We rescued Sprocket when she was about 18 months old and had already been abused, starved and abandoned twice. She remained afraid of her own shadow for the rest of her life. She gave us unconditional love and devotion. We miss her terribly.–Emily, Alex and Helen

This is Gizmo. She passed this past 10.6.23. The sweetest girl I have ever met.–Kenny Cox 

I write this as a final tribute to Mr. Morris, a kitty who will forever be in my heart. Also as therapy for my grief.

When Maikki (my future wife) and I came back to her place after our first date, I found out that she had three kitties. And I hated kitties. Time passed and my outlook changed, We bought a house together in 2000 and by then had changed my outlook quite a bit. I was (sort of) “daddy” to Audrey, Alex, and Tony, feeding them in the evenings when Maikki was teaching ballet. One winter night the furnace quit on us so we bundled into bed to keep warm. I woke up the next morning with a warm ball of fur under my hand – Audrey. She became “daddy’s girl” and I became a kitty lover. In 2005-2006 we lost all three, first Tony, then Audrey, and finally Alex, who had but five months as top cat. In 2007 Maikki and I got married and in 2008 we decided to adopt two new kitties.

We went to the Angell Memorial kitty adoption center in Jamaica Plain, MA, to pick out two new kitties. Now most kitties had info and bios attached to their cages – their age, favorite foods, favorite toys, etc. Then there was this orange kitty. All he had was “I’m Morris, grrrrr” and that he was “around 5.” (We later learned that their names were assigned by the shelter.) We adopted Morris, and Stella, a very pretty Torby who appealed to Maikki. Stella came home with Maikki on June 23rd. Morris had to come home a day later since he had to have an “operation.”

We also found out that the shelter was a “kill shelter.” In all fairness they had to be since they accepted any and all kitties who were left with them. Kittens get adopted in a day. The adoption rate was 18%, the unlucky 82% were euthanized. A 5-year-old kitty with no information??? You do the math.

At first we were advised to keep the kitties separate, so Morris and I holed up in the guest room complete with food dishes and a litter box. For a couple of nights we both slept in that room. I remember some occasions when he knew I was awake Morris giving my leg a big head butt. Our bonding had begun!

After that he joined us on our bed at night. I slept on my back and he liked to sleep between my body and my right arm. “Forever home! DON’T YOU FORGET IT!”

In November of 2011 my mother died. I had waited in her room until past 9 PM, then left to go home. I had only been home a few minutes when the ‘phone rang… That night I couldn’t sleep – not weeping and wailing – at a couple of months shy of 100 mother had long outlived her happiness. She considered the nursing home to be a fate worse than death. What had kept me up was the fact that now I was the second oldest member of “the older generation.”

My dad had always told me that if I couldn’t sleep, to do something positive like reading. So I came downstairs and sat in my favorite chair to read.

Morris wasn’t a lap kitty but in less than a minute he was on my lap, all motors running. We sat there for about an hour and I patted him, paying special attention to his head and ears. “Who does ears better than daddy? NOBODY does ears better than daddy!!!” He was always sensitive to how I was. On the few occasions that I was sick enough to be in bed a bit, he’d curl up with me.

I did all the feeding, and poor Maikki was in charge of the litter box. As he became older I was responsible for keeping all his pill orders up to date and scheduling all the pills. Maikki did all the pilling and was brilliant at it. He eventually took more pills than Maikki (age 77) and I (age 82) combined! The only exception to the pilling was at 11 o’clock AM when I would give him a pill in a pillpocket well-crusted in bits of kitty treats while I had my levodopamine (I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in September of 2022).

Stella was mommy’s girl and often when we slept or napped she’d sleep on top of her. In all fairness, since Morris treated her like a kitty toy and I was Morris’ human, she regarded me with suspicion. She even hissed at me when I brought her food upstairs to her. I would gingerly shove the bowl to her and retire to a safe distance but remain watching to make sure Morris didn’t move in. She was a sickly little girl and in December of 2019 developed a respiratory problem that left her gasping for breath. It turned out that she had a tumor interfering with her breathing. We sadly said goodbye to her. Maikki really missed her.

Come 2020 and Maikki and I planned a Viking trip on the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel, where I had colleagues from my pre-retirement job. But Covid changed everything! Viking cancelled all activities and we settled in for a year-long quarantine. Maikki’s brother did shopping for us and we got kitty supplies delivered or on rare forays to a pet store. Maikki, Morris, and I holed up at home – a family of three. We developed a strong 3-way bonding.

There is a kitty shelter near our house, Feline Rescue. We support it every year. Every year they publish a kitty calendar. People submit pictures of their kitties, then the voting starts. The top 12 get into the calendar. The catch? Each vote costs a $1 donation. Then they sell the calendars. With 350 votes (300 were mine, 50 from friends) Morris came in at number 8. He became Mr. June, which was appropriate since his adoption date was June 24. (Every year we celebrated that date as his birthday. Maikki and I split a bottle of Champagne and he got designer kitty food.)

We fell into a routine – all very pleasant. Morris reminded us of all his mealtimes and pillpocket treat times. I had a sheet on the fridge giving all of his pills: 3 with his breakfast at 6, 1 with his lunch at noon, 3 with his dinner at 6, and 1 with his evening meal at 10, plus another in a pillpocket at 11 AM and 9 PM. Was he spoiled? You bet! (Each meal was half a can of Fancy Feast!) I got one of those pill organizers, the kind with dates of the week: SMTWTFS. I labeled them ½ amlodipine, ½ furosemide, methizmazole, ¼ clopidogtel in capsule, etc.

In the morning after breakfast, coffee, and checking my email, I would lie on my side in bed and Morris would be very close behind me and lie down beside me. We would then have a 10-15 minute ear rubbing session. (You remember who was the expert!) He head-butted me and usually poked at Maikki at 4-5 AM and she would pat and cuddle him.

Things all went well in 2021, 2022, and the first half of 2023. In late August we noticed that he was drinking a lot of water and peeing a lot. By the middle of September he was off his food. He’d start to eat and we’d stand over him crooning “Good boy! Good job!” etc. For a while he tried to please us but then that stopped. In addition we observed that he wasn’t his usual self.

We made an emergency appointment with his long-time vet, Dr. Elizabeth Fenske, for 11:30 AM on September 25. She had just finished surgery and fit us in. As ever with her, Morris was the perfect gentleman. But the blood tests showed Creatinine and BUN (118) off the scale abnormally high. This meant total kidney failure. Dr. Fenske told us it was time. In the twin cities there is a company who will send a vet to perform euthanasia at home. Dr. Erica Hartz was respectful, patient, and empathetic. Maikki held Morris in her lap (as ever he was well behaved) and the vet first gave him a strong sedative and then the final shot. She took him in a basket to the trunk of her car and arranged a blanket over him. He looked like he was asleep. I gave him one last pat and a last brief ear rub.

Praises are in order. First, Dr. Fenske at Parkview Cat Clinic! The very best vet any of our kitties have ever had, warm and competent. I really think she loves all of the kitties she sees.

Then Dr. Hartz, who was sensitive and empathetic while performing an unhappy task. She was concerned as much for us as for poor Morris,

Then chewy.com. This is a website to order all kinds of pet supplies for delivery, food, Rx, litter, toys, snacks, etc. Superb customer service and a website that works! When they found out about Mr Morris they refunded over $60 of my last payment and suggested that I donate leftover food, etc. to a kitty shelter. There was more. A few days later flowers were delivered. A gift from Chewy! How many companies are that nice to ex-customers???

Last, but by no means least, were Jeff, Maikki’s brother and his partner, Michelle. Two days after that Monday I decided that I needed to strip the house of all kitty stuff. (The house itself is still a reminder…) I put all the stuff – canned food, bags of kibble, toys, bags of litter, etc. – onto the front porch. I offered them first refusal for their two kitties. They took everything! I’m sure they’ll discard some and pass some on, but they spared us having to see it any more. Bravo!–Dean MacLaughlin

She was so spunky and when referring to her my family would always say “dynamite comes in small packages.”–Stefanie Burger

In memory of my Gracie baby. Me and my family adopted her from an overcrowded shelter almost 9 years ago. She brought the light into my life when I didn’t think it was possible. She was the most loving, energetic, and protective angel. We know you’re wagging your tail again with Jesus. Forever in our minds and hearts.–Rebecca S., VA

Bear (R.I.P.) was a rescue and in turn rescued me. Only had him for 2.5 years before kidney failure took him from me. A piece of my heart has been ripped out. He is dearly missed.–Brook Morris

Both Max and Chance were rescued from animal shelters. They were the most incredible furry family members anyone could desire, bringing my family daily joy and laughter. Max and Chance will be forever missed, but will remain in are hearts.–Shacola Bratcher

In memory of our sweet girl, Molly, who was loved by all who knew her.  She will remain in our hearts always.–Sheryl LaBoda

In memory of Jordan — “Jordy” to those who loved him most. Our time together was too short. You will never be forgotten, my feisty friend. –Donna Callegari

Little SweetPea was borne of show-dog-quality parents, the fourth in a litter of four (unheard of with her little mama). She weighed only 2.4 OUNCES, and had to be bottle-fed every two hours around the clock. She survived, and began to thrive, but had some rather unusual problems: her vagina was tilted horizontally, which required surgery to prevent the frequent UTI’s, and when she was spayed, the vet realized she also had “some little boy-parts.” I always said it was a good thing she was so very cute — she didn’t have much else going for her. She never learned to play with a toy or ball until she was 4 years old, but then she learned to recognize which toy I asked for when she heard it  (as in “bring me your monkey”).  She learned two “tricks”: I could get her to  “growl” on command and “speak” on command.

She was very protective, and had no idea of her size — she even challenged a neighbor-dog whose head was bigger than she was. By the age of 14, she had developed severe kidney failure and was entered into eternal rest in June of 2016. To this day, I still vary between great memories and mourning her passing. In the first picture, she has taken over the big bed belonging to one of my other dogs; in the second picture, she is riding in the front of the four-wheeler on the way to our daily hike in the woods, which she LOVED; and the third picture is our sad farewell.–Rosamond Prince

In honor of Bella. Family kitty of Brent, Chantel, Eric and Leigh Gonzales. May positive memories replace the feelings of loss and gratitude for the time spent with her ease your grief.–Steve Creadeur 

In loving memory of Max and Cody, waiting for us all on the other side of the rainbow bridge. Loyal and true, lives well lived, comfort and friends to all. Cold nights will never be as warm without you, until we meet again.–Carolyn and Jim Scott

In loving memory of my best friend Chubi, you may be gone but you will
live on forever in my heart, mind and soul.–Donald Shereck

In loving memory of Cody – the bi-coastal pup with the best dog mama in the world! You’re missed by all that knew you and will always be loved by many more who will simply miss #codydiaries.–The BiC Team

In memory of Bear, who was loved by all – even my “non-dog-person” husband! His sweet, goofy nature will never be forgotten.–Sheryl LaBoda

Swimming, diving for rocks, howling at sirens, running like the wind, running in an enormous circle of joy, rolling in the grass, barking for a treat, giving our cat Corny the look, protecting us, always from dogs. Hiking, running, swimming partner, protector of the family. Lake Washington, Ravenna, Mt.Si, Mt. Teneriffe, Copper Lake, Oregon, California, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado.–Diane Calkins

For just short of 15 years Toby enhanced our lives and brought us more love and happiness than we could have ever dreamed of. He had a great sense of humor, accompanied us on close to 6,000 miles of walks and made us feel worthy. He was a true gift from above and our lives will never be the same without him.–Lois & John Karhinen; Queensbury, NY

Cally was a rescue dog from the Brittany Spaniel Association. He especially loved my husband Michael HD and only tolerated women. When he passed away at age 17 years, he was dreaming of chasing rabbits and squirrels.–Jere Hopkins-Doerr

This donation is given to honor the memory of beloved Tallulah, a beautiful, sensitive soul who will always hold a special place in my heart. She was extraordinarily gentle and innately intelligent, yet gloriously goofy. She enriched my life in many marvelous ways. I miss her terribly, but cherish the joy she so generously gave to me. I love you, dear girl.–Majada Saucerman

In memory of sweet Chuchi, who was a traveling companion, a friend, and loved dearly. When I would walk Chuchi, people would actually stop their cars and ask, “what kind of dog is that? She is so beautiful.” She was indeed. She had these incredible, expressive, knowing eyes. She seemed so wise. She was a rescue at age 5 and lived a happy life to the age of 16. She lived through a leg amputation due to a tumor when she was 13, hospitalization due to severe pancreatitis, and countless other ailments. She was nothing if not tenacious! She had such a strong life force. She will always be in my heart.–Donna Callegari

In memory of Honey the Dog, a sweet and happy girl who brought smiles to everyone. I couldn’t have imagined when we met in 2004 that our lives would become inseparable, nor that 15 years wouldn’t be enough time together. Honey’s adorable mix of basset and Lab drew a lot of attention and she loved it. She was a loving dog who just wanted to eat, walk and be with people. Though I worked long hours and made her move a few times, she was always there for me — walking me to the door when I left and greeting me with her tail wagging when I got home. I miss that every day, Honey. And I’ll miss you always. Thank you to Angel Paws Rescue and Petfinder for bringing us together.–Toni Ruberto