After twenty years of devotion, our beloved Slipper kitty met the end of her life.
As my constant companion, the children called her Mom’s Shadow.
Extremely well behaved, she created lots of fun from playing fetch with foam balls to chasing us and playfully swatting us.
Slipper Teased me throughout the Day
When I made the beds, she’d hide underneath, her paw darting out from under the bedskirt to tap my heels.
Many times when I walked up stairs, my shadow would follow me, pausing at the foot of the stairs.
After I gained a few steps upwards, Slipper raced lickety split up the stairs, across to the loft, leaping with a bound onto the rocking recliner from which she jumped to the loft railing…looking at me with glee.
Slipper Teased the Kids all the Time
Although good with the kids, although she loved to terrorize them when they were toddlers.
The kids would run to me, yelling with their arms in the air, crying that Slipper was attacking them.
Walking to the scene of the crime, I found an innocent kitty sitting atop a high perch.
It seemed as though every time I was verbally teaching the kids, Slipper would zoom around the house as though being chased.
Giggling with delight, the kids lost focus on whatever I was teaching.
Slipper often cuddled while they studied.
In fact, this photo of Slipper sitting on my son’s lap at the computer is what she did with me all the time (but never got photos).
This was a rare moment for my son to use my computer…so Slipper joined in!
Slipper joined our Becoming History Presentations
Sometimes Slipper joined our Becoming History Presentations as a historical kitty right on cue…for Ancient Egypt and with Queen Elizabeth I.
She reminded us of a Rough Rider charging up San Juan Hill every time she went upstairs.
Pausing first as she wound up her haunches, she leapt up the stairs as speedily as she could, then stand at the top looking proud of herself.
My Sewing Companion
One morning I found yarn strung throughout the house. Again, she acted perfectly innocent.
In her later years she shared my sewing chair while I stitched at the sewing machine, as she nestled right behind me.
Slipper loved my Cozy Blanket
At night I often cozy up with a chenille throw while reading a book or watching a movie.
Slipper always joined me to cuddle on the throw.
The kids learned if they used that same throw in like manner, Slipper would lay on their laps too.
Slipper faithfully Devoted to us
Despite her body wearing out she tenaciously clung to life, wanting to be near us to the very end.
The children kept asking how that could be possible. I said it was love.
Anyone who has lost a pet, especially with children in the house, can imagine how the day went.
My daughter let the tears flow. My son was full of questions. Lots of questions. Difficult questions. Of course I’ve been weepy too.
The Velveteen Rabbit Analogy
We gathered on the couch and talked about the love of a stuffed animal, famously known as The Velveteen Rabbit.
What makes a Toy Real?
In the nursery, the Velveteen Rabbit asked the rocking horse how a toy becomes real.
“Oh a toy is real when all of its fur is rubbed off like mine. The boy has made me real.”
“Ahhh,” thought the rabbit, as he looked upon the worn old horse.
The Velveteen Rabbit hoped that one day he too would become real.
The boy played with the rabbit every day.
Was the Velveteen Rabbit now Real?
One day, the rabbit realized much of his fur had been worn off.
Oh, he was delighted. Now he was real.
Then for a period of time, he did not get to play with the boy.
He found out that the boy was very sick and actually near death, so none of the toys were being played with.
The Velveteen Rabbit Sacrifices self for the Boy
One day, the nurse got the rabbit and laid him in bed with the sick boy.
Oh how hot the boy was.
Raging hot. But the rabbit did not care.
He loved the boy and hoped that by being near him he could comfort the boy in his illness.
One day the fever broke and the boy was getting better.
At that time, the doctor told the nurse that she had to burn all of the bedding and everything that was in the bed, to kill the dangerously contagious germs.
Into the burn pile the Velveteen Rabbit was tossed.
As the fire was being lit, a fairy came down and rescued the rabbit.
Love Makes the Velveteen Rabbit Real
She set him down on the lawn and told him to try out his new legs, for now he was real because of the boy’s love for him.
At that moment tears and cries of sorrow broke out from my family.
Like the Velveteen Rabbit, Slipper loved us deeply, and was one of the family.
We’ll always love and remember her.
I found the file of Slipper kitty’s papers
While preparing for our move I stumbled upon her paperwork in the file cabinet.
Amongst the papers I found her collar and tag, which she hadn’t worn in years.
I think she figured out that if she crawled under our old sofa sleeper, the collar would catch on one of the wire rungs and she could slip out, because that is where I kept finding it.
I always got a new collar for her that matched the new tags each year.
The color always had a bell on it, so I could keep better track of her.
She’d go “ting, ting, ting,” down the hall.
Whenever I’d find that collar under the couch, I’d go looking for her and she’d go streaking through the house so quietly…it was as if she loved being, ahem, without anything on.
When I’d put the collar on her she seemed so dejected and the next day I’d find the collar under the couch again.
I finally gave up and that collar has sat in the file since the winter of 2000.
For more photos check my Flickr set here.
