by Joyce Lewis
My precious Bandit crossed the Rainbow Bridge on October 6, 1999. Even as I type this, the tears flow because of my grief and loss. Bandit was a "throw away cat" who filled our home with such love and joy. Every day of the four years we had together was priceless. His most special attribute that he was a tail sucker. When he wanted comfort, when he wanted to share special time with you, when he just wanted to "be", he would hop on my lap and walk in a circle then lay down and suck his tail just like a baby nursing a bottle. I had never seen anything like it! My little guy was unlike any other. (My vet tells me there are a few of these very rare creatures out there. Oh well!) We had such fun together. I made him a tunnel out of dinasour fabric. He would run through the tunnel for hours. We screened-in our front porch so that he would have his own safe haven to enjoy the outdoors. He delighted in having me trot to the door every half hour or so to be sure that he was still enjoying himself! How he had me wrapped around his finger (er, paw). Then on October 6, my world came crashing down. Bandit had just finished tail sucking and hopped down off my lap. He turned and looked at me and fell over. I knew instantly that I was losing my little guy. I cried and begged him not to leave me all the way to the vet. I begged the vet to tell me that he was just having a seizure. But in my heart I knew the words "He's gone" were all that could be said. A terrible aneurysm brought an end to my joy. Even tho I now have two little girls named Groucho and Scout filling my heart, there will always be a corner which is occupied by the most wonderful cat ever, BANDIT.
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