Thursday, June 25, 2015

Jewel's Journey

This photo was taken shortly after Jewel came to live with us.  She discovered that she liked the pink cube a lot, and that it was a great place for a snooze.

Carmine always loved Jewel.  But as her chronic renal failure progressed, he became more protective of her.  Jewel was an independent sort of kitty and mostly tolerated Carmine and Milita.  In the last year of Jewel's life though, Carmine decided that he was going to be Jewel's friend and protector - whether she liked it or not!  

He would come supervise every subcutaneous fluid treatment I gave her.  He would watch over her while she ate her dinner and make sure that Lita wouldn't steal it from her.  He would walk around and poke his head into whichever cube she was in and check on her throughout the day.  Sometimes this annoyed her, but it never deterred him.  He always wanted to make sure his Jewel was okay.

When Jewel was in pain or feeling particularly bad, he would let me know it right away by spending all his time near her.  There were times that he knew something was wrong with Jewel before I did, and I paid a lot of attention to his behavior around her for clues.  There were times that I would see Carmine hanging out near Jewel for a couple of days and know that I needed to get her to the vet, because even if I didn't know what was wrong, I knew something was wrong.  Carmine was an excellent partner in taking care of our sweet angel.

In the days that followed Jewel's crossing over the Rainbow Bridge, Carmine looked absolutely horrible.  Watching him poke his head into each cube looking for her and then flopping down on D's laptop so depressed was as heartbreaking as having to say good-bye to my Jewel.  He looked like he'd lost his best friend in the whole world, and it was so difficult to watch him grieving so hard.

I really believe that Jewel visits Carmine sometimes.  She's visited me, and every time she does, it brings me a lot of comfort and peace.

I am so blessed to have Carmine in my life, and Jewel was blessed that he cared about and loved her so deeply.  Thank you, Carmine, for being such an awesome and loving mancat!

21 comments:

  1. Carmine is a sweet boy. I agree you are lucky to have him and Milita and to have had Jewel in your life.

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  2. I believe my RARA visits the pups regularly, I am thankful for that,

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  3. You all were just what dear Jewel needed the most and she will visit often to look after you. Hugs to you dear friends.

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  4. Carmine is one amazing guy! How awesome that he took such good care of Jewel after she got ill.

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  5. Take advantage of the comfort Carmine can bring you. Sweet Praline used to come visit me prior to Truffle and Brulee arriving. It was always so comforting.

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  6. What a beautiful post. I know you miss Jewel dearly, and I thank you for sharing these memories of her with us. Carmine is a sweetie.

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  7. Thank you for sharing your beautiful memories.As I said before,July 7 is the 1 year anniversary of Kalli's journey to The Bridge,Yesterday I visited her grave where I had planted a little Colorado spruce.I miss you Kalli

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  8. What a sweet boy ! We know you miss Jewel a lot, thank you for sharing your memories with us. Purrs

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  9. Carmine is a purr-fect protector of the ladies in life, both feline and human!

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  10. How nice that Carmine looked out for Jewel. :)

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  11. How wonderfur to have a kitty brofur to be her guardian kitty, too:)
    We think he is/will do the same thing fur any furmily member he is a spawsial kitty indeed!

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  12. Aw wow this was a beautiful post <3

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  13. This is the sweetest thing I’ve ever read.

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  14. It's great that Jewel had a little place she could call her own. Carmine is such a sweet brother for watching over her. How beautiful! I'm sure that she watches over both of you now and loves you as much as ever.

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  15. Oh Carmen... what a sweetheart you are. Harley was the cat that took care of Mr. Jazz in his final days. When we unexpectedly lost Harley less than a year later, it was Kizmet who mourned the most. It broke my heart watching him - he sat in my office - the last room she was in until we had to take her to the vet to help cross her to the Bridge. He sat there for several weeks, almost like he was paying respect to her. Purrs from Deb and the Zee/Zoey Gang

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  16. It's sweet how bonds like that form, Belle was similarly distressed when Memphis (her littermate/brother) passed, she insisted on staying by my side and laying on me since she no longer had her brother to cuddle with.

    She's doing better now, particularly since its summer time, she loves to be outside on the back deck.

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  17. Awww this is a beautiful post and I know all too well the pain and grief of losing a beloved family member. xoxo

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  18. What a moving post, thank you for sharing it! Carmine is definitely a very special kitty, I'm thinking you are all blessed to have him in your life. Jewel certainly was, whether she like it or not, right?!
    Love & Biscuits,
    Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them

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  19. Awww..that is so sweet. Glad she had someone to watch over her.

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  20. My fur family has always been involved with each other when there was infirmity of any sort sneaking into our little home. Cats are so intuitive and connected I feel they have paws in worlds we cannot imagine as we blunder through that which we call "reality." It gives great solace to think that when our time comes we too shall be able to see what they do, but, I feel even then they will have deeper sight.
    Dad, Timmy and family

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  21. What a lovely post and look into the life of cats. I know how hard they grieve and it's heart wrenching to watch. Being helpless to soothe their pain is the worst.

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