One thing, I know for sure… Losing a loved one is never easy.
We miss you Belle. It’s taken a long time to share this, but earlier this summer we had to say goodbye to our dearest, Belle. Everything happened so quickly, from her being her perky, sweet, fun- and nap-loving elder cat self to a trip to Purdue’s emergency vet medicine hospital. Over the course of 10 days, she was suddenly gone from our lives. None of us were ready for that, but we sure are glad she is no longer suffering.
With our Firefly Blog focused on Food, Farming, Family, and Friends, it only makes sense that we share A Tribute to Our Sweet Kitty, Belle. I want to always remember our lovely friend that gave our family so much love and brought us all together on common ground. We all loved Belle.
We miss you so much dear girl! She was such a beautiful, fluff of unconditional love with the grace of a Bolshoi Ballerina wrapped into what seemed like the body of a Detroit Lions Linebacker. She looked a lot bigger than she was because of ALL her beautiful long hair, typical of Siberian kitties. But, if you knew Belle, you knew that when mama would be taking a relaxing bath…Belle would come right into the tub with her. YES, true story. She LOVED the Water and taking baths!! It was then, while drenched in water, you’d see how small she was underneath all that fluff!
She was a magical soul. She made dog-lovers into cat-people. Any nervous person, she could sense out and eventually calm them down. Her sweetness, calm demeanor, fun smiles, and sweet cuddles always won everyone over.
We always said she was a cat-dog! The way she loved the water, wag her tail, and even play fetch with her soccer ball! She was a world class goalie, you could never get a ball passed her watch. Yes! Belle, was absolutely the COOLEST kitty I ever knew. She loved challenges and getting up on high perches to look out and see the landscape. She also LOVED chasing your toes under the blankets, and knew just when you needed a little extra snuggling by crawling under the comforters to spoon with you during a Sunday afternoon nap.
As loving, gentle, and patient as she always was with the kids and others, she also had a protective side! It wasn’t long after we moved into the house in Lafayette and a bat swooped in! We had just gone to bed and the bat was literally circling over our heads. While Ben and I deliberated (heads under the blankets) who would catch the bat, before we had finished talking…Belle came prancing back into our room and the swooping had ended. She took care of the bat. From that day on, she was known as ‘The Bat Cat!’
She taught us how to enjoy so many simple things. Lying, belly up in the sunshine taking a nap! Challenging yourself with fitting in the smallest places and hiding in bags or boxes. ‘Where is Belle?!’ The kids would ask at least a million times a day, as she out-catted all of us in the perpetual game of Hide-&-Go-Seek she had going…. Holding hands, but always letting her little-big paws be the upper hands. Eating only the finest of foods – wet food, Royal Canin only, please. She was my constant companion before and through the pandemic. Sitting quietly on my lap while I worked on the computer, or moving onto the desk and sitting on my hands when I had been at the computer for too long. She would always remind me when it was time to get up and play. She took such good care of us! Taught us how to be kinder, gentler, softer, and quieter.
She loved us SO well, and we wish we had her here so the cuddles and fun would just never end. Someone told me ‘Those furry souls are the best souls.’ YES. They absolutely are. Belle, we miss you, love you and think about you every day. We feel so blessed we got to spend years with you. We know you’re flying high with bat wings in Kitty Heaven, Belle.
Love, Us (Your Humans)
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