Remembering Bing...

Remember those kitty-cookies I delivered to Bingee's veterinarians

and their amazing staff just after he passed away? Well, I received

a thank-you in the form of this letter I thought you'd like to see...

It touches me very deeply that a donation was made in his name

to a very worthy memorial fund so that other pets may live...

I cannot think of a nicer way to remember my sweet Bing!

I could talk to you all day about how much I miss him. Today marks exactly

three months since Bing died and tears still accompany every thought of him...

And, while I'm very happy to provide Leo with a home and, delighted by how

completely bonded he is with Army dad; the truth is, Leo doesn't love me one

tiny bit. I cannot pet him, let alone hold him without risk of being bitten on my

arms, hands and even my face! There is effort in the way he bites too. It can't

be mistaken for playful nipping. When Leo bites me, there is always purpose

in the way he adjusts his bite just before he clenches his jaw closed to dig his

teeth into my flesh. Of course, I mostly stay away from Leo for this reason;

however, it's difficult missing Bing the way I do. I very much want to love,

pet and cuddle another cat the way Bing let me moosh on him. So knowing

that Leo isn't that kind of cat has been a huge adjustment since Bing left

me. It's especially disappointing and hard not to take personally, when you

consider how affectionate Leo behaves toward Army dad. He cannot sit down

without Leo being immediately on top of him and he can't walk around the

house without Leo following him or plopping down like a speed-bump

hoping to be petted. And, when he leaves the house, Leo stands on the

edge of the desk with his nose pressed against the window in the door that

leads to the garage, making the most pitiful crying noise you've ever heard!

While Bing was still here, there was a certain, a cat-for-me and a cat-for-you

dynamic. However, now that my Bing is gone, it's clear there is no cat for me...

Which makes me very sad. Of course, I think about adopting another

cat all the time. But considering Leo's strong alpha-male personality, I

am very reluctant to introduce another cat. I mean, it's one thing that

Leo beats me up but it would hurt me even more if he beat up on some

poor, innocent kitten or even an older cat that is less feisty than he!

For now, I guess I'm just doomed to miss my Bing and, to be even

more grateful for the love and companionship he provided me during

his all too short, eleven years. As for the donation made in his name, I

appreciate it more than words can say. During Bing's last year with us

he was plagued by an illness we still do not fully understand. It is very

meaningful to me to know that this donation will be used to support

research that might help treat and cure diseases that diminish and

shorten the lives of all our beloved pets in the future. To learn more

about the VT Veterinary Memorial Fund, visit their giving page here