She came into our lives a feral, totally unsocialized little scruffy ball of fluff. We didn’t know she hadn’t been socialized–the vet clinic we got her from didn’t tell us that. We don’t even know if they knew. They had  rescued her and her siblings off Craigslist before somebody unsavory took them.

Morgan had a sister who looked like a snow leopard–like so many part Bengals do–and she was gorgeous. But Morgan was our choice. When we told the tech we’d take her, they automatically reached for her sister and when I said, “No, we want her,” and pointed to Morgan, the woman was surprised. “You mean you want her, not this one?” I was rather indignant for Morgan–she was pretty too, just not as ‘striking.’

We brought her home and she wanted nothing to do with us, but boy did she make a beeline for Caly and Brighid and Meerclar. And boy, did she tag along after them. They were everything to her, and Sam and I were basically chopped liver. Which was fine. That’s just the way she was.

The first time Morgana came up to me willingly was two days before she was supposed to be spayed. She went into heat, and was confused, and came to me to help. I felt like I had won the Mom of the year award–she actually trusted me! After we got her in and spayed, she went back to the ‘I love my sisters’ mode, but now and then, she’d wander up and let us scritch her behind the ears.

Eventually, as time went on, she grew to love being petted and brushed. She was never a lap cat, never let us pick her up, and catching her to go to the vet was an experience, especially when she reached the exalted weight of 16 pounds. But she would come up and twitch her tail at us, indicating “Gee, I’m going to get petted and I’m excited!” and we’d reach down and pet her. Once in awhile, she would crawl on my side when I was going to sleep, snuggling for a brief time before meandering off.

I remember once, waking up just in time to catch a picture of her, her paw raised–she was about to smack me awake so I’d pet her. And then there were the yawns and nose-licks–I always managed to catch Morgana in the act.

Morgan was always a bit of a loner, going her own way, happy and aloof and yet, she was our gentle giant. As she began losing weight, we began to worry, but her blood work was great so…everything seemed okay. Until it wasn’t. Within the space of a few months, our gentle giant was losing weight rapidly, and when we took her in, yes, the diagnosis was bone marrow cancer–a very rare one. And so today, we had to let her go.

It was too soon–our kitties live a long time. We routinely have seen our kitties live up to 18-21 years old. This has been heartbreaking for us, in so many ways. But we couldn’t fix this…nobody could. It came on so fast and so aggressive, that we had to give her the last, hardest gift we ever give our furbabies. The house will be far too quiet without our gentle giant.

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Rest Gently, Morgana
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30 thoughts on “Rest Gently, Morgana

  • 07/18/2021 at 12:01 pm
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    Thank you all. It’s been a rough past ten days, but our baby is out of any pain, and the house is far too quiet without here. It feels…a lot emptier.

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  • 07/17/2021 at 1:25 pm
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    Totally feel your pain, still suffering the loss of my fur baby, Harvey, to tumors in his lungs, in December. You’ll be in my thoughts and may Morgan rest easy with Bast.

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    • 07/17/2021 at 1:29 pm
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      *Morgana. Sorry, forgot to hit the a key a second time.

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  • 07/14/2021 at 5:48 pm
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    I’m so sorry to hear about Morgana. I think all of our loves (human and others) will be waiting on the other side of the hedge for us.

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  • 07/14/2021 at 1:26 pm
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    Thinking of you. Big hugs to you both

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  • 07/14/2021 at 8:39 am
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    This hit me in all the feels Yasmine…

    I received two baby girls (fur babies) born in March of 2008.
    Over the last year, one of the Girls, Bella, started losing weight. She had had many other problems, but we loved her regardless. We took her to the vet repeatedly, and she was diagnosed with IBD. More medications.
    We noticed when we had the heat issue a few weeks ago, that something was wrong. She was having trouble walking.
    I scheduled another trip to the vet.
    We did bloodwork, and they did a quick ultrasound.
    The Next day, the vet called us with devastating news. She was sure Bella has Leukemia. My daughter and I cried so hard (I’m crying now).
    Our next step involves figuring out which kind, but that test alone is $400. We just don’t have the Bridget for that. So we are waiting a bit, and getting the money together, before we face the next step.
    Regard, Bella is loved, and spoiled rotten right now…

    So. I know. I feel you. I know how hard it is.

    Blessings to you, Sam, and your other fur babies. Much love is being sent your way.

    ~Heather~

    Reply
    • 07/14/2021 at 8:40 am
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      P.S. Bella, and her sister are even part Bengal!

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  • 07/13/2021 at 6:16 pm
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    I am very sorry for your loss. Our pets are like our children. Gentle Huggles

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  • 07/13/2021 at 6:02 pm
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    Sending you love & hugs at this hard time. I’ve been here myself. The last time I discovered I could cry & drive at the same time.

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  • 07/13/2021 at 5:48 pm
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    Huge hugs and lots of love coming to all of you.
    The easiest part of our fur babies is loving them, and the hardest part is letting go.
    Kitties are the purest form of love… Thank you for being such wonderful parents to beautiful Morgana. You gave her the last and least selfish gift you could ~ to leave this plane with dignity and love.
    They truly do leave paw prints on our hearts, and may Morgana Fly Free and rest easy, healthy and whole, forever loved and always missed.
    Brightest Blessings.

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  • 07/13/2021 at 5:37 pm
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    We love our babies as hard as we can for as long as we can. The love will always continue.

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  • 07/13/2021 at 5:34 pm
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    So sorry for your loss.

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  • 07/13/2021 at 3:58 pm
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    I am sorry for your loss. Please take comfort that you gave her a good life on a loving home.

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  • 07/13/2021 at 3:26 pm
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    So sorry for your loss.

    A thousand of kibble, a thousand of treats, a thousand of all good things for sweet Morgana.

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  • 07/13/2021 at 3:19 pm
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    I’m so very sorry for your loss. They always leave with a piece of our heart. xo

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  • 07/13/2021 at 3:12 pm
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    A beautiful girl who you lost far too early. She reminds me of my Lucifer, he is so feral, yet he will come to me for belly rubs. And yes…do not wish on his belly, weird things happen. God Bless you and do not fear, for Morgana will be waiting for you.

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  • 07/13/2021 at 1:53 pm
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    I’m sorry that this decision came so quickly.

    Take extra good care of yourselves…

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  • 07/13/2021 at 1:31 pm
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    So sorry for your loss. Sounds like she knew she was loved and that is the greatest gift

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  • 07/13/2021 at 1:22 pm
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    So sorry. She was a lovely lady.

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    • 07/13/2021 at 3:08 pm
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      She’s a beautiful girl! Deepest Condolences!

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      • 07/13/2021 at 3:27 pm
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        I’m so sorry. Morgan was a beautiful girl and you are a wonderful cat mum. It’s so hard to say goodbye. My heart hurts for you and I’m holding you all in my heart. May Morgan be happy and healthy on The Other Side.

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    • 07/13/2021 at 5:07 pm
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      I am so very sorry for your loss. We love our furry friends so much, they teach us so much about life and love, and when it is time to leave us they take a piece of our hearts with them. The emptiness in our lives, when they leave us is full of memories, thank you for sharing them. Beautiful Morgana, rest in the paws of Bast you will live on here, remembered and loved always.

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  • 07/13/2021 at 12:42 pm
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    Tim and I are sorry for your loss. We are feeling your pain. May Bast watch over her and the memories and love bring you joy. We love you.

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    • 07/13/2021 at 12:53 pm
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      No words can amount to this loss. Losing a fur baby to something you have no control over is hunting. No prayers, no sorry for your loss, or even tears of sadness can ease tge pain of loss of the member of the family. In this heartaching time all I can do is send my love and hope that in time that the memories of your happy times out weight this heart breaking moment in time.

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      • 07/13/2021 at 3:15 pm
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        So sorry to hear. The love you show your babiès is a blessing in so many ways,
        Rest easy little one,

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  • 07/13/2021 at 12:23 pm
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    I am so very sorry for your loss.

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    • 07/13/2021 at 2:15 pm
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      They are our kids in so many ways. We lost one of our crew yesterday so we are feeling the same sorrow. May their spirits run free until we meet again. Aho

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      • 07/14/2021 at 4:55 am
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        So sorry for your loss.
        She will always be in your heart like my wee Artemis.
        Blessings.

        Reply

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