(This was a post I meant to share in late September about a kitten who graced our lives for two whole weeks. I did the draft and forgot all about it, but thought I would share it now even though it’s November. The good news is that from latest reports Ember is thriving in her new home.)
September 25, 2010
Yesterday we said a bittersweet goodbye to Ember (blog post and pictures here). She left to go to her forever home last night. I have to admit it was harder to let her go than I thought it would be. Her little life had added a whole new dimension to our lives in just over two weeks.
Why didn’t went keep her? There were several reasons the first of which is we already have five, and we’re just at a limit with space to allow all the cats to live comfortably together. Secondly, she is a female. Not that we’re prejudice against girls it’s because we have one female who just does not tolerate other females well at all. Last year, when we added Ruby to the mix it pushed Ginger over the edge. She now lives most of her life in our bedroom. She needs her own territory in which she is the only female. She has the run of the house when the other cats go to their room at night, but all heck breaks loose when we try to mix her with the other females. It’s quite scary really. Thirdly, financially we’re pushing our limits with five.
Also, it was important to let this little one go because Eddie and I need to learn how to let go, or we may eventually become the subjects you hear about on the news or the show, Animal Hoarders.
No, no, not really, but we have to learn to let go and realize that we can’t keep them all.
I really wish I could be an animal rescuer. I believe my husband is more cut out for that than I am. He’s always been a rescuer and was even on our small town Rescue Squad in his late teens and early adulthood. He’s amazing. I don’t know how anyone does it. My initial response to an emergency is paralyzation . Then, I want to run from the situation. So, you better hope I’m not the first person on the scene if you ever have an emergency.
No, I’d help…but I’d have to fight every instinct not freeze or run away.
Last night was a prime example of how I can’t be a rescuer and have to let go of precious animals on a regular basis. I was fine until about 10 minutes after she left. I started cooking dinner, and the tears started flowing and wouldn’t stop. After dinner I knew I had to clean out Ember’s living space (our guest bath) or I’d be tempted to lock the door and never go in there again. I bawled while I dumped and cleaned her litter box (her little poops and pees, but she’s gone. WAAAAH!) I washed her tiny little food and water bowls….WAAAAH! It was not pretty. You would have thought I had just handed over my first born and not a kitten I had only known a little over two weeks. Part of my over-reaction may have due to the fact I had a totally rotten day yesterday, and letting Ember go was the cherry on top of that crap Sundae, but it was difficult…much more difficult than I thought it would be.
Today was somewhat better. I scrubbed and mopped the bathroom, and it looks like she was never there, but there has been a malaise with me all day long. The new owner reported that she is doing great. We will be making a visit to see her in her new home soon.
I know she’s going to have an awesome life, but I’m sad that it’s not going to be with us.