20/06/2025
We would like to take a moment to honor a special cat named Jason, who crossed the Rainbow Bridge two weeks ago. Jason was surrendered to our rescue in early January, at the age of 14. He went to a foster home immediately but he lost weight very rapidly. Bloodwork and other testing revealed overall good health but suggested that he might not be able to produce a particular pancreatic enzyme. He was given a supplement to be added to each feeding and we began working to get him heathy. He also had a number of digestive issues and it took a long time to determine what kind of food he needed and what caused problems for him. We fostered him in our home while we were working through all of this. He had to follow a very strict diet and be fed twice as much as a regular cat, at regular intervals, with the enzyme mixed in. However, he did his utmost best to get into whatever food he could and absolutely loved human junk food. He was very talkative and could be demanding but he was also an absolute love. He loved to sleep under the covers, snuggled against one of us. We were hopeful that we could find a special adopter for him once we got his health and dietary needs under control.
At the end of May, Jason began to show signs of decline. He was losing control of his bladder and having diarrhea, as well as showing less energy periodically. He had his up times too, so we were hopeful that he would pull through. We did more testing and tried some different medications and supplements.
By the evening of June 4th, it became clear that Jason was ready to say good-bye. He slept next to me all that night and wanted to be in constant contact. I stayed up most of the night with him, stroking him and cuddling him and telling him how much I loved him and how much joy he had brought us in the months we had with him. The next morning, we brought him to the vet and ushered him across the Rainbow Bridge.
I was surprised by how attached I had become to this foster cat in the 4 months we had with him. We really loved him and were heartbroken to say goodbye. Even now, I am tearing up as I write this.
Every creature deserves dignity and love. Sometimes providing that cracks your heart into pieces but it also makes us better people and increases our ability to live joyfully and make a difference in the world, however small. There is a Japanese art form called Kintsugi, which involves repairing broken pottery with gold to highlight the cracks and imperfections. Such pottery is worth more, not in spite of its cracks, but because of them.
The loss of an animal we love cracks our hearts wide open, but the unconditional love they gave to us is the gold that fills those cracks, making everything about us brighter and better. Don't ever hesitate to love, even if it hurts. Adopt a senior pet or a pet with medical issues. Don't let the potential for loss take away the joy and beauty they can add to your life.
Jason, I hope that every moment of your existence now is filled with love and joy. Thank you for adding more gold to my heart and for being such a funny and beautiful boy who spread joy and laughter.
