resilient kitty you were, just loved on me, encouraged me and kept me going in your sweet kitty way.
Over the course of a little over a year, we moved 5 times. Life was brutal at times and yet you were a shining example to me of going with the flow. You were so good at that. I wanted to give up more than once and through it all, your sweet unconditional love gave me strength I didn’t know I had. Thank you sweet boy and as you look from the other side, I’ll feel your precious presence every day.
You started to get too weak to stay on this side and you decided when it was time to go. My heart is shattered into a million pieces but through it all, we made great memories. As you were saying goodbye, you squeezed my finger with your little paws as tight as you could. I treasure that. Thank you for being in my life for 17 years and for choosing me to be your mama.