Bye Bye Smokie “Mokey”

Bye Bye Smokie "Mokey" 1

My entire life, we have been surrounded by animals. Smokie was our first cat after moving out of my grandparent’s home. I was ten when we adopted him from the Animal Rescue League. He was my furball kitty. He was the cat that would cuddle but he was also the cat that would drive you nuts under your feet or jumping on the paper as you were trying to read. It was “his house” and we were the ones in the way.


Smokie recently started having lots of breathing issues and it was obvious he was growing thin. Last week, I held him visiting my mom’s house and knew, “it was coming”. Today, after a spell my Mom could not pet out of him, she took him on to the vet. He was given oxygen and antibiotics and over the day, continued to get worse. Smokie has been fighting to catch his breath and it appeared he might have had what my mom said was an “upper respiratory seizure” making it harder and harder for him to breathe. My Mom made the decision it was time to let Smokie go and he was put to sleep.

I have cried for our kitty today. I remember lots of goofy stories about “Mokey” as we called him while picking on him. He was also “Cafe Mocha” when I was an annoying teenager.

My Mom and brothers planted Smokie under a shade tree on our family acreage. It hurts but I also know he is no longer hurting or fighting to survive. A friend on Facebook sent me the following poem.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….

We love you kitty. Thank you Smokie for being part of our family.

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5 Comments

  1. My heart hurts! 🙁 I had a kitty that I had to give away because hubby was allergic to her when we met but I was still in contact with her new family. The day she passed, I felt weird. I felt ‘off’. I told hubby that something wasn’t right. About 5 minutes later, I got a text from my friend that had my kitty, she was 13, saying she had passed away, but peacefully. I knew something was up. I dread the day with my Milano says goodbye, but I know that she is loved, so very much. I am so sorry for your loss 🙁
    .-= Tanya @ Mommy Goggles´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday- 7 Years- ? =-.

  2. I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s so hard when you’ve grown up with a pet and they’re so much more to you. I felt the same way when my aunt’s dog died when I was in high school. He was 17 (so was I), and he’d been having seizures that he just wasn’t recovering from. We grew up together since I spent summers there. 🙁
    .-= Amanda´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday – Summer Projects =-.

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