SHADOW’S RESCUE – JUNE 2011

The silence on this blog has been a reflection of my emotions, mirroring the sorrow that fell over my heart after the passing of my beloved cat, Shadow. Grief stole my words for a time. In honoring his memory, I find solace in sharing stories of incredible feline companions who have shaped my life. These cats brought remarkable healing, companionship, and purpose to my life.

The grief we experience when our companion animals pass is immeasurable. Writing and journaling about my memories helps me cope with the loss and allows me to honor their amazing lives and contributions.

Every day since his passing on November 15, 2024, I have cried and reflected on our time together. I believe the angels guided Shadow to me in his darkest hour in June 2011.

A despairing cry echoed from the parking lot outside my cottage on a warm, humid June night. Gripped by the chilling sound of a life-or-death struggle, my heart pounded as I bolted toward the front door, flinging it open and running into the dimly lit parking lot.

The cat’s eyes gazed up at me, silently pleading for help; his frail body a testament to the long, perilous journey he had endured. Without a second thought, I rushed into my cottage, grabbed a can of Wellness cat food, and placed it in front of him. He devoured it with desperate speed, as though it were his first meal in ages.

Tearing up, I thought to myself, “Who in God’s name could have abandoned this cat?” He was a gentle soul and clearly had been someone’s pet. From that night on, knowing that I was meant to keep him, Shadow and I shared a great bond.

I soon learned he was full of personality, love, and a great enthusiasm for life. Whether he was charging for his food, dashing up a tree, enthusiastically walking on his harness, or sleeping with his head on my shoulder, Shadow put his heart into all his endeavors.

Tonight, I miss him dearly. Throughout his life, he always showed his deep appreciation for my rescuing him on that fateful night. May we meet again, share more fun times, and forge new horizons. Shadow, you are loved and missed!

BUCKY – THE CAT THAT SAVED MY LIFE

Cats seem to show up in our lives in the most ingenious ways, and when we need them the most. Anyone who has ever endured a dark night of the soul journey knows what a relief it is when a ray of light or love breaks through.

On a cold, dreary, rainy November day, a crying kitten sat outside my apartment near the University of Maryland. My heart could not bear the sight of a hungry and traumatized kitten sitting in the rain. I wasted no time scooping him up and bringing him into my apartment. Ignoring the management’s stern warnings about not keeping pets, I named him Bucky and proceeded to make his first veterinary appointment.

After Bucky’s examination, the veterinarian said he could use some groceries and that his muteness was likely due to an untreated respiratory condition.

Bucky’s appearance at my door happened shortly after my father, Martin Fain’s, death. Tragically, at just 55 years old, he passed away on August 31, 1982. My life had fallen into a severe depression and total loss of direction. In the aftermath of his death, I walked through the valleys of despair and fear that engulfed me.

Bucky’s entrance into my life was a soul awakening. Every morning, his little paws walked all over my face in an awkward attempt to awaken me for his food. Feeling him prance all over me, I knew God had important plans for me!

Bucky’s spirit pulled me from the abyss of my most challenging time. He stole my heart with his soft meow and fumbling to climb onto the couch. The aroma of a new loaf of bread sent him rushing to the kitchen, where he quickly pounced on the bread and began biting into it. Running down the hall, his favorite game was competing with my cat Wally for the stack of pillows in my mother’s old bedroom. After outrunning Wally, Bucky proudly sat like a king on the throne of pillows as Wally, feeling defeated, retreated down the hallway.

Bucky’s arrival turned into a life-saving change, bringing me joy, purpose, and a new view of life. I re-enrolled at the University of Maryland and pursued my B. A in Government and Politics. Back on track and gaining speed, I graduated in May of 1985.

The time following my father’s passing was the darkest and most terrifying of my life. Against that backdrop of despair, a gentle grey tabby appeared on a cold November day, a small miracle. Bucky’s light, love, and encouragement were a lifeline, and I am forever thankful for all that he brought me.

WALLY – A MOST MAGICAL CAT

A mysterious teacher entered my life at the end of 1988.

On a cold winter night in January 1988, my sister and her friend stopped by a Seven-Eleven store near the University of Maryland. They sprang into rescue mode when they saw an emaciated tabby kitten and its twin sibling feeding on handouts of French fries. Gravely concerned about the plight of the sibling kittens, they managed to lure one of the cats into her car. Tragically, as the other kitten was approached, he dashed into the night. Unable to find him, they left the Seven-Eleven, grieved, wondering if the kitten would eventually find help.

Upon returning from the store, my sister entered the house with a bulging coat. Curiously eyeing what looked like a pregnancy, I asked, “What is that moving under your coat?” She unzipped her coat, and out popped the kitten, eager to explore his new home. After watching him enthusiastically investigate his new surroundings, we all came up with the name Wally.

Over the following weeks, as I observed Wally, I noticed his unique way of communicating. Tuning into my energy, he intently scanned my posture and expressions. With eyes that seemed to pierce through dimensions, he curiously investigated my emotional state. Then, having gathered all the information he needed, he would suddenly take off in a burst of playful energy, zooming around the house.

Eager to display his speed and agility, he challenged our pugs to a wrestling match on the stairs. He could easily outpace the dogs, leaving them outwitted, frustrated, and panting.

Wally was a great protector. Coming home late at night, I cautiously walked through the courtyard of our apartment complex. Looking around, I carefully surveyed my surroundings, ensuring I was not being followed. Always anticipating my arrival, Wally diligently kept guard at the window above the courtyard, and with his keen eye, followed me until I safely made it upstairs.

In 2001, Wally began experiencing persistent digestive upset and vomiting. Frustratingly, a year of visits to allopathic veterinarians yielded multiple incorrect diagnoses, including pancreatic cancer, diabetes, and irritable bowel syndrome. Seeking an alternative perspective, a holistic veterinarian reviewed Wally’s lab work and confidently refuted these diagnoses. She suggested a homemade diet and provided me with a holistic recipe book to guide Wally’s meal planning. In addition to the new food, she initiated homeopathic treatment to support Wally’s digestive healing.

Upon returning from the holistic vet, I became worried and insecure that the homemade diet might not be nutritionally balanced or that I might somehow fail Wally in my cooking. I decided to instead try other healthier brands of cat food.

My journey with Wally took a painful turn when my attempts to transition him to new canned food failed due to his stubborn loyalty to his dry kibble. His health began to deteriorate, a decline I now know was fueled by something insidious within his seemingly harmless food.

 It wasn’t until a powerful reading with a psychic in October 2001 that the truth emerged. She pinpointed chemical preservatives in his long-time dry food as the problem. The moment I read the ingredient list and saw “BHT” listed, a wave of regret washed over me. How had I been so blind? My subsequent research revealed the shocking reality: BHT was a known carcinogen, potentially causing lymphoma in pets.

This discovery ignited a fierce determination to understand why this was allowed in pet food. Wally’s experience became a profound, albeit painful, lesson. My hesitation to cook for him stemmed from a fear of nutritional imbalance, an insecurity that ultimately cost him dearly.

I began cooking for Wally and started with simple recipes. The benefits of the homemade food were immediately visible. Wally’s embrace of the food marked the beginning of his recovery, a change I witnessed with relief as it fueled a movement towards healing.

In one of my life’s most painful lessons, Wally revealed the cost of my hesitation. My insecurity about introducing homemade meals tragically caused Wally’s further decline. The instant Wally began eating the homemade food and rejected his dry kibble, his healing journey commenced. I meticulously chronicled each positive change in my journal. Regrettably, the prolonged exposure to preservatives in his previous diet had inflicted damage to his kidneys. Despite the near-miraculous effects of combining homemade food with homeopathy, his severely deficient kidneys and persistent weight loss presented him with continued challenges.

Wally, during your long illness and the miraculous healings that followed, we traveled many roads together. You taught me invaluable lessons: the power of perseverance, the importance of courage, and the necessity of seeking solutions. Every magical moment we shared will be honored and forever remembered. Through countless veterinary visits, frustrating tests and misdiagnoses, and finally, your healing, my love and cherishment for you only deepened. You were, and always will be, my greatest teacher.

Copyright – April 20, 2025 – Cynthia A. Fain

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