Ernestine from Jacksonville

by Carl
(Jacksonville,FL)

My Ernestine (or Ernie for short) crossed the rainbow bridge today, 11-1-16. She was a shelter cat and hard to place.

She was adopted twice, but the families returned her to the shelter. When I went to look for a cat, the employees told me that she had been with them over six months.

That day she was going to be on the local news. She wasn't very outgoing, quiet, didn't like to be picked up as much. I was looking for a cat that was comfortable with being alone as I work nights.

I brought her into her forever home with me in 2000 and it was a match made in heaven. Even after adopting another cat, Patches, later on. She wasn't very thrilled at first, but had the "you stay on your side and I'll stay in mine" thing.

She later developed kidney problems, which over time had gotten worse. She weighed ten pounds at the start, but her kidneys were getting the best of her, and she weighed just three pounds today.

My vet and I decided it was time to say goodbye. Even while holding her as the drugs took effect, she had that look as if to say thank you for loving me. I'll be just fine and we'll see each other together again.