The Life and Times of Mia Renee

This page has been a long time coming. Since my Mia left me 6 months ago, I have had a hard time talking about her special life. I think the time has come.



Mia was born in May of 1980. I don't know much about her beginning, as she was found on the street by a young girl, who brought her into my office. The manager of the office took a liking to her, and took her home. The very next day she came to work and said "I don't like my new kitty, she is into too much trouble, and won't stay off my drapes". It so happened that my 8 year old daughter had been asking for a cat, and somehow that day I found myself going home with a little bundle of black fur. I hid her in my arms and got out of the car. My daughters face lit up! She had seen the kitty! She was so happy and so was I. Thus began over 18 years of love and friendship that Mia would bring into our lives.



Mia's first year was pretty eventful. When she was 5 months old she had a serious accident. At that time we lived in what I thought was a safe area for kitty to go outside. Of course now I know better, but I was not that knowledgable at the time. She went outside one day, and decided to curl up in someones car engine area. When he started his car unknowingly, she was very badly injured. I was told by friends and family to put her to sleep, that she would never make it. Well Mia proved them wrong. She came home from the hospital after an operation, and in a cast on the whole right side of her body. But she recovered! And you can bet that she was never let outside again, except when I had a huge fenced in area, and then only with supervision.





Years passed, and Mia became my best friend. She was with me through several very difficult experiences. She moved from apartment to apartment with my daughter and I. Then her biggest adventure-going on a plane to San Diego. Mia did not enjoy traveling one bit! But she made herself comfortable in our new home right away. Mia liked San Diego, I think, because she always had a sun patch to sit in. There was a bit of a flea problem there, due to the warm climate, but we kept it under control with frequent baths. Mia hated a bath, but she was always good and let me do it. She would vocalize her complaints very loudly though. Once, when we were having our apartment treated to get rid of fleas, Mia went to the beach with me. We had to stay away from the house for awhile, so I packed her up, put a little collar and leash on her, and we went sunbathing for the day. She made quite a hit with the children on the beach. I still see her lying there in the sun, rolling and enjoying herself so much.




Mia was known by friends and family as a bit of a snob. I think she was a princess in a past life! My daughter Jenn and I were the only ones that could touch Mia for many years. Anyone else would get a good bite. A comment made by my daughters friend Michael sums it up:"I could pat Mia if she didn't see who it was". As she got older, she became a little more tolerant, and grew to be quite affectionate with others. She still remained pretty selective, though.





One of Mia's funniest habits was the way she drank water. It had to be from the sink or tub, trickling out. She would stand under the tap, let the water soak her forehead, and drink it as it came off her nose. Sometimes she would get her paw wet and drink from there. It was quite a comical sight! She really seemed to enjoy playing in the water, as long as I didn't try to bathe her.





Mia had another interesting habit. We called it Spot-itis. She would find a spot in the house that was hers. This spot could be anywhere! You could not pry her from this spot. For weeks she would be there all the time, unless she was eating or drinking. The household would work around her. Then suddenly, after several weeks, she would jump up from her spot, and walk around the house looking annoyed. Finally she would find a new spot that suit her and there she would stay! I would try to move her sometimes, if it was a particularly inconvenient spot for the rest of the family, but nothing doing. She would always win!





There were so many happy times with Mia over the years. As She grew older, she became much more affectionate, and if possible we became even closer. She loved to lay next to me on the pillow at night. Little by little she had more of the pillow and I had less. I would try so hard not to disturb her, because she had some arthritis and it seemed hard for her to get settled. Eventually I was wedged in a small area between Mia and my husband, not sleeping so well!





As with all of us, Mia's age gradually became a factor in her health. I will never forget the day we realized that she could no longer hear. She had always been a great listener, would even be able to tell when it was my car driving into the parking area. One day Jenn came over and called to her and she didn't look up. We went right up behind her, calling her name and she never turned. Then we touched her and she made her little "brit". It was a very sad moment. After that whenever someone would enter the room she was in we would go up and touch her so she would notice we were there. She still carried on quite well, with few concessions to her age, except that she needed a stool to get into the tub now.





The saddest part of Mia's story is next. After so many happy years, at age 16, she was found to have cancer. However surprisingly, she did ok for a few years. Suddenly last October, she started having what seemed to me to be small strokes. One day she would not be able to use one foot, then it would get better, then a few weeks later, it would be both back legs. She continued with this, having a slower time recovering after each. Finally in December she had another attack that she was not getting over. She could not walk at all anymore, her back half refused to work. I would place her in her litter box, and in the tub for a drink several times a day. But she could not get there on her own. One night, she was in bed with me and I felt her struggling so hard to get up, and she just kept falling back down. She was getting disoriented also. It was heartbreaking. After consulting with her vet several times, and having such a hard time, we made the decision to help her end her suffering. It was and is the most painful experience of my life. I was lucky to have a vet who would come to my house,and Mia never had to travel and be afraid in the car. I stayed with her until she was asleep, but had to leave the room in tears before the very end. Now Mia rests in my cousins yard, because we do not own our property. I am so sad that she is not here with me anymore. I discovered, through this emotional time, that there is a wonderful place called Rainbow Bridge, where the animals go after they leave us. I have never had a very strong faith, but have come to be certain that there are angels and a beautiful place for our loved ones to wait for us, with them. It is a place where our babies can feel healthy and happy, and without pain or constraints.


This is how I envision Mia now, while she waits for me to join her






Mia's legacy of love continues to be my source of strength. Through her loss, I met several wonderful people on the internet, one of whom introduced me to Rainbows Bridge. Ginny was the first person I spoke to after Mia's loss, and I was not in very good shape. She helped me to put a memorial to her at the Rainbow Bridge site that she created in honor of her furbaby Fifi. Within a few days, I had letters from Donna, who lost her baby Merle, Nancy, who was mourning Bo, and Sue-Elen, who had lost Eddie the same week I lost Mia. These wonderful people have been my salvation as I struggle through the grief process. I am convinced that Mia had a hand in bringing us together. She is my little angel now.
Click to meet these wonderful FRIENDS

My good friend Nancy and her precious Bo sent Mia this love letter. Thanks to you both, we love you.




I need to add that the love and devotion Mia and I had for eachother will never die. I know that she is a precious angel now, and that she may have visited me, sending me a message that she is ok. One day I was in the kitchen opening a can of cat food, and I felt a kittys head and body rub up against my leg. I looked down expecting to see Leo, my new little boy. But he was not there. In fact, there was no kitty visible anywhere in the area. Now you may think I am crazy, but it had to be Mia. I believe that she was trying to comfort me. My love for Mia inspired me to adopt two other cats, who badly needed a good home. They are taking their own spot in my heart now, and geting lots of love.





Thank you Mia, for almost 19 years of purrfect love. When we are reunited at Rainbows Bridge, the missing pieces of my heart and soul will be returned to me...




What though the radiance that was once so bright
Be forever taken from our sight
though nothing can bring back the hour
of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower
we will grieve not, rather find
strength in what remains behind;
in the primal sympathy
which having been must ever be;
in the soothing thoughts that spring
out of human suffering;
in the faith that looks through death,
in years that bring the philosophic mind.
thanks to the human heart, by which we live,
thanks to its tenderness, its joys, and fears,
to me the meanest flower that blows can give
thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears

william wordsworth




SONG FOR MIA

She will not go quietly;
this cat who shared our lives,
In subtle ways she lets us know
Her spirit still survives.
Old habits still make us think
we hear a meow at the door
Or step back when we drop
a tasty morsel on the floor.
Our feet still go around the place
the food bowl used to be,
And, sometimes, coming home at night
we miss her terribly.
And although time may bring new friends
and a new food dish to fill,
That one place in our hearts
belong to her....
and always will

THE CAT BED IN THE SKY

I thought that you might like to know
I got here safe and sound
Though you must feel rather strange
not having me around
Of course, I am not really gone
I've just moved out of sight,
And I don't need that old body,
things had just stopped working right.
Sometimes I'm sorely tempted,
to pop back down and see,
Just how you are managing,
without any help from me,
But I'm sure that you will understand
I can't come back to stay,
Though I have it on good authority
that we'll meet again some day.
The chow up here's delicious
Ambrosia brand, it's named,
Once you've tasted this stuff,
Friskies won't taste the same,
And where do they get this nectar,
which thick and creamy comes,
It's not like other dairy products
cause it won't give me the runs.
I haven't found the litter tray,
and THIS perplexes me,
That however much I wolf down,
I never have to pee.
And there are other plus points,
which cannot be ignored,
My claws have all come back again
and there are drapes here to be clawed.
Oh yes - I've got a comfy bed,
just like mine down there at home,
So things here are quite adequate,
I cannot gripe or groan
But while I'm up here waiting,
in my cat bed in the sky,
I'll regularly look in on you,
and keep a watchful eye.
-- Unknown--
(But I can hear Mia reciting it!)