My beautiful Zoey – your memory is forever etched into my heart.

There have been many Rainbow Bridge losses in my life, each of them holding a unique spot in my heart. Grieving is never easy. There are the familiar stages of grief identified by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—that many of us experience in one way or another. But I have come to realize there is another layer. Not so much acceptance, but simply a different life.

Nine months have passed since my beloved soul kitty, Zoey, left this earthly world. Our life is quieter now, but I still perceive her imprint throughout the physical home we shared with her.

I see her sleeping on the pillow on our bed. I see her on the ottoman in the dining room, snuggled with her babies, Mia, Peanut, and Rolz. I see her every time I put six food bowls on the floor instead of seven. I see her sunning in the kitchen window, and I see her every time I walk into our guest bedroom, where she spent her final moments wrapped in my arms.

Even during Zoey’s last weeks with us, her kittens, Mia, Peanut, and Rolz cuddled with her on the ottoman.

Zoey had an enormous personality and an equally enormous impact on all of us—me, Dan, her kittens, and her catmates Kizmet, Jazmine, and Shadow. I miss her loud yowls as she pursued and “killed” plush toys scattered about the house, her soft purrs, and the feel of her silky fur when she sat on my lap. I miss her fussy eating habits, her insistence on drinking water from the faucet, and the way she curled up next to me on the couch each evening.

Many Bengals have a penchant for water, and Zoey was no exception.

Like I said, not so much acceptance, because how can I ever truly accept her loss? Life is simply different. And her absence is magnified by the bittersweet realization that, as I look at each of her surviving kittens, one day their chapters will end, too.

All I can do is love and spoil those still with me—fiercely—and be grateful for the incredible memories those I have loved and lost have left behind.

I give all of you who have loved and lost a beloved companion my deepest sympathy and support. Every day is a day to remember them, but consider today an extra-special hug from me to you.

Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day is a special day dedicated to honoring the memories of those beloved pets in our lives we have loved and lost but never forgotten. Whether a pet with fur, fin, feathers, scales, or something else – one pet or many – this day was created for you to honor that pet in any way that feels most comfortable to you. Post a picture, write a poem, share a favorite memory, host a memorial event, upload a video, or write a special blog post and share the link.

ABOUT RAINBOW BRIDGE REMEMBRANCE DAY:
Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day was founded in 2015 by Deborah Barnes, award-winning author and blogger of Zee & Zoey’s Cat Chronicles, in tribute to her Ragdoll cat, Mr. Jazz, whom she had to say goodbye to on August 28, 2013. She shared the journey of letting him go in her critically acclaimed book, Purr Prints of – A Cat’s Tale of Life, Death, and Beyond, and decided to create the day in his honor so others around the world could share memories of pets they had loved and lost.

Graphic designed by Deb Barnes

At 5:15 a.m., the bedroom was dark, and when I put my foot on the floor to slide on my carefully laid sandals from the night before, I felt something soft and squishy. Yes, of course, there was a hairball in my right sandal, courtesy of my precious ginger cat, Jazmine, that was now embedded between my toes. Lovely. I was getting up, as I do 365 days a year, to feed my feline gang, including Jazmine and my six other cats – Zoey, Mia, Peanut, Rolz, Kizmet, and Shadow. It’s an ordeal. First, before I’ve even had coffee or the chance to wake up fully, I scoop three litter boxes. If I’m lucky, I don’t have to scoop again, but often as soon as I scoop, one of them will go again, meaning, back to scooping. Not to mention the litter that is kicked outside the box, which I have to sweep up…

Preparing breakfast is a foggy whirlwind. Each cat has specific dietary needs, and while I’m getting everything ready, they are meow-screaming at me the whole time. As the house is quiet, naturally, the sound level is amplified to a piercing level and on a continuous loop. One would think they’ve never been fed… After that, there’s cleanup, which is not just washing their feeding bowls and changing water, but typically one of them will throw up from eating too fast, which means more cleaning for me. Several of them will use the litter box again, so that means more scooping. Generally, when all is said and done, it takes between 30 and 45 minutes before I’m done with the process and can blessedly drink my first cup of coffee.

Click on the image to enlarge to see the cat math!

Rinse and repeat. They have a small lunch around noon, dinner around 5:00 p.m., and a smaller snack meal around 8:30 p.m. I find that feeding them several small meals throughout the day, rather than a big breakfast and dinner, works best for their digestion and well-being, but it does require a lot of effort from me, although these meals are slightly less complicated than breakfast. There are treats, too—usually at least twice a day. Then, aside from feeding and endless litter scooping, there is also grooming, administering meds, playtime, and more. I’m genuinely exhausted by the end of the day, but despite all this, I am not sharing my day because I’m complaining. I’m sharing because I’m grateful to be doing it. Today is Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, a day I founded in 2015 in tribute to my precious Ragdoll cat, Mr. Jazz, whom I had to say goodbye to on August 28, 2013.

The day was created for people to share memories of pets they loved and lost, but never forgotten. What wouldn’t I give to feed Mr. Jazz again, or scoop his litter, or brush his fur? I miss him dearly. I miss all my angels – especially those that were such a strong part of the Zee/Zoey gang – Mr. Jazz, Harley, and Zee. Remembering them gives me even more reason to be grateful for what I have in my life now, as I know my time with them is fleeting.

My beautiful angels – Zee, Harley, and Mr. Jazz

I give all of you who have loved and lost a beloved companion my deepest sympathy and support. Every day is a day to remember them, but consider today, and an extra-special hug from me to you.

xoxox

Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day is a special day dedicated to honoring the memories of those beloved pets in our lives we have loved and lost but never forgotten. Whether a pet with fur, fin, feathers, scales, or something else – one pet or many – this day was created for you to honor that pet in any way that feels most comfortable to you. Post a picture, write a poem, share a favorite memory, host a memorial event, upload a video, or write a special blog post and share the link.

ABOUT RAINBOW BRIDGE REMEMBRANCE DAY:
Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day was founded in 2015 by Deborah Barnes, award-winning author and blogger of Zee & Zoey’s Cat Chronicles, in tribute to her Ragdoll cat, Mr. Jazz, whom she had to say goodbyes to on August 28, 2013. She shared the journey of letting him go in her critically acclaimed book, Purr Prints of – A Cat’s Tale of Life, Death, and Beyond, and decided to create the day in his honor as a way for others across the world to share memories of their pets they had loved and lost.

Logo designed by Deborah Barnes

Our precious Zee.

When we lost Zee on March 18, 2022, our once eight-cat household, now seven, has never been the same. He was such a large part of our lives, and honestly, to this day, it seems surreal and impossible that he’s gone. I grieve him and all the other many pets I’ve had to say goodbye to over the years, not just on Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, but every day. But today, I don’t dwell on the loss. Instead, I humbly count my blessings, living in the past, present, and future of life. Read more

Meowy Cat-Mas from the whole Zee/Zoey gang!

From all of us at Zee & Zoey’s Cat Chronicles, we wish you the happiest of holidays and wishes for a beautiful, safe, and kind New Year. We also want to take the time to remember all the precious angels who are not with us for the holidays but are forever in our hearts. We miss every one of them every day, but the holidays can be especially difficult without them. For anyone who has lost a pet, our hearts go out to you with love and compassion.

Miss my precious angels so very much.

Take care, everyone.

Love from Deb, Dan, Zoey, Mia, Peanut, Rolz, Kizmet, Jazmine, Shadow, and angels Zee, Mr. Jazz and Harley.

My beautiful Jazz. R.I.P. sweet boy.

On behalf of Mr. Jazz, my beloved angel cat who inspired Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, I just want to take a moment to thank everyone who participated in the day this past August 28. It’s always bittersweet, as we wish we never had to say goodbye to any of our pets. But I’m always amazed and inspired by the overflowing of love and compassion shown on this day. My heart swells with gratitude for all the lovely memories we have of those pets we have loved and lost. Read more