A little about Leia

 

My baby girl Princess Leia

I was sitting in the back of a van on an October day.  The breeder was holding two female Seal Point Siamese that were 3 months old.  I'd just lost my cat, Claw nine days before and we'd driven halfway down state to decide between these two kittens and which one I wanted.

As the breeder talked, she kept trying to push the one in her left hand towards me.  The kitten was lighter in color and was a bit more spunky.  I paid no attention as my focus was on the skittish one in her right hand.  This kitten was darker in color and was obviously more scared than the other one.  The breeder tried again to sell me the lighter kitten, but my mind was made up.  The breeder was hesitant, but finally agreed.  I received the kitten's purebred lineage papers and my first traditional Seal Point Siamese.  We headed home. 

All that attitude!

As we were driving home, trying to think of a name and Mark says, "Princess Leia."  I laughed, because it fit.  It was perfect.  She was our little Princess.  And yes, Star Wars is my favorite movie!

My love for Siamese goes back to early childhood.  The neighbors that lived in back of us, had two Siamese.  They were quite old cats when I met them.  Their names were Ping and Pong.  Which I always thought were such cool names for the breed.  I was fascinated with them.  I don't remember what kind of interaction I had with them, but I was in love.  

 The Disney classic, "Lady and the Tramp," was another that shaped my interest in the breed. The two Siamese cats that got Lady into all kinds of trouble.  "We are Siamese if you please.  We are Siamese if you don't please," the cats sang.  I was still in love, even though the cats got Lady kick out of the house.  Which was a first for me, because I always rooted for the dog, but these cats had me spellbound.  lol

Claw, my first "Siamese"

And then there was Claw, the cat I had just lost to cancer 9 days earlier.  I had suspected for a while that she was at least part Siamese. Even though she looked like a grey tabby, she had large ears, a long, skinny tail, a sleek body, along with that infamous Siamese screech.  It was Claw and those childhood dreams that lead me to search for a traditional looking Siamese.  Dark face, paws and tail with a lighter body.  And when I left that day with Princess Leia, I stopped grieving for Claw.  It was like they were twins in the same body.  I never lost Claw, I gained Leia with Claw right there. In fact, I used their names interchangeably throughout Leia's life.

Princess Leia was a very quirky cat.  She was skittish, but not afraid.  She was tiny and quick.  She was dainty but bold. She really was a mixed bag.  She had no problem getting around six dogs.  Fiona was especially fascinated with Leia. She didn't chase Leia, but she made it known she could. Leia outmaneuvered her with no problem. 

One time Leia was sniffing Brut's back leg while he lay chewing on a bone.  I held my breath!  Brut and food made him aggressive.  Leia finally left him with no incident.  She could be very brave at times.  

Leia was a hidey cat.  If anyone came over she was gone.  No one but us has ever seen her.  She also ran from us.  She hated being picked up and held.  In typical cat form, it had to be her decision.

Best buds

One of my favorite times with her was when she would lay on my chest.  We would take little naps and she would crawl on me for a little siesta.  She did do something that was weird when I would pet her, Leia would rub her fangs on the back of my hand.  Never knew why.  As she got older and we lost the dogs, she became more insistent with this behavior. Someone I mentioned this to recently, thought it might be a nursing/nurturing behavior.  All I know is that she did it all the time and it was a creepy feeling for me.  

Together forever  ♥

Wherever Princess Leia was, Boxer wasn't too far behind.  These two were quite bonded.  Almost always cuddling together.  Chasing and playing together.  Not to mention surviving the 24 Paws of Love dogs.  Boxer, the bully and Leia the submissive one.  They made a good couple.  

Princess Leia was a strange and unique cat.  She filled my Siamese dreams in all fashions of the breed.  She lived 19 years, 6 months and 22 days with us and I couldn't have asked more.  ♥

Boxer~ May 23, 2005-March 26, 2026

It is with a sad and heavy heart that I share with you that Boxer was put down on March 26.  He fought the good fight against a cancer he didn't deserve, yet beat the odds against it.  He was given 3 months to live, with a rare (for cats) and aggressive cancer.  He lived almost three years since that diagnosis.  Unbelievable.  If there was one thing that boy was, it was being strong willed.  He was such a force of nature.  And an angry one at that.  He was difficult to love being so stubborn, pushy, demanding and obnoxious, but somehow he found a way into my heart.  He was 100% cat...and then some.  And I loved and hated him for that.  Definitely one of a kind.  I'm so grateful that he came into my life for those 20, almost 21 years that he was here.  

Forever in my heart... Boxer-boo    

Blaze- 5 year anniversary

She was our littlest 24 Paw.

She was an avid hunter and full of spitfire.

She had an hyper anxious electricity about her.

We have always been grateful that her previous owners brought her back to us.

She had quite the fascination with Boxer and Leia.

She was loved.

She was Blaze.

And she more than fit her name.

and then some.

Can't believe it has been five years that she has been gone.

Love you Sweet Pea.  ♥

 

Princess Leia~ August 10, 2006-March 4, 2026

 

This past Wednesday I had to make the hardest decision I've ever made.  I had to let go my little Princess Leia.  We got her when she was 3 months old and she lived for 19 years and 5 months.  She had kidney disease for the last 7 years of her life and we managed it with special food and supplements.  The last month she was not doing well and she went into renal failure.  She was the longest living animal I have ever owned, besides Boxer, who's a year older.  I really struggled with making THE decision, but knew in my heart I could not let her go on this way.  And we did the only kind thing we could do for her, by letting her go.  I know she is at peace now and free from her ill-ridden body.  

Run free, baby girl.  I love you ♥

Zappa's 3 year anniversary

 

The first thing I remember about Zappa after he was born, was the mouth he had on him.  OMD!  He had no problem belting it out even as a wee little thing.  lol  He was always running that mouth for whatever he wanted.  The second thing was that he was a momma's boy.  He loved his Momma Dog Silver.  He could always be seen hanging close to her mouth or in her front legs as a newborn.  He remained tight with Silver her entire life.  I have several pics of just the two of them together. 

The third thing I remember about Zappa is when he had stolen the toilet paper roll and when I called him from the lieu, he actually brought it back!  I still giggle over that one.  

The fourth thing I remember was how many times he outsmarted Brut when it came to their challenges.  Zappa knew how to get Brut in trouble, even if he had instigated the situation. It took me a while to catch on to his game.  

There are several other memories and moments with Zappa, but the time period that sticks out the most for me was after losing Blaze, Chance and Fiona in less than 60 days.  How suddenly he was all alone and it was just him and I.  I often wondered why it was that Zappa was the lone survivor.  We had kind of a rough relationship and didn't really know each other.  He was Mark's dog and Brut was mine.  It was a struggle after the loss of the dogs and being alone with Zappa.  That first day after Fiona died, I shared my turkey sandwich with Zappa and it was the beginning of a peace offering.  Together we slowly began the healing process and grieved together.  That one-on-one time with Zappa became precious in so many ways.  I couldn't be more grateful for his strength and endurance to carry on through even after the losses he had.  I got to know him in a way I couldn't with the other dogs around and it was a blessing.  

Zappa was always a mystery to me.  Fiona and him were the only dogs out of the six who had never been abused or neglected.  And with my childhood abuse it was hard to relate to him.  He was on a higher plane, spiritually, and I was sort of intimidated by him.  So, in these last moments of his life, we were actually able to bond and find each other.  Like I said, it was a blessing.  That time gave me a chance to call him friend, which was the best gift of all.  And I've never forgotten.  ♥

Zappa-Dappa-Do.  

Love you forever buddy.  

Dodging the bullet...for now

Had a scare with Boxer this past week.  He wasn't doing well and I had to make THE decision.  The next day I woke up and there he was acting fine and lively.  It turned out he had been constipated and pooped that night and was fine.  Talk about freaking me out!  Constipation is one of the symptoms of anal gland cancer because of the tumor partially blocking the passage way.  This is what my life with Boxer's cancer consist of, monitoring whether he poops or not.  At some point the tumor will get big enough to block the opening  and he will not be able to go.  The scare he gave me this week means we are closer to that point and will try to make THE decision before that happens.  

Boxer is a fighter.  He is the most strong-willed animal I've ever had.  Even compared to Brut.  I have no idea what kind of cat he is, but I know his father was a wild tomcat.  And believe me it shows.  This boy is all out determined to live for as long as possible.  And I am willing to help him until he tells me different.

        

Confessions of a grieving dog mom #4-No one told me I might have resentments

Chevy and the roses of the 24 Paws of Love

The first month with Chevy was bliss...and then I found myself with resentments that I wasn't prepared to have.  I was suddenly in the anger stages of my grief over the 24 Paws of Love.  I loved Chevy, but he wasn't Brut, Silver, Zappa, Fiona, Chance or Blaze.  I didn't realize I had an expectation of finding another Paw.  What made it even more difficult was that Chevy was a complete opposite of the 24 Paws.  In almost every way.  I felt like every day I was losing the 24 Paws faster and faster with Chevy being here.  I never missed six dogs so much in all my life and I struggled to keep my focus on Chevy.  It was a bit of a trying time with Chevy settling in and my resentments.  If it wasn't for the structure Chevy and I were building with feedings, downtime, training, playtime and walks, it would have been a whole lot worse, but we carried on together. 

It wasn't Chevy himself that I was angry at, it was just the fact that we were here at this point in our lives.  The 24 Paws ending and Chevy beginning.  It opened a new wave of grief over the 24 Paws.  Angry for what would never be again.  Angry for what we had and angry for grieving all over on an entirely different level with Chevy here.  I felt like I was in the middle of the Paws and Chevy and couldn't decide which way to go.  My loyalty was being stretch in both directions and my first devotion was always to the Paws while struggling to give my heart to Chevy.  

Chevy was his own dog with his own personality and quirks.  For some reason I thought that Chevy would be part of the 24 Paws of Love in some way, shape or form.  That I would "see" the 24 Paws in him or signs that they were "there" in Chevy.  But I didn't and that made me sad and angry.  Chevy was a total stranger.  As we were to him and that made it harder to not feel disappointed. 

I was looking for an instant spiritual connection that never came and I was crushed.  Except for the color of Chevy's fur matching Zappa's, Chevy was the exact opposite of the 24 Paws.  In mannerism, behavior, spirit, dog breed, disposition, and temperament.  You name it, he was as far from being one of the 24 Paws as could be.  And I was angry about that.  That fact alone took me to a place in my grief I never thought I could be.   

Then the next big bombshell hit...the anniversaries of the deaths of the 24 Paws.  From Silver in January to Brut in June, with the pups in between. Almost every month had an anniversary in it.  I sunk into one of the worst depression I'd had in a long time.  Going through that period of each of the dog's death's and having a new dog.  It was awful.  (I will note that I'm prone to depression.  So, this wasn't new to me, but the combo made it more difficult.) 

At the same time, Chevy and I were bonding through walks, training and playtime.  It was the highlight of my day being with Chevy, through these dark times.  

Then the strangest thing happened in May, after Chance's and Fiona's anniversary's, I started to feel a shift in my mood, that continued to lift me out of my depression.  And I tell you what, normally I'm depressed in the summer as well, but this past summer was one of the best I'd ever had because of Chevy.  He made everything worthwhile because he was there for me and I was there for him.  

My patient, gentle boy

I have come to a place of harmony with the 24 Paws and Chevy.  The 24 Paws can't be Chevy and Chevy isn't the 24 Paws.  It was a difficult discovery to make and was painful on many levels.  To be honest I still have shots of the anger flare up.  It is there, but I talk myself through it and it doesn't last long.  The 24 Paws were in my life for a reason.  They were a lifestyle.  My entire life was consumed with those 6 Husky-mixes.  It has been hard to let that go and let another dog in.  Oh, that doesn't mean they aren't here or I never think about them, the 24 Paws are very much part of my every day life, but expecting another dog to be part of them...isn't going to happen.  The 24 Paws were who they were and Chevy is exactly who he is.  And if I really think about it, I'm very, very grateful for that.    

My two favorite boys

These two....

are so bonded.  

It is incredible and so adorable!  Chevy will follow Mark around the house and give me this quick look that says, "Yep, that's my dad!"  It is so cute.  

Over Thanksgiving and Christmas, they got quite a few hours on the couch together that bonded them even more. 

Chevy isn't one to wake Mark up in the morning, instead Chevy sleeps in with him.  

And when they are together, all rules and discipline go out the window!!  lol  They have a language that is all their own.

Just a boy and his dog.  ♥