Goodbye KitKat

WHILE TRYING HARD to listen to the sermon last Sunday, I could not keep my mind off my pet cat KitKat.

KitKat was our beloved pet that God gave us. KitKat gave us more than 16 years of laughter, goodness, love, and happiness.

As I bowed my head in prayer and thanked the Lord for giving us KitKat, I noticed a piece of paper tucked in between the pages of my Bible. It was the letter I wrote and read KitKat while she was being sedated prior to being put to sleep by the Veterinarian.

The time had come for us to make the grim decision to have her euthanized. She had incurable cancer and had to be put to sleep to end her suffering. With her frail body, she kept on following my wife anywhere she went the morning before we brought her to the Veterinarian. My wife saw it as a sign that KitKat was trying to say good bye. So, she wrapped her feeble body in a small blanket and placed her in our sofa. There she brushed her fur while I stroked her back as she purred and licked my wife’s hand.

We believe it was best for me and my wife to hold her by our side while being sedated. KitKat spent her entire life with us and being with her would make the process less stressful and more comfortable for her.

Animals feel grief too. Just like humans who usually contact loved ones when the curtain closes on them, pets would similarly want to spend their remaining time with their loved ones. Our presence made her feel that we were there until the end – her last joyful memory.

MY WIFE RIBS ME for not listening to the sermon. I paid no attention to her and read my letter to KitKat:

“My Dear KitKat, We will sorely miss you. Do not be sad because all will be well. I believe you have a place in heaven, for the Bible cites many passages about animals in heaven. For example, Revelation mentions the time when Christ and the armies of heaven will come in white horses. And the passage about the wolf that will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard that will lie with the goat. Genesis says that animals are all part of God’s creation. And I’m sure that this time, you will play with the mice and the birds and the squirrels… Thank you dearly for all the joy and happiness you have given our home.”

BEFORE I HAD KITKAT I was not really fond of cats. I had an allergic reaction to cats. And so did my son. But my wife always wanted to adopt a cat. She loved cats ever since she was a child.

I remember telling her once, in jest, that she had to choose between me and adopting a cat. But things turned around when a stray cat gave birth to several kittens at the back of my office. My employees did not want to adopt any of them, although they kept on feeding them, but when I told my wife about those kittens I ended up bringing home two of them on the condition if our allergies erupted, I would take them back. I was waiting for my allergies to flare up but no allergies came for me and my son. That was the beginning of life with KitKat and her sibling Sylvester in our home.

Many things began to change around the house. Our faces began to lighten up and boredom was conquered by the presence of KitKat and Sylvester. KitKat was the shy and independent type while Sylvester was the naughty kind. But both were very playful that I even told my son secretly that we now have an excuse if we broke things up or messed things up in the kitchen. The cats did it!

KitKat was about three years old when I retired. Sylvester crossed the “Rainbow Bridge” when he reached eight. His tender memories would always occupy a big part of my heart. But that is another story.

Perhaps due to the loss of her sibling, KitKat’s attitude slowly began to change from being shy and independent to being more spirited and loving. Every time I was busy with my computer she would always stay beside me.

Every working day around 5:30 pm she would sit at our kitchen window fronting outside and wait for my wife to come home. I’ve always wondered how she would know that my wife was now near even if I don’t see her in sight. KitKat would suddenly jump out of the window with her tail quivering straight upwards, a sign of excitement and happiness, to meet my wife and lead her to our doorstep after a hard day’s work. And speaking of work, KitKat kept our home free of roaches and mice. One time she even caught a fly.

Every time we came home from anywhere, KitKat would be waiting on the opposite side of the door. I’ve always questioned myself how she would know we were outside the closed door. She would not go to the door if another person knocks outside.

These are just a few moments that taught me to appreciate the joy and bliss that can be found in simple things. Things that KitKat did.

MY WIFE FRUSTRATINGLY ribs me harder this time. The sermon is finished but my mind goes back to a couple of incidents. KitKat was put to sleep on October One. Three days later, on the eve of St. Francis Day, the patron saint of animals, I took my wife for a stroll at the Rockaway beach by my niece’s house. While strolling, a butterfly kept on fluttering around my wife.

“Look, a message from KitKat that all is well.” She points at the butterfly.

After taking some photos and selfies on the beach, I googled the meaning about encountering a butterfly. I found out that many cultures and religion from many countries including ancient Greece believed it as a powerful message of love and reassurance from the deceased. The butterfly appeared in the photos.

When I retrieved KitKat’s ashes from the Veterinarian’s office, the first thing I did was to place the small sealed container on top of our piano beside Sylvester’s ashes. While doing this, the picture of KitKat instantaneously appeared in our photo rotating device which was also on top of the piano. This device contains more than 500 rotating pictures. I don’t believe in coincidence.

On the same day, I told my wife that KitKat and Sylvester were now happily together. Early the next morning she told me that she dreamed about Sylvester and KitKat sleeping comfortably at the foot of our bed like they used to. Another message of assurance?

THE SERVICE is almost over. My ribs are fine. Here I am, standing and finding myself singing with the congregation “How Great Thou Art!” and feeling every word of it. I feel relaxed.

All is well Lord. With You, everything is possible. Thank you, God for the gift of KitKat.

How Great Thou Art Lord!

How Great Thou Art!