If Flower was still alive, today would have been her second Gotcha Day. It was 2 years ago today that she finally went into the trap after I spent roughly six years trying to trap her. Flower was the 5th and final cat that I trapped and saved from the dog fighting ring.
Part of the reason why I stayed in that house so long and was subject to the physical abuse, mental abuse and attempted arson from the neighbors was that I said I would not leave that house until I got Flower to safety. Flower was the last stray standing. There was no way I was going to leave that house and leave her there to fend for herself. She would have never survived. I was her sole source of food, water and heat in the winter.
The time I did have with Flower after her trapping was bonus time. I knew from the beginning that she was hospice due to her age and injuries from the dog fighting ring. It was truly one of the greatest honors of my life that she chose me to be her human.
She knew what she was doing. It was fate that we ended up together. If she had gone in the trap sooner, she would have gone to the shelter right away. She probably would have been euthanized due to her age and injuries. As it was, when I finally did trap her, the shelter was full. I tried rehoming her myself. She had a few failed meet and greets. I finally realized that she had chosen me and I needed to be her human. I told her I would not leave that house until she was safe. She was safe with me.
Flower moved with us from the house from hell to our new home of safety. The last year of her life was spent in the warmest house I have ever lived in my entire life. I’m sure it was great for her arthritis. She had warmth, food and love. There was so much love. Flower was the cat no one wanted. Well, I wanted her. I hope she knew that. I hope she knows when she died that she was wanted and she was loved.
In her time with me in the house, Flower had two birthdays. Flower Day is April 9. The ask is that you do an Act of Kindness in Honor of Flower’s birthday to combat all the evil she experienced in life.
Flower had two Thanksgivings with turkey baby food as a treat. She had two Christmases. Both Christmases, she earned her title as Senior Santa Tracker by watching Santa on NORAD. Her first Christmas she had a generic stocking, but her second and final Christmas, she had her own stocking made especially for her with her name on it like the rest of the family. Her second and last Christmas she was in our living space with the Christmas tree. She completely ignored the Christmas tree. I think that came from her years outside. It’s a tree – what was it doing inside?
Every night, Flower would walk up her ramp and wait in bed for her bedtime story. The last year she was alive and in the new house was one of the best years of my life. I know it doesn’t erase all the cruelty she experienced prior, but I hope she knew in that last year how much she was wanted and loved. I loved seeing how she would finally sleep with me and spend time with me in her own Flower way. She was more tolerant of Simon and Jolene in the new house too.
Flower may have experienced cruelty in that old neighborhood, but at the end, she was an Adirondack cat. One of my favorite videos is of Flower in the new house on her pet steps in front of the open window. She is smelling the air. She knows from the smell of the air that we are in a new place and that we are safe here. I got her out of that Village from Hell to a place of safety.
I love Flower so much. I miss her every day.
I love all my cats. They are each unique in their own way. But as much as I saved Flower, I think she saved me too. I just wanted to give her a world of love after what she experienced. I loved seeing Flower experience things for the first time – playing with toys, getting treats. I wanted her to have it all.
Flower changed my life more than any other cat I have had. We moved across the state to escape those neighbors who abused and terrorized us. I had to turn my life completely upside down because they attempted arson after I reported a dog fighting ring. That’s not counting all the physical injuries and harassment we experienced.
I will never forget the little 8-pound bobtail who changed my life forever. I know she is in Heaven. She was such a pure and gentle soul. She deserves Heaven.
Flower, you are wanted.
Flower, you are loved.
Flower, I miss you. It’s been 2 years since you walked into my humane trap. I wish we had more time together. It wasn’t enough.
Take care of Jude, Kitty and Kip in Heaven. We will meet again once Simon and Jolene are gone too. At least, I hope so. I may be going to Hell for reporting that dog fighting ring. I remember when their children were chasing me and throwing rocks at me, they said it was ok because I “wasn’t a real person.” Based on the ways those neighbors treated me, I must be a very bad person. They kept saying that I deserved to be harassed and it was all my fault. So, I don’t know where I’m going. But I do know all cats go to Heaven and Flower is there.
