A tribute to Twinkle

Yesterday was  a sad day for us. we had to say goodbye to our beloved cat Twinkle.


If you think of life as a play she held the role of director in the family. She knew how to keep Daisy and then Tavi in check, was a reliable time keeper reminding us that meal times were due, and provided a calming influence most of the time! She rarely appeared in the limelight but her antics brought us joy, laughter and fun.

Twinkle and Daisy

Twinkle and Tavi

A cat in a bird's nest

We first met her when she was about six months old when she started to appear in our previous garden. She seemed fascinated by our West Highland Terrier Daisy and often appeared on the fence. Then on our son's 16th birthday as we sat in the garden after school she came into the garden injured. We rushed her to the vet who told us that she was 9 months old, was pregnant and had been hit by something possibly a car or a person. We put up posters and went from house to house to find out where she had come from, but although she had been spotted by others no one claimed her.  We never did discover what had happened to her but she never appeared to be frightened of vehicles and would sit at the bottom of the drive watching the cars,buts and lorries go by. She was however very frightened of men apart from my husband and son and would hide away when any workmen or male friends came into our home. One of her eyes was damaged and over the years her sight deteriorated.


There was one instance when we were planning on taking her to the cattery before we went on holiday that she took matters into her own hand, escaped into the garden and found a good hiding place. Luckily our neighbour offered to feed her while we were away and she never went to the cattery again while we were on holiday!


We were concerned that when we moved that she would not like her new surroundings and despite already living with us for nearly eight years she might disappear. She did however love her new home, the neighbouring field provided a good place for shrews and the fence posts provided a good look out . Luckily, she never, as far as we were aware, ventured as far as the cliff edge or saw the sea.


Last year her breathing became more shallow and we had to inject her every day, she still however enjoyed the pleasures that she had previously enjoyed. Over the past year we have had many occasions when we thought that she wouldn't make it but each time she managed to bounce back. Last month we had numerous visits to the vet and had to inject her 3 times a day, her heart-beat was so fast the vet couldn't count it. Yesterday on returning home from a walk with Tavi we discovered her lying in the bedroom in pain and unable to move, the vet confirmed that the kindest thing would be to put her to sleep.

The house feels empty and quiet without her,  when we opened the door for her she would always meow her thanks. The passing of pets can be so sad but we had the privilege of being chosen by her to be her human companions and share our lives with her for almost ten years. Rest in peace little one.




Sarah x

Comments

  1. What a beautiful animal - that photo on the fence post - stunning. You will miss her sweet presence.

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  2. So sad Sarah. I'm so sorry. For someone whose life revolves around her weenies, I share a deep love of all animals. She was a good girl. Hope you can see her again someday.

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  3. I am so sorry you've lost Twinkle. I know exactly how you feel. The final year must have been difficult for everyone but now she is free of all pain.

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  4. Oh Sarah, so very sorry to read your news. Take care x

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  5. Oh Sarah, I'm so sorry. She sounds like a wonderful friend and I know how hard it is when it's time to say goodbye. She was lucky to find you and I know she had a wonderful life with you. I'm glad you have such good memories of your time with her. Sending you a cyber hug, CJ xx

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  6. So many special memories you must have to hold onto. It is so hard, my thoughts are with you. Bx

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  7. So sorry for the loss of your sweet pet, Sarah. You have such great memories and wonderful photos to ease the loss. Take care.

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  8. I'm so sorry to hear about Twinkle. It's such a difficult thing, losing a pet. It sounds like she has left you with many memories to cherish, and you gave her the very best thing possible - a home filled with love.

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  9. Oh Sarah - such sad news. It's heart-breaking to lose a beloved pet; I know exactly how you feel after my dear old dog, Zac, died 6 months ago. I miss him terribly and the house is dead and no longer a home. I hope Tavi's presence will help to ease your sadness. Beautiful photos of Twinkle and the dogs. (((((hug))))) for you.
    - Rosemary x

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  10. Dear Sarah, I feel so sorry about your loss! What a beautiful cat she was! You always will keep her in your heart!
    Take care,
    best wishes, Claudia x

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  11. Sweet baby. I am so sad for your loss. Our homes truly are never the same without our fur babies presence. Hugs to you.

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  12. Oh! Bless! So sorry to here about this...
    What a lovely lady she was, and, a lovely
    story to go with her..!
    I love pussy~cats...Yes! All of them, as
    l always say.."Dogs have owners..cats have
    staff". Bless! Them!x
    Oh! Love the photo of her on the post! =(^..^)=

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  13. I'm so sorry to read this, Sarah. What an amazing story though. How lovely that she chose you to be with her. I love the photo of her with Tavi on the bed- the expression on her face says it all! X

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  14. It is so sad to lose a beloved member of the family and never gets any easier. It sounds and looks as though she had a wonderful life with your family.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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  15. Oh Sarah dear....I am crying at the moment. And truth be told, I prefer dogs over cats. HOWEVER, the animal spirit of companionship becomes greater than the type of animal, and in this case, I am weeping for you. What a dear little cat, so kind and a true sweet spirit she has left you. Her memory is a gift to you. Enjoy the mementos.

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  16. I'm so sorry, Sarah. How is Tavi handling it? Our cat, Poetry, had been a rescue also through the Animal League after she'd been hit by a car. We can be grateful for the time we have with our pets, but it's never enough. xoxoxo 💔

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    1. He's a bit subdued like the rest of us, Sarah x

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  17. So sorry to read this, Sarah. Twinkle sounds as though she was a lovely cat, and lucky to find you to be her family – she must have had many happy years with you all. Take care x

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  18. A lovely tribute to your feline friend. My heart hurts for your loss. xo kim

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  19. A lovely tribute to a lovely feline. I too am in tears. We are so fortunate to have cats and dogs in our lives, so enriched. Thank you for sharing.

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  20. What a beautiful girl Twinkle was. I am so sorry to read that you have lost her. DWx

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  21. My dear Sarah,
    I´m so sorry and sad to hear, that Twinkle is gone over the rainbow bridge.
    For me and I think for you too, loosing a pet is like loosing a family member, a good friend to whom you could talk whenever you had a bad day.
    Your heart is like a big, big house with so many little rooms. One of them always belongs to Twinkle.

    Twinkle, twinkle little star,
    how I wonder what you are,
    up above the world so high,
    like a diamond in the sky.....
    She´s warm and safe where she is now, believe me.
    Warm and comfort hugs from Barbara

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  22. That's so sad, Sarah, and you wrote a wonderful tribute. It strikes me that Twinkle had a rather lovely life, thanks to you. Was she named after the 60s pop star? I had (much) older brothers! Or maybe I'm just getting old...you've probably never hear of her. Anyway, you take care.

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    1. My husband gave her the name. It was because she was small and like a star kept initially appearing and disappearing. I don't remember the pop star although I do recognise one of her songs. Sarah x

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  23. My heart goes out to you, Sarah. Twinkle obviously was a cat of great character and her death will leave a hole in your lives. Give Tavi an extra scratch under the chin.

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  24. Hugs. I know what it is like, but they are one of the family, and live in your heart. xx

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  25. I'm so very sorry to read this, she was a beautiful girl, and knew she was loved.
    Hugs,
    ~Jo

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  26. Twinkle looks like a cat loaded with personality and charm. I think it is interesting the way some cats find their way into the right home for them....Twinkle certainly did. Paul and I understand entirely how a pet can be the director of family routines, it is such a good way of describing the way the family and a beloved pet work. I do feel very sorry for you and the family trying to get used to life without her...and I wonder what Tavi thinks of it all? Best wishes.

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  27. I am sorry for your loss. Our animal companions have short lives and so we pack an almighty amount of love into that time and it hurts so much when we have to say goodbye. Take care xxx

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  28. What a beautiful tribute you have given to Twinkle. It's always so hard to say goodbye to our loved ones.

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  29. “The soul takes flight to the world that is invisible but there arriving she is sure of bliss and forever dwells in paradise.”
    ― Plato

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  30. My heartfelt condolences, Sarah. A sad day for you all but it seems that the right decision was made for Twinkle. You have some very beautiful photos to remember her by as well as some lovely warming memories. From your post, it seems she was a real character and will be sorely missed. Caro x

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  31. I'm very sorry to hear that! Our older cat dies two weeks ago, we miss her so much.

    Sigrun

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  32. What a sad time for you. The loss of a well-loved animal companion is always heart-wrenching. But she had an excellent cat life.

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  33. I never knew how close people got to their pets until we got guinea pigs. Guinea pigs, for goodness sake. They're just posh hamsters. But they're a part of the family and we feel the pain when one goes. I think cat, because they're more self reliant, are even more like members of the family. Bless you & thank God you have such happy memories to hold close.

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  34. What a lovely cat and how you will miss her.

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  35. Our Pickwick used to wait at the window for the 10 o'clock bus - and meow her thanks when we let her in. Only cat who said - thank you.
    It does leave a big gap each time.

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  36. So very sorry to hear about Twinkle, cats have a wonderful way of 'ruling the roost'. We had to say goodbye to our two burmese, in relatively quick succession, but believe it or not they still visit. The cat flap was never locked as the dog likes to sit with his nose out there each morning. It is also one that only works on the cats identity chips. Anyway the catflap regularly goes and Darcy our dog always goes through to check! xxx

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