Parker's Obituary

Parker's final basket. She looked like a sleeping angel in it.

Parker Pie Miller

Parker P. Miller "Paaahkar", passed gently to the Rainbow bridge at 0905 Thursday morning, May 24th. She was 10 years and 9 months old.
She was surrounded in love by her family and held by her Mommy.
Parker passed away at 0905 in Lima, O Hi O with the gentle help of Dr. Joe and his assistant.
She died of stupid, rotten Cancer 
Parker was born in Southwest Kansas, she started life as a feral cat.
She is survived by her 'rents, Scott and Helen Miller
She's also survived by her fur-siblings, Puff, Powder, Rudy and Diamond Doggie.
She graduated from the school of feral hard knocks.
She was a self-employed blogger.
Parker lived in Southwest Kansas, Kansas City Missouri and Lima O Hi O
Her hobbies included eating, napping, smooching, lounging on the deck, playing and nip sniffing.
Parker was an active member of the Cat Blogosphere where she made many dear friends.
Parker's greatest achievement was her ability to say what she thought and get what she wanted.
Her only disappointment was that she had to go so soon.
She had the ability to brighten any day and eat like there'd never be another bowl of food.

Parker is being cremated and her remains will return home so she can always be with her family. 

She asks that donations be made in her memory to the Humane Society of Allen County to help other kitties find forever homes like the one she had. The link to that is here - any amount of support would make her angel heart so happy.

Thanks to everyone for the outpouring of love and support.

"Love is All We Need"

Smoochies, Smoochies, Smoochies

My Wonderful, Wonderful Life

Me, circa 2009

My life has been an awesome one. There is no kitty who could have asked for more than I have been blessed with. That being said, it's become my time to go to the Bridge kitties, I asked Mommy yesterday if she would help me on the journey. This morning she called Dr. Joe and he's going to come and see me tomorrow morning between 8:30 and 9:00 Eastern time. Dr. Joe will ease me across where I can see again and run and play and hang out with TOWCB*. I ask that you think of me around that time and send some good vibes. I know I will be going to a very good place, but the 'rents are very, very sad. I think they could use your good vibes as well. My sibs are going to be a lot of comfort too - they have already promised that - even Rudy.
Our little family has been together as this unit for 10 years and my leaving is going to put a big dent in the 'rents hearts. I can remember back when Daddy worked so very hard to tame me and trust him. I owe him my life. Mommy has worked hard for me to keep this blog and I am glad that she did because now they can look back and remember the good times.
Today I am being loved and watched over. tonight will be our last evening together - there will be tears and laughter and maybe some treats.
I want all of you to know that I have felt the love you have sent and I think that's one of the things that kept me feeling good for so long. Thank you for your love and for your friendship. Thank you for always smooching me back. Mommy says she thinks she will miss my smoochies the most.

So kitties - stay kind, remember me fondly and send those good vibes tomorrow.
I love you all -
One last time...
SMOOCHIES!
xoxoxoxoxoxox
Perfectly Parker.
*The Ones Who Came Before

A Little Parker Pie Update

Hi Kitties! Here I am in my Daddy-Crafted blankie enjoying some whiffs from the open door. I wanted to let all of you know how I am doing. It's all OK for now. The 'rents are still astounded at my appetite, I eat like a little piggy and love it when I get special evening treats. In the days before this rotten cancer, treat were fair game for all four of us. If treats were out we'd try to outsmart each other to get more than our fair share. Now my brother Rudy and Puff and Powder don't even try to horn in. It's as if they know I am sick and they let me have as much as I want. They don't even beg for evening treats when I'm sitting next to Mommy. I think my sibs are pretty awesome.
I am so very tired now. I have no pain. I sleep almost all of the time and I struggle to walk to the kitchen to get noms. Every once in a while I miss the box. It's embarrassing, but the 'rents are so cool about it.  I can't lie kitties, I dream a little more about the Bridge every day. I hope I rally for the sake of my 'rents...but I just don't know. I think I might be ready to meet TOWCB*, I hear they are awesome. I send all of you smoochies, I am never too tired to do that! We just take it one day at a time.
*The Ones Who Came Before

What It's Like



Parker - March 27,  2012
(She has given her Mommy full permission to blog about this)

Parker's mommy here.. I've been thinking about writing this post for about a month - I imagine if you have never lived with an animal with a terminal diagnosis you might wonder what it must be like. I thought I'd let you take a peek into our world and know what we think and go through. What makes us smile and what can make us cry.

Don't let that adorable photo of Parker fool you. She is totally blind. To look at her you would never know it. Unless of course you wave your hand in front of her face and get zero response. Or you see her slip up, falter and then run into an object. Those are the types of things that can instantly make me cry. I will never get use to that behavior from a cat who was so lithe and stealth on her snowy white paws. To see her falter may be the saddest part of this crummy disease. 98% of the time she navigates fine. We just have to be careful and not move the furniture very much.

I am a planner. I always have been. I know that when Parker's time comes she will not suffer. I have my regular vet office's assurance that they will come to our home if needed, and if that plan fails, I have another in place. I will keep my promise that Parker will never get stressed out by a car ride and a vet visit again. Her journey to the Bridge will begin right here in her home. Along with these plans I asked a dear friend a few months ago to purchase a very special basket and line that basket with soft fabric fit for a princess. She did as I requested and I now have that basket tucked away, out of my sight. It's for Parker...after. It's the basket that she will lay in to make the trip to the funeral home. I have already made arrangements with them and they will accept her when we need them to, night or day. I only speak of this now because I don't speak of it very much in my day-to-day life. It makes me feel a little lighter to share it.  I also imagine that if you have never been through this you might wonder what different people do when faced with the reality that they are going to lose their beloved pet. If you are me, you plan. You also take photos, but you take less than you use to, because you want photos of a healthy Parker to outnumber the photos of an ill Parker. Better to look back at someday down the road. It's funny, but it's hard to look at old pictures now. They tend to make me cry.

Each evening for the last few months,  Parker and I have a little ritual. She has a favorite blanket that she likes to nap on. Her Daddy molds it into a round shape with safe little walls around it. She sits in that blanket next to me each evening and she knows that it's treat time. Be it Temptations, chicken, steak, cheese, whatever - it's our time. She eats out of my palm,licking my hand as she scoops up the treat. It's so very, very precious. It also makes me cry.

Parker's eating also makes us laugh. With everything that she's going through, her appetite has never dwindled. She has never forgotten what it was like to be feral and scrounge for food. To this day she eats as if she'll never be served another bowl of food in her life. Each day, my husband feeds the cats wet cat food as a treat (we split one can of Fancy Feast between the 4 cats). Parker's little internal kitty clock knows when the time is drawing near and she begins to cry and talk to my husband. Standing in the kitchen literally yelling at him to open the can. Blind and sick, she still sounds like a bad-a** cat demanding the good stuff.. Watching that spectacle makes me laugh. It's like listening to the young and vital Parker.

Living with a terminally ill animal means that you wake up each morning wondering and you go to sleep each night wondering. It means that you treat each milestone and holiday differently. It means that you hover a lot. It means that you examine each hiccup, each stretch of a muscle. I'm sure that if Parker could see, she'd be so very annoyed at me - Parker was never a kitty to welcome hovering. I imagine that when I have to travel there's a part of Parker that goes "thank goodness'- now I'll get a little peace..."

So....as it stands we take things day by day. Parker sleeps about 20 hours a day and spends the rest of her time eating and stretching her muscles.. She's in no pain, but she is so very  teeny-tiny. I often wonder what it is she dreams of. She gives the most spectacular yawns now - that makes me laugh. She also has become much more affectionate - she was never what you'd call cuddly - now she loves to be hugged and scritched and petted and smooched. making up for lost time, I guess.

You are never ready and I don't try to fool myself that I've become prepared for the inevitable. I cry at the drop of a dime and I know it's because deep down, I am always thinking what a raw deal this is - for her - and for us, the family that loves her dearly.

Both Parker and I say thank-you for all of the support you have shown to us. We don't know how much longer we have together, but we make the most of what we have.

Big smoochies from her, big thanks from me.

xoxoxoxox



Diabetes Month - We Have A Favor To Ask

I may be feeling poorly, but I still have the energy to hiss and swat at the awful disease of Diabetes. I'd like to ask all of my kitty pals to post this on their sidebar for the month of November to increase Diabetes awareness. Diabetes is a rotten, expensive, time consuming and stupid disease that needs to be wiped off the face of the earth and sent down to basement cat.

I'd like to send special smoochies to Zoolatry who designed this great sidebar.

So please kitties, if you can, help me raise awareness.

Smoochies to all of you - I love you all!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

The Rudy Report With Another Parker Update

Hay ya' kitties, it's ME - RUDY! with your Rudy Report! Autumn on the deck rocks and I had a weekend full of fresh air, 'nip and treats. I love this time of year! I know we've been MIA lately, but all of our focus has been on Parker. On Friday she had to go back to Dr. Joe's because her wanted to do Xrays of her body. That was a tense day. She got dropped off and we had to wait a squillion years (3 hours in human time) for Dr. Joe to call Mommy. Well I am happy to report that she had no masses and she had gained about a half a pound! Dr. Joe just thinks that since she is prone to UTI's and she has a hard time shaking them that it made her feel miserable. She's become a lousy groomer (like me!) and she's still too skinny. I had a hard time convincing her to pose for some photos...

No! Get that away from me!

C'mon Mommy, I'm not ready for a photo!

Now everyone will see my matts...

 

And how skinny I am!

Parker is actually much better, but we have a ways to go until she is plumped up and matt free. She fights Mommy about getting brushed. But as you kitties know, Mommy always wins. Parker still has a heck of an appetite and she's enjoying all of the extra stinky goodness. We'll keep you posted as often as we can. It's a very busy time here in O Hi O!

Keep those tails high kitties!

A Perfectly Parker Update

The mom here - first of all I am sorry for not updating. Parker Pie is still struggling to recover from whatever it is that has her in less than "perfect" form. She's a little lethargic and still a little on the thin side. Her appetite is great and she's getting all the stinky goodness she wants. Her ver vist last Friday showed lingering traces of a UTI so she had to endure another shot from Dr. Joe. He wants to see her in a few weeks and if she's still not improving we move on to x-rays and a thyroid test. It isn't Hemobart like Rudy had - but we are still worried for our little gal.
I have my plate full with our little shelter, and, oh, that fulltime + job I have. So this little blog has suffered 'cause I need to spend all of the extra time hovering over Parker Pie.
I'll try to do better at updates, and any good vibes you can send for our precious Parker are greatly appreciated.
She sends much better smoochies that I do, but here's one from me  - Smooch!

The Rudy Report

Nom, Nom, Nom...oh, hey kittties - it's ME! - RUDY! with your Rudy Report. There has been so much happening that I don't know where to start. I can start reporting by letting you know that I really love cat grass. But I think you can see that...
Here is my report on Parker Pie. I am worried about my little sister. She is not bouncing back the way we had hoped she would. Her appetite is still pretty hearty, but she sleeps a lot (even for a cat!) and she no longers plays with her toys the way that she always did. On the up side, she uses the box with no trouble and she seems to be in a pretty good mood (when she is awake). She is still too skinny. She has a Dr. Joe appointment in about a week and a half, but Mommy will probably make one sooner is we do not see improvement in a few days. Needless to say the 'rents are on high alert.
Mommy still needs to update you on the Bony Boys (it's all good news), but right now, her #1 priority is keeping an eye on Parker. Any good thoughts that you could send Park's way would be appreciated.
Keep your tails high kitties.

We Honor and Remember

The Rudy Report - NOT!



I have the right to remain cute...

Well...maybe not as cute as Rudy as a mere babe...

He turned 12 on Friday. I may or may not have shut down Blogger to avoid all of the Hoopla.

Yeah, he's cute, he's the one on the right. A suck-up right from the start.

He got pretty sick last year. We all were so worried, it took a lot out of all of us.

He's fine now. Big and bad and hard to diaper.

As brothers go, I guess I got lucky in that department.

I turn 10 in August. And I'm the baby.

Mommy says that she sometimes gets a little leaky eyed when people suggest that we are all Geriatric. I remind her that we are all here now. All of us, happy and healthy. That's the secret to happy, keep the love from the past in your heart, keep the love you get now in front of your whiskers.  If only beans could remember that.  Live for the moment kitties!

*The Rudy Report will be back next Monday, if I let it...

Please Help Me Raise Awareness For Diabetes!

While my brother Rudy is recuperating from his horrible ordeal (he's a little better, but still doesn't feel as fine and frisky as the 'rent's would like), I'd like to ask that you put this sidebar up for the month of November. I have posted three sizes for you to choose from. And if you'd link to The American Diabetes Association, I'd be ever so happy! I talked about Mommy's struggle with this awful disease here and helping us find a cure would be a most awesome thing! Diabetes sux.Thank you so very much.
I'd also like to ask that you keep that little orange menace in your thoughts. He might be a pain in my tail, but he's fun to have around.
Smoochies and thanks to all of you rockin' kitties and woofies!

Today The Floof Goes Poof!

Hi kitties, Parker here on behalf of the Rudester. This morning Rudy gets stuffed into the PTU and goes to see Tiffany the very nice groomer. We all had our food and water taken away before we went to bed last night just in case they have to sedate Rudy. Tiffany works out of Diamond's VET hospital  - Dr. Babbit will monitor him if it comes to that.
Since Rudy is going to be 11 years old next month he is considered a geriatric kitty and sedation is always a concern. The good news is that Rudy is very healthy and should be fine if he has to be sedated. But we still worry. As much as I don't care for his orange menace pesky ways, I still want him to be OK and come back smelling all sweet and having his mats gone. Mommy won't relax until she hears he's ready to come home.
Please think good thoughts for our big orange creamsicle - life in O Hi O is always exciting with him in the picture!

A Forever Home For The Holidays

I'm asking everyone to open their heart and/or home to a homeless pet this holiday season. Visit Iamshome4theholidays.com for a myriad of ideas and ways to help orphaned pets.The goal is to raise awareness of this campaign and encourage those who are considering getting a pet around the Holiday season to choose one from a shelter rather than a pet store--and save a kitty life (or other-shelter-animal life) in the process. I salute Iams for this support of shelters.

This being said I need to ask Iam's a huge favor. Please stop animal testing in your Dayton Ohio laboratory. Iams has made progress, but as an industry leader, it must send an even clearer message: No animal deserves the fate of those who remain in their laboratories. Safe, healthy cat and dog food does not require harming cats and dogs.

This is probably not going to make me popular with the very nice lady that asked me to do a post about the Home For The Holidays campaign and I am sorry for that. But I have to be true to my beliefs about how manufacturers produce their food.

If you can find it in your heart and have room in your home, please consider making one little kitty or doggie a part of it. Thanks.

Formerly Feral Friday - Being On The Right Side Of The Door

This is one of my mommy's favorite photos of me ever.

You see kitties, I do this a lot when the door is open. I get up on my back toes and I look out. But I never cry to be let out and I never try to run out of an open door. Mommy says that's because I know it's much better to always be on this side of the door.

(And you know what kitties? She's right!)
Smooches to you and have a wonderful Friday!

Morning Has Broken

Peace to all of you on this Sunday.

We are going to be quiet today.

Formerly Feral Friday - Home

It's good to have a home and to live inside. To be protected from the elements and from cars and other animals and from all of the bads things that could hurt me. Alley Cat Allies have a petition that you can sign to thank the prosecutor in Richmond Virginia who made sure that the mean person that killed three feral kitties behind a T.V. station will stand trial. Being formerly feral myself, I'd like to ask that you go here and sign the petition that thanks him.
Everykitty, I hope your Friday is full of love and treats and smooches!

Please Send Purrs and Prayers Now!

Perfectly Parker, Puff, Rudy, and Diamond Doggy (and their Mommy and Daddy) are all saying prayers for the safe return of Mao and Annie. Please join us.

All I Have To Say This Weekend Is I Love You And Miss You

In Remembrance of
Anastasia, Oscar the Puppy Cat, Ubee, Paul, Taboo, Sundance, TeaCup Zephaniah, Biscuit Sinatra (still missing), Elijah Bob (still missing), Jack Skellington (still missing), Echo Baby, Captain Kitty, Abby, Jetta, Whiskers, Brendan, Moxie, Ariel and Buzzerbee.
Much love, purrs and thanks to Kashim and Othello for the lovely graphic.

This Friday Is For Remembering The One Who Came Before

Payton with Daddy

Here is something that Mommy and Daddy have had a heavy heart over. Their beloved Payton, One Who Came Before, is buried in Kansas City, at our home. We will have to leave her physical remains in Kansas City. The other Ones Who Came Before are remembered differently, T-Gray has a lock of his hair in Mommys jewelery box, Jordan the woofie has his collar and tags attached to Daddys favorite photo of him. When we leave Kansas City, Payton's physical remains will stay at our old home. She will stay with so many good memories, holidays, milestones, struggles and so much laughter. Mommy and Daddy only had to look near the lilac bush in the yard and see her memorial - there she was. Soon, this won't be the case. Mommy took Payton's passing particularly hard. No one knew why she died, she passed while Mommy and Daddy were out to dinner. They came home and she was gone. The vet said heart trouble. She was barely 3 years old. Daddy buried Payton while Mommy was in mourning, neither one of them were thinking clearly enough to "save" something of her. There is no lock of fur, not many photos, just wonderful memories of her being the opinionated, mouthy kitty that she was. Mommy and Daddy have felt so bad about leaving her, they have struggled about taking her memorial with us to O Hi O and placing it by the lilac bush in our new yard. Today Mommy found a poem she had saved on her computer a long time ago and took it as a sign that Payton will be OK with us taking her memorial to O Hi O. The decision has now been made, the memorial comes with the family and will go by the O Hi O lilac bush. Payton always lives in Mommy and Daddies heart. The poem was written a long time ago, but still holds true today. Here it is, for those of you who have lost beloved family members, may it bring you peace like it finally has to my Mommy and Daddy.

Where to Bury A Cat
There are various places within which a cat may be buried. We are thinking now of a tabby cat, a striped cat, whose coat was like watered silk, and who, so far as we are aware, never entertained a mean or an unworthy thought. This cat is buried beneath a cherry tree, under four feet of garden loam, and at its proper season the cherry strews petals on the green lawn of his grave. Beneath a cherry tree, or an apple, or any flowering shrub of the garden, is an excellent place to bury a good cat. For beneath such trees, such shrubs, he slept in the drowsy summer, or chased bees, or lifted head to challenge some winged intruder. These are good places, in life or in death.
For if the cat be well remembered, if sometimes he leaps through your dreams actual as in life, eyes kindling, questing, asking, laughing, begging, it matters not at all where that cat sleeps at long and at last. On a hill where the wind is unrebuked and the trees are roaring, or beside a stream he knew in kittenhood, or somewhere in the flatness of a pasture land, where the most exhilarating moles burrow. It is all one to the cat, and all one to you, and nothing is gained, and nothing lost -- if memory lives. But there is one best place to bury a cat. One place that is best of all.
If you bury him in this spot, the secret of which you must already have guessed, he will come to you when you call -- come to you over the grim, dim frontiers of death, and down the well-remembered path, and to your side again. And though you call a dozen living cats, they shall not hiss at him, nor resent his coming, for he is yours and he belongs there.
People may scoff at you, who see no lightest blade of grass bent by his footfall, who hear no mew pitched too fine for mere audition, people who may never really have had a cat. Smile at them then, for you shall know something that is hidden from them, and which is well worth the knowing.
The one best place to bury a good cat is in the heart of his owner.
by Ben Hur Lampman, Portland Oregonian, 1921

We will always love you Payton-Pie. Come on with us and stay in our hearts!

~We're all great here, just very, very busy with planning the move! Hope you kitties have a super weekend. Mommy is in cuddle mode and we're loving it!

Wishful Wednesday

Daddy took some photos of my sister Puff enjoying the warm weather. We know that they aren't award winning photos, but Mommy cherishes seeing her babies when she is on the road, so to her, they are priceless. Mommy also said that our family is so lucky to be able to take photos of our family whenever we want when there are families who lost that opportunity yesterday. Our hearts, prayers and purrs go out to the families and friends of the victims of the massacre at Virginia Tech. God's love and mercy be with you all.