Sheba was my sister's cat, as a very young kitten having originally belonged to her next door neighbor. His ancestry was uncertain, but he grew to be a medium-large, solidly built, all white-furred cat with one blue and one green eye (no hearing deficit). He had an aloof, very independent and streetwise personality.
Sometime after his first birthday while visiting at the next-door neighbors one evening, he was awakened by smoke coming from their kitchen. He pounced on the man's chest, clawing, licking his face (with his sandpaper-like tongue) and meowing frantically until he got out of bed and the fire department arrived. Some turkey wings had been left baking in the oven and, with the neighbor sleeping soundly had gotten out of control. Although no publicity was given the event, he was considered a local neighborhood hero -- at least for a while.
Sheba had came to spend the majority of his time at my sister's house, as it was there that he was treated well and given consistent good-quality food, attention and love. After just a short time he'd been unofficially adopted, complete with neutering, basic vaccinations and other medical care as needed. His favorite food was Friskies® Mariner's Catch. Whenever the can was opened, he would come running into the kitchen, weaving around and rubbing my sister's legs with his quivering tail held high -- just pretty much berserk with excitement! =^..^= He also loved milk, which he'd get a little bit each morning; along with an occasional treat of imported ham. He could also open a boxed pizza all by himself -- good pepperoni pizza that is, not the cheap kind. He was a little gentleman with very discriminating tastes! ;-)
He wasn't overly social when it came to other cats. He didn't mind females, but patroled his block territory with a vengeance to ward off most unaltered males, whether resident or not. Inside the house, he had a habit of 'snorting' wildly at male cats whenever he happened to spot them outside from his favorite perches near the front or back windows. To hear him you'd mistakenly think he was choking or having a seizure of some kind! He got along well with his next-door companion dog, East, mainly because he tolerated East to act all crazy-hyper and do whatever he wanted ("Yeah, yeah, go ahead, smell my butt--Are you happy now? I'm late for my yard patrol...") whenever he'd cross the fence. Eventually he would tolerate the occasional stray "rescue" on the porch or inside the house, so long as they knew he was 'boss' and didn't challenge his alpha ranking. He seemed to realize they weren't staying permanently.
Sheba had a charming invention all his own, which my sister dubbed a 'blippy'. He would be in the middle of grooming himself, whereupon he'd pointedly pause all of a sudden (as if mentally deliberating), then happily throw his paws straight up over his head while simultaneously and smoothly rolling backwards into a relaxed reclining position. He seemed to really enjoy the maneuver, plus it provided quite a bit of entertainment for our mother, who was terminally ill with cancer at the time. He would perform this repeatedly several times in a row to get her laughing. He was a smart cat when it came to things like that. He knew he could count on Mom to sneakily slip him a treat or two off her plate when he kept her company up in her room; and he'd often dine with her there, displaying his best manners.
Sometime after his twelfth birthday, Sheba was diagnosed with a malignant oral tumor. It had grown into his lower nasal cavity (and his ear canal also, the veterinarian suspected), which increasingly made it difficult for him to eat and drink. Unfortunately there was no curative treatment, and the following autumn he had to be sadly put to sleep. About three years prior, he and my sister had moved from their original home, necessitating that he be restricted to indoor living from having been allowed outdoors most of his life. He wasn't overly happy about the change; but he loved my sister and his extended kitty family very much, and so he coped as best he could. His companion cats, Millie and "Little Markus" also miss him a lot. He will forever be loved and remembered as our "little man".
**With much appreciation to purple-lady for sponsoring Sheba's memory.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Request From The Rainbow Bridge
Weep not for me though I am gone,
Into that gentle night.
Grieve if you will, but not for long,
Upon my soul's sweet flight.
I am at peace, my soul's at rest,
There is no need for tears.
For with your love I was so blessed
For all those many years.
There is no pain, I suffer not,
The fear now all is gone.
Put now these things out of your thoughts,
In your memory I live on.
Remember not my fight for breath,
Remember not the strife,
Please do not dwell upon my death,
But celebrate my life.
--Constance Jenkins
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sometime after his first birthday while visiting at the next-door neighbors one evening, he was awakened by smoke coming from their kitchen. He pounced on the man's chest, clawing, licking his face (with his sandpaper-like tongue) and meowing frantically until he got out of bed and the fire department arrived. Some turkey wings had been left baking in the oven and, with the neighbor sleeping soundly had gotten out of control. Although no publicity was given the event, he was considered a local neighborhood hero -- at least for a while.
Sheba had came to spend the majority of his time at my sister's house, as it was there that he was treated well and given consistent good-quality food, attention and love. After just a short time he'd been unofficially adopted, complete with neutering, basic vaccinations and other medical care as needed. His favorite food was Friskies® Mariner's Catch. Whenever the can was opened, he would come running into the kitchen, weaving around and rubbing my sister's legs with his quivering tail held high -- just pretty much berserk with excitement! =^..^= He also loved milk, which he'd get a little bit each morning; along with an occasional treat of imported ham. He could also open a boxed pizza all by himself -- good pepperoni pizza that is, not the cheap kind. He was a little gentleman with very discriminating tastes! ;-)
He wasn't overly social when it came to other cats. He didn't mind females, but patroled his block territory with a vengeance to ward off most unaltered males, whether resident or not. Inside the house, he had a habit of 'snorting' wildly at male cats whenever he happened to spot them outside from his favorite perches near the front or back windows. To hear him you'd mistakenly think he was choking or having a seizure of some kind! He got along well with his next-door companion dog, East, mainly because he tolerated East to act all crazy-hyper and do whatever he wanted ("Yeah, yeah, go ahead, smell my butt--Are you happy now? I'm late for my yard patrol...") whenever he'd cross the fence. Eventually he would tolerate the occasional stray "rescue" on the porch or inside the house, so long as they knew he was 'boss' and didn't challenge his alpha ranking. He seemed to realize they weren't staying permanently.
Sheba had a charming invention all his own, which my sister dubbed a 'blippy'. He would be in the middle of grooming himself, whereupon he'd pointedly pause all of a sudden (as if mentally deliberating), then happily throw his paws straight up over his head while simultaneously and smoothly rolling backwards into a relaxed reclining position. He seemed to really enjoy the maneuver, plus it provided quite a bit of entertainment for our mother, who was terminally ill with cancer at the time. He would perform this repeatedly several times in a row to get her laughing. He was a smart cat when it came to things like that. He knew he could count on Mom to sneakily slip him a treat or two off her plate when he kept her company up in her room; and he'd often dine with her there, displaying his best manners.
Sometime after his twelfth birthday, Sheba was diagnosed with a malignant oral tumor. It had grown into his lower nasal cavity (and his ear canal also, the veterinarian suspected), which increasingly made it difficult for him to eat and drink. Unfortunately there was no curative treatment, and the following autumn he had to be sadly put to sleep. About three years prior, he and my sister had moved from their original home, necessitating that he be restricted to indoor living from having been allowed outdoors most of his life. He wasn't overly happy about the change; but he loved my sister and his extended kitty family very much, and so he coped as best he could. His companion cats, Millie and "Little Markus" also miss him a lot. He will forever be loved and remembered as our "little man".
**With much appreciation to purple-lady for sponsoring Sheba's memory.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Request From The Rainbow Bridge
Weep not for me though I am gone,
Into that gentle night.
Grieve if you will, but not for long,
Upon my soul's sweet flight.
I am at peace, my soul's at rest,
There is no need for tears.
For with your love I was so blessed
For all those many years.
There is no pain, I suffer not,
The fear now all is gone.
Put now these things out of your thoughts,
In your memory I live on.
Remember not my fight for breath,
Remember not the strife,
Please do not dwell upon my death,
But celebrate my life.
--Constance Jenkins
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sheba was my sister's cat, as a very young kitten having originally belonged to her next door neighbor. His ancestry was uncertain, but he grew to be a medium-large, solidly built, all white-furred cat with one blue and one green eye (no hearing deficit). He had an aloof, very independent and streetwise personality.
Sometime after his first birthday while visiting at the next-door neighbors one evening, he was awakened by smoke coming from their kitchen. He pounced on the man's chest, clawing, licking his face (with his sandpaper-like tongue) and meowing frantically until he got out of bed and the fire department arrived. Some turkey wings had been left baking in the oven and, with the neighbor sleeping soundly had gotten out of control. Although no publicity was given the event, he was considered a local neighborhood hero -- at least for a while.
Sheba had came to spend the majority of his time at my sister's house, as it was there that he was treated well and given consistent good-quality food, attention and love. After just a short time he'd been unofficially adopted, complete with neutering, basic vaccinations and other medical care as needed. His favorite food was Friskies® Mariner's Catch. Whenever the can was opened, he would come running into the kitchen, weaving around and rubbing my sister's legs with his quivering tail held high -- just pretty much berserk with excitement! =^..^= He also loved milk, which he'd get a little bit each morning; along with an occasional treat of imported ham. He could also open a boxed pizza all by himself -- good pepperoni pizza that is, not the cheap kind. He was a little gentleman with very discriminating tastes! ;-)
He wasn't overly social when it came to other cats. He didn't mind females, but patroled his block territory with a vengeance to ward off most unaltered males, whether resident or not. Inside the house, he had a habit of 'snorting' wildly at male cats whenever he happened to spot them outside from his favorite perches near the front or back windows. To hear him you'd mistakenly think he was choking or having a seizure of some kind! He got along well with his next-door companion dog, East, mainly because he tolerated East to act all crazy-hyper and do whatever he wanted ("Yeah, yeah, go ahead, smell my butt--Are you happy now? I'm late for my yard patrol...") whenever he'd cross the fence. Eventually he would tolerate the occasional stray "rescue" on the porch or inside the house, so long as they knew he was 'boss' and didn't challenge his alpha ranking. He seemed to realize they weren't staying permanently.
Sheba had a charming invention all his own, which my sister dubbed a 'blippy'. He would be in the middle of grooming himself, whereupon he'd pointedly pause all of a sudden (as if mentally deliberating), then happily throw his paws straight up over his head while simultaneously and smoothly rolling backwards into a relaxed reclining position. He seemed to really enjoy the maneuver, plus it provided quite a bit of entertainment for our mother, who was terminally ill with cancer at the time. He would perform this repeatedly several times in a row to get her laughing. He was a smart cat when it came to things like that. He knew he could count on Mom to sneakily slip him a treat or two off her plate when he kept her company up in her room; and he'd often dine with her there, displaying his best manners.
Sometime after his twelfth birthday, Sheba was diagnosed with a malignant oral tumor. It had grown into his lower nasal cavity (and his ear canal also, the veterinarian suspected), which increasingly made it difficult for him to eat and drink. Unfortunately there was no curative treatment, and the following autumn he had to be sadly put to sleep. About three years prior, he and my sister had moved from their original home, necessitating that he be restricted to indoor living from having been allowed outdoors most of his life. He wasn't overly happy about the change; but he loved my sister and his extended kitty family very much, and so he coped as best he could. His companion cats, Millie and "Little Markus" also miss him a lot. He will forever be loved and remembered as our "little man".
**With much appreciation to purple-lady for sponsoring Sheba's memory.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Request From The Rainbow Bridge
Weep not for me though I am gone,
Into that gentle night.
Grieve if you will, but not for long,
Upon my soul's sweet flight.
I am at peace, my soul's at rest,
There is no need for tears.
For with your love I was so blessed
For all those many years.
There is no pain, I suffer not,
The fear now all is gone.
Put now these things out of your thoughts,
In your memory I live on.
Remember not my fight for breath,
Remember not the strife,
Please do not dwell upon my death,
But celebrate my life.
--Constance Jenkins
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sometime after his first birthday while visiting at the next-door neighbors one evening, he was awakened by smoke coming from their kitchen. He pounced on the man's chest, clawing, licking his face (with his sandpaper-like tongue) and meowing frantically until he got out of bed and the fire department arrived. Some turkey wings had been left baking in the oven and, with the neighbor sleeping soundly had gotten out of control. Although no publicity was given the event, he was considered a local neighborhood hero -- at least for a while.
Sheba had came to spend the majority of his time at my sister's house, as it was there that he was treated well and given consistent good-quality food, attention and love. After just a short time he'd been unofficially adopted, complete with neutering, basic vaccinations and other medical care as needed. His favorite food was Friskies® Mariner's Catch. Whenever the can was opened, he would come running into the kitchen, weaving around and rubbing my sister's legs with his quivering tail held high -- just pretty much berserk with excitement! =^..^= He also loved milk, which he'd get a little bit each morning; along with an occasional treat of imported ham. He could also open a boxed pizza all by himself -- good pepperoni pizza that is, not the cheap kind. He was a little gentleman with very discriminating tastes! ;-)
He wasn't overly social when it came to other cats. He didn't mind females, but patroled his block territory with a vengeance to ward off most unaltered males, whether resident or not. Inside the house, he had a habit of 'snorting' wildly at male cats whenever he happened to spot them outside from his favorite perches near the front or back windows. To hear him you'd mistakenly think he was choking or having a seizure of some kind! He got along well with his next-door companion dog, East, mainly because he tolerated East to act all crazy-hyper and do whatever he wanted ("Yeah, yeah, go ahead, smell my butt--Are you happy now? I'm late for my yard patrol...") whenever he'd cross the fence. Eventually he would tolerate the occasional stray "rescue" on the porch or inside the house, so long as they knew he was 'boss' and didn't challenge his alpha ranking. He seemed to realize they weren't staying permanently.
Sheba had a charming invention all his own, which my sister dubbed a 'blippy'. He would be in the middle of grooming himself, whereupon he'd pointedly pause all of a sudden (as if mentally deliberating), then happily throw his paws straight up over his head while simultaneously and smoothly rolling backwards into a relaxed reclining position. He seemed to really enjoy the maneuver, plus it provided quite a bit of entertainment for our mother, who was terminally ill with cancer at the time. He would perform this repeatedly several times in a row to get her laughing. He was a smart cat when it came to things like that. He knew he could count on Mom to sneakily slip him a treat or two off her plate when he kept her company up in her room; and he'd often dine with her there, displaying his best manners.
Sometime after his twelfth birthday, Sheba was diagnosed with a malignant oral tumor. It had grown into his lower nasal cavity (and his ear canal also, the veterinarian suspected), which increasingly made it difficult for him to eat and drink. Unfortunately there was no curative treatment, and the following autumn he had to be sadly put to sleep. About three years prior, he and my sister had moved from their original home, necessitating that he be restricted to indoor living from having been allowed outdoors most of his life. He wasn't overly happy about the change; but he loved my sister and his extended kitty family very much, and so he coped as best he could. His companion cats, Millie and "Little Markus" also miss him a lot. He will forever be loved and remembered as our "little man".
**With much appreciation to purple-lady for sponsoring Sheba's memory.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Request From The Rainbow Bridge
Weep not for me though I am gone,
Into that gentle night.
Grieve if you will, but not for long,
Upon my soul's sweet flight.
I am at peace, my soul's at rest,
There is no need for tears.
For with your love I was so blessed
For all those many years.
There is no pain, I suffer not,
The fear now all is gone.
Put now these things out of your thoughts,
In your memory I live on.
Remember not my fight for breath,
Remember not the strife,
Please do not dwell upon my death,
But celebrate my life.
--Constance Jenkins
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
