Welcome to Regit's Rainbow Residency

Memories of Regit

We'll never forget that bright and sunny day in August. It was Tuesday, August 09, 1988 and we had finally decided to get a cat. When we walked into the Pet Shelter there was a small glass cage in the middle of the tiny lobby and in it were 2 gray 7 week old kittens, a male and a female. We saw that little girl and immediately wanted her but decided to go upstairs to look at all the other adoptive kittens and cats. All of them were cute and cuddly, some a little more than others. Many had sad pasts: owners that mistreated them, owners that had abandoned them and just plain strays. We looked at all of them but could not get the image of that little gray kitten downstairs in the lobby out of our minds. After spending an hour looking in all the cages, we decided we had to have the little gray female kitten. She had jumped into our hearts before we knew it. We paid the $30.00 fee and signed the contract that stated we would have her spayed, keep her as an inside cat only, make sure she had food and water, take care of her health and finally, notify the Pet Shelter when she died. We took our little ball of gray fur home. After much thought, we named her Regit which is "Tiger" backward (Tiger was our first cat that we had for 15 years). We bought scratching posts, a cat tree, litter box, food dishes, a cat "condominium", and all kinds of toys. From the day we got her she had whatever she wanted. She grew into a mature and regal cat who was queen of the house. She only scratched her scratch posts and always used her litter box. She loved people and was always near us. She hated being alone. When we came home from work she was downstairs at the door, waiting to greet us with a "welcome home" meow. In her younger years she loved to play. Although she would play with her "bought" toys, her favorites were a paper bag, an empty box and a crumpled up piece of paper. She also would go exploring in every room of our two story house. There wasn't a bookcase or shelf that was safe from her. This was her house and she wanted to know exactly what was in it. In her later years, she like to sleep, get brushed and get scratched near her ears. She got brushed and combed twice a day. She had her favorite sleeping places which were on top of the cat tree, on top of her condominium and in her chair which had a small electric blanket turned on low. But at night, she slept in the bed. We never knew how much love there could be until Regit entered our lives. She taught us about the joy and pleasure of unconditional love. She taught us about responsibility. She brought fun and excitement into our home. We played "keep away", "tag" and "what's in the bag". And we had quality time with lots of petting, cuddling, brushing, combing and scratching behind the ears. We had long talks and lots of naps together. Everyone knew that we were a family of 3. A few months shy of her 14th birthday, Regit started having kidney problems. She had to be hydrated and take medication. We took her to the vet weekly to monitor her health. She was fine and we enjoyed each and every day together. Then, on April 4th of this year we started noticing a weight loss. She was eating but not as much as she used to. We kept our weekly appointments with the vet so we could monitor her. On April 11 she had lost even more weight and was barely eating at all. The vet found a tumor in her mouth. We were told that it was an aggressive type of cancer and that it had spread into her lymph system. We were told that she would have only 10 days to 2 weeks left. We spent every minute with her and gave her our undivided attention. On Sunday, April 17 she seemed to be in distress. We took her to the Emergency Dept. and were told that the cancer had spread to her lungs and she was having difficulty breathing. She was in pain. She crossed over to Rainbow Bridge at 7:15 PM that Sunday. Regit, who had given us so many tears of laughter and joy, was no longer with us. We have tears now, but they are tears of sadness and it is hard to live in the house without her. What was "3" for almost 17 years is now only "2". The pain we have is quite real and our grief is genuine. As adults we know that as the pain recedes it will be replaced by the wonderful memories we had together. We will go through the many photo albums we have and find the pictures of her and they will remind us of the great times we all shared. But it is too soon now. Regit, we love you and miss you terribly. We thank you for the 17 wonderful years we all shared. You gave us unconditional love and we gave it back. You will never be forgotten. You were our baby. Regit June 21, 1988 - April 17, 2005 (adopted on August 09, 1988 at 7 weeks old) 4/28/05: Hi Regit. We got your ashes back from the vet yesterday. They came in a little cedar box with a small lock. It's hard to believe that our wonderful cat is inside. Today they put your picture on the Residency Stone. You look so beautiful. We miss you so very much but want you to know you are forever in our hearts. Take care little baby. 5/01/05: Hi baby. I'ts been 2 weeks since you left us and it's been a bad day for us. We've tried to talk about all the good times we had but we kept crying. We miss you so much. We still look for you everywhere. Every noise we hear we think it's you - and then we remember you are gone. I've been involved with the Grief Message board her at Rainbow Bridge. It helps a little but I still choke up when I write your name. You were so important to us - such a great part of our life. We miss you terribly and love you so much. You are forever our baby. Rest in peace my gray furry girl. Love Daddy Gary and Daddy Siegfried. 5/08/05: Today has been 3 weeks since you left us. It has been very hard for us. On Tuesday we went to a group grief meeting and met other people that had lost their best friends. I'm not sure if it helped us or not. Yesterday and today have been extremely hard because everywhere we look it reminds us of you. We miss you so very much and wish we could hold you one more time. Take care our precious baby, we will love you always. Daddy Gary and Daddy Siegfried. 5/19/05: Hi my sweet baby. Last Sunday would have been exactly 4 weeks since you went away. May 17 would have been 1 month. These are not dates that I can celebrate because these dates remind me when you had to leave. I still look at your picture daily and I still cry because I miss you so much. I want to hug you and snuggle, your soft gray fur rubbing against my beard. At times I think you really thought I was a cat. I miss our Saturdays when we would get an empty box and play pirates or astronauts. The house is just not the same and my body aches because you are not here. Siegfried does not work at home so his days are OK. But when he comes home I can see the lost look in his eyes because you are not here. I try to comfort him but it is so hard for me. Just before bedtime was the special time you and Siegfried spent together. I can see how much his heart hurts because you have left us - that time you two had together was so cherished by him. My dearest Regit, the pain has not gotten any better. We still miss you so much. A friend here told me that angels were put on this earth but could not show their wings - but no one said anything about their whiskers. You, my dearest Regit, were an angel and always will be. You take care my baby, we think of you every day and wish so hard you could be back with us. Your 2 Daddys, Gary & Siegfried 6/21/05: Happy Birthday our little precious. You were born this day 17 years ago. We didn't even knew you existed yet. It was 7 more weeks more before we saw each other and fell in love. You were the perfect cat and I honor each and every day that we spent together. I hope that you were as proud of us as we were of you. I have a picture of you by my work computer so I ca talk to you every day. I have another picture of you on my nightstand so I can say goodnight to you. There will never be another cat like you my baby. I was so lonely that I got 2 new kittens, a brother and sister. I named them Retig and Tigre and they are so full of energy. They remind me of you when you were such a little girl. They will never replace you my precious Regit. I still miss you every day and it's hard to look at your picture without tears. I still go to grief counceling every month but I miss you so much. Happy Birthday my baby. I will never forget you. 4/23/07 - Hi Regit. It's still so difficult to write to you here because it brings back the hurt of missing you so much. We just got back from Germany on vacation. I rememberr how mad you would be when we left you for a week or two, even though we had a "cat sitter". You just never liked to be alone. I wish I could have just one of those days back. I would smother you with so much love an kisses. You be good now. I still have 2 pictures of you on my desk and 1 next to my bed. We miss you my aby and we think of you every day. I'll write some more soon - but it's hard to type through the tears.

Regit's People Parent(s), Gary & Siegfried, would appreciate knowing you have visited their Baby's Residency. Click here to Email Gary & Siegfried a message, or to send a sympathy card click here. Email this page to a friend. Give a gift renewal of Regit's residency.

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