rhiannon and shadow (GA)
Member Since 2012
It is very hard to write this as my heart is so heavy . Her absence just gets more and more amplified with every click of the clock. And the house is filled with her toys, her towers, her steps, her beds, her everything. Everything was hers and all the spaces were hers too.
The name Shadow was already very dear to me as I had a black pomeranian named Shadow when I was 8-17.
Losing her was absolutely devastating.
In 2001, I took my dd to the Santa Fe Shelter where we met a litter of kittens. There were black/whites and a couple of tabbies. My dd took to a tabby but she was not a playful kitten.
I made a spider with my hand and hopped it around on the floor and this little kitten ( they called mittens) came running over to play and attack the hand. That got my dd's and my attention...
We wanted the assertive one.... Mittens....
So we adopted her , having to have 3 references, which the shelter called them all. ( harder to get a cat than have a baby)
She was a feisty and fun kitten. But my dd wanted a better name, one that she picked.
She decided on Shadow. I was against the name but decided it's what she wanted and I thought I could handle it.
Then when Shadow 5 months old, my dd was laying on my bed on her back holding Shadow and rolling back and forth.
She rolled off the bed and landed on top of Shadow.... but I didn't know it.
I found dd crying.... she got hurt and told me what had happened.... we were just about to leave for church....
and I asked , where's the cat?
She ran away.
I found her in dd's closet, trembling uncontrollably.
We ran to ER vet , 45 minutes away.
They thought her bladder was likely crushed and would have to be put down.... but it turned out that it was the ball on her left femur... completely sheered off so it would have to be removed. And she was in great pain.
We didn't want our then 6 yr old daughter to think she had killed her cat so we paid for the expensive surgery. But it traumatized Shadow and she always remembered she hated the vet.
DD wasn't a good nurse ( as expected) and I had to sleep on the trundle, with the two of them for a few months. Shadow transferred to me over time and of course, the name Shadow meant I was going to be a goner too.
As the kids were in school, Shadow spent all her time with me. And could roam so she could sleep where she wanted to. She was a biter.... a love biter...and my dd didn't like that.
Shadow would sit on the monitor of the computer with me daily.... so even my email address is rhiannonandcat at
when the monitor got switched to flat screen, she just took to my lap.
She slept on me, loved to get on my back and give massages, kitty facials, and bite my chin and she was
adorable when she would come sit on the side of the tub and drink my bath water.... or get between the curtain and liner.
She loved baskets, and boxes, and paper bags.... she had strings which she would bring to you and want you to shake, and little pom pom critters that she would bat and carry around, she loved catching moths....
and i would leave lights on to attract them for her. She would get upset when I had to get up early and shower, she wanted me to stay in bed with her.
And when she felt scared, she would get under the sheet, and go curl around my feet ( with my knees up)
and if I moved my toes too much, she would bite them.... wanting me to be still.
She was my Shadow just like the song. If I got up and left the room, she would too. She'd follow me to the bathroom, or wherever I went.... She even had a box to sit in that was always in the kitchen when I cooked or she would get up and take your chair. She was my constant companion.
She had 7 surgeries total.
as she aged, we discovered the FORL and starting having to have teeth removed. ( 3 surgeries)
She had all 4 fangs removed just before dx with FD.
She wasn't big on dry food but she did like those dry treats and I started giving them to her like candy, and I think they were why she became diabetic. ( but who is to say)
I found FDMB that evening, and started reading everything.... and every one else's experience.
I was determined to get Shadow into remission if I could.
And because of all of you, and learning from your experiences and advice, I became one of the lucky ones after 100 days on insulin and TR protocol. Marje was my mentor and helped me with every thing.
And then we figured out arthritis was in her hip as well as other joints. And treated that.
She talked a bit, but not too much, but my favorite was always the moment I opened my eyes and she would trill.... as if to say, you up? I will miss that sound the most.... as I woke up to it for so many years.
She purred every time I picked her up , I carried her like a kid, upright with her front paws on my shoulder
so as not to hurt her hip.
She also didn't mind me kissing her nose, which I did all the time, and she loved to be kissed on the side of her face.
Shadow was my soul kitty.... and as you all know, I was willing to do whatever I could for her....
except put her thru treatment after treatment ( and 3 more surgeries) knowing that it would completely take away the QOL she had.
I knew when she didn't want to get in bed with me at all, when she didn't want to be touched on most of her body, that the time was getting close. ( the last month)
She came to me on thursday, and came to my lap, purred, let me scratch her head as if to tell me it was okay
now. And then she got down and went back to her spot under the dining room table, her hard floor.
It was then that I started telling myself that I would have to buck up and stop the constant pills , I would have to do that which I dreaded for so long.
I look forward to the day when I can hold her again, her and my other Shadow.
She was a great Blessing to me and as I do with all those I love, I tried to soak up each day, enjoy our moments knowing it couldn't go on and on; that it would end at some point.
I made sure to get pictures, and recordings of her purring, and talking, and I even got her nose print
so I could have jewelry.... I have her little nose in silver and I'm wearing it now.... things I will cherish as long as I live.
I"ve never known a cat like her.... but maybe that's because of our strong bond of love. She was so much more than just a cat. We were so in sync.
I know that I will grieve for her for a long time but this time I have the hope, the belief that I will indeed
see her again.
I'm going to miss her so very very much. I wish I could have made her feel better.
Thank you everyone..... I wouldn't have had more years with her if it weren't for you.
I'll be sticking around.
Rhiannon
The name Shadow was already very dear to me as I had a black pomeranian named Shadow when I was 8-17.
Losing her was absolutely devastating.
In 2001, I took my dd to the Santa Fe Shelter where we met a litter of kittens. There were black/whites and a couple of tabbies. My dd took to a tabby but she was not a playful kitten.
I made a spider with my hand and hopped it around on the floor and this little kitten ( they called mittens) came running over to play and attack the hand. That got my dd's and my attention...
We wanted the assertive one.... Mittens....
So we adopted her , having to have 3 references, which the shelter called them all. ( harder to get a cat than have a baby)
She was a feisty and fun kitten. But my dd wanted a better name, one that she picked.
She decided on Shadow. I was against the name but decided it's what she wanted and I thought I could handle it.
Then when Shadow 5 months old, my dd was laying on my bed on her back holding Shadow and rolling back and forth.
She rolled off the bed and landed on top of Shadow.... but I didn't know it.
I found dd crying.... she got hurt and told me what had happened.... we were just about to leave for church....
and I asked , where's the cat?
She ran away.
I found her in dd's closet, trembling uncontrollably.
We ran to ER vet , 45 minutes away.
They thought her bladder was likely crushed and would have to be put down.... but it turned out that it was the ball on her left femur... completely sheered off so it would have to be removed. And she was in great pain.
We didn't want our then 6 yr old daughter to think she had killed her cat so we paid for the expensive surgery. But it traumatized Shadow and she always remembered she hated the vet.
DD wasn't a good nurse ( as expected) and I had to sleep on the trundle, with the two of them for a few months. Shadow transferred to me over time and of course, the name Shadow meant I was going to be a goner too.
As the kids were in school, Shadow spent all her time with me. And could roam so she could sleep where she wanted to. She was a biter.... a love biter...and my dd didn't like that.
Shadow would sit on the monitor of the computer with me daily.... so even my email address is rhiannonandcat at
when the monitor got switched to flat screen, she just took to my lap.
She slept on me, loved to get on my back and give massages, kitty facials, and bite my chin and she was
adorable when she would come sit on the side of the tub and drink my bath water.... or get between the curtain and liner.
She loved baskets, and boxes, and paper bags.... she had strings which she would bring to you and want you to shake, and little pom pom critters that she would bat and carry around, she loved catching moths....
and i would leave lights on to attract them for her. She would get upset when I had to get up early and shower, she wanted me to stay in bed with her.
And when she felt scared, she would get under the sheet, and go curl around my feet ( with my knees up)
and if I moved my toes too much, she would bite them.... wanting me to be still.
She was my Shadow just like the song. If I got up and left the room, she would too. She'd follow me to the bathroom, or wherever I went.... She even had a box to sit in that was always in the kitchen when I cooked or she would get up and take your chair. She was my constant companion.
She had 7 surgeries total.
as she aged, we discovered the FORL and starting having to have teeth removed. ( 3 surgeries)
She had all 4 fangs removed just before dx with FD.
She wasn't big on dry food but she did like those dry treats and I started giving them to her like candy, and I think they were why she became diabetic. ( but who is to say)
I found FDMB that evening, and started reading everything.... and every one else's experience.
I was determined to get Shadow into remission if I could.
And because of all of you, and learning from your experiences and advice, I became one of the lucky ones after 100 days on insulin and TR protocol. Marje was my mentor and helped me with every thing.
And then we figured out arthritis was in her hip as well as other joints. And treated that.
She talked a bit, but not too much, but my favorite was always the moment I opened my eyes and she would trill.... as if to say, you up? I will miss that sound the most.... as I woke up to it for so many years.
She purred every time I picked her up , I carried her like a kid, upright with her front paws on my shoulder
so as not to hurt her hip.
She also didn't mind me kissing her nose, which I did all the time, and she loved to be kissed on the side of her face.
Shadow was my soul kitty.... and as you all know, I was willing to do whatever I could for her....
except put her thru treatment after treatment ( and 3 more surgeries) knowing that it would completely take away the QOL she had.
I knew when she didn't want to get in bed with me at all, when she didn't want to be touched on most of her body, that the time was getting close. ( the last month)
She came to me on thursday, and came to my lap, purred, let me scratch her head as if to tell me it was okay
now. And then she got down and went back to her spot under the dining room table, her hard floor.
It was then that I started telling myself that I would have to buck up and stop the constant pills , I would have to do that which I dreaded for so long.
I look forward to the day when I can hold her again, her and my other Shadow.
She was a great Blessing to me and as I do with all those I love, I tried to soak up each day, enjoy our moments knowing it couldn't go on and on; that it would end at some point.
I made sure to get pictures, and recordings of her purring, and talking, and I even got her nose print
so I could have jewelry.... I have her little nose in silver and I'm wearing it now.... things I will cherish as long as I live.
I"ve never known a cat like her.... but maybe that's because of our strong bond of love. She was so much more than just a cat. We were so in sync.
I know that I will grieve for her for a long time but this time I have the hope, the belief that I will indeed
see her again.
I'm going to miss her so very very much. I wish I could have made her feel better.
Thank you everyone..... I wouldn't have had more years with her if it weren't for you.
I'll be sticking around.
Rhiannon
Hugs. 
