EPTThree of the shelter cats who I was incredibly close to have now passed away without ever finding homes, because nobody wants to adopt old cats. Bernice, a 14 year old black and white cat who had her tail mostly bitten off by a coyote, passed away in her sleep on November 11th last year. Mattie, a fluffy black and white cat who had a short tail naturally and was Bernice's best friend, died at age 18 after a battle with a tumor in her stomach on October 25th in 2011. Both of these cats lived in a colony right down the street from me before they were caught and brought to the shelter - and I never knew! They were really secretive. Whenever I brought treats in, Mattie and Bernice would eat them right out of my hands and would rub their heads together when they finished eating. They shared a bond, those two did, and when Mattie died, I will never forget - Bernice actually became very reclusive and even stopped cleaning herself for a while. She was depressed because she missed her best friend.
Last and certainly one that had me so sad I was crying for two days, was darling Babe, a big and fluffy 19 year old black kitty who was given to us by her 93 year old owner who was not allowed to bring her cat to the nursing home she lived in. She gave Babe to us because she knew we wouldn't put her down. That cat was a true lapcat; all you had to do was sit on the floor and she would come running to sit on you. I fought so hard to bring her home so she could die peacefully with an owner, but well...life isn't always reasonable. Babe passed away on December 13th last year.
![[image loading]](http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f284/Vanessa_Delacroix/IMG_0442_zpsb95ed3db.jpg)
Left to right: Bernice, Mattie, and Babe.
~*Bernice*~
~Febuary 15 1998 - November 11 2012~
My beloved "cinder", the tail-less wonder...say hello to Kirby for me.
~*Mattie*~
~August 12 1994 - October 25 2011~
Keep wagging your stumpy little tail, Maddigan you ball of fluff.
~*Babe*~
~January 9 1993 - December 13 2012~
The original lapcat, the indiscriminate lap-warmer, sweetheart you are dearly missed.
P.S. In the photo above, Mattie had recently been shaved because her fur would get full of deep-seated mats that were painful to her as they pulled at her skin and were impossible to brush out.
P.P.S. I am still working on the CranK/MMA slash story; a good portion of it is finished but I have unfortunately blocked on where to go next. Do not worry, it will come soon enough.
P.P.P.S. One week until my birthday - and JaeDong's, for that matter! Of all the people I could share a birthday with...I am very happy it is JaeDong.
Currently Listening To: Barracuda - "Where Is the Love"
, sad to see them die like every pet 
. Time will heal the wounds, and I know these cats enjoyed you in their life.
