by Donna Ploss
My dad adored his cat Tigger. He knew he was dying and made me promise that I would take care of the cat when he passed away.
Tigger was a 28 pound grey tiger tabby/siamese mix who was my dad's best bud. In 1997, my father was found dead in his apartment of an apparent heart attack. He had been dead for approximately 3 days before we found him. Tigger had not been fed during that time. Tigger, being the devoted cat that he was, stayed by my father's side until they removed his body. When the coroner arrived, Tigger growled and would not let him near my dad. I had to physically remove the cat to another room so that the coroner could do his job.
My next worry was Tigger. I knew he had been traumatized by the stench of death and the loss of his human. Yet when he saw me, he started to purr and rub up against me. I took him home that day and kept him in my bedroom with my dad's shirt (with his scent on it) to comfort him, away from my curious cats. That night he slept on my bed right next to me. He followed me all over the place not wanting to leave my side.
A week went by and I still did not know what to do. My cats kept picking on him. I did not want to give him up, as he was the last link to my father, whom I loved with all my heart. I was in a real bind.
My best friend in the whole world, Suzie, who I love like a sister, called me and offered to take him in. That to me was the most honorable thing a friend could do, considering she is not a "cat" person. I took Tigger over that night, along with my dad's shirt and all his cat paraphernalia. I visited him alot over the next few weeks making sure he was okay. My promise to my dad was complete. Tigger had a home, and someone who loved him as much as I did. My friend's daughter, Stephanie, fell in love with him and decided that he was her cat. She played with him, gave him treats and all the love he could possibly want. He lived for over 3 years.
One night while I was at work, Suzie called to say she came home from work to find Tigger had gone to the Rainbow Bridge. She was in a panicked state and didn't know what to do. She said because he was so traumatized when my dad died, she wanted to give him a proper send off. She wrapped his body in a pink blanket and took him to a vet to be cremated. His ashes came back and I put a portion of them where I put some of my father ashes and the rest at sea where the rest of my dad's ashes were scattered. He is now happy, complete and not suffering anymore.
Even though Tigger was the last link I had to my father, I know in my heart that Tigger lived a happy life with Suzie and my promise to my Dad was fulfilled.
Rest in peace, Tigger. See you at the Rainbow Bridge.