6.09.2008

Remembering Muff


Hello fellow fur kitties . . . I thought I would take a moment to introduce you to my fur sister who has crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Her name was Muff and my mom and her husband got Muff from a farm in rural South Carolina in 1978, the year my mom graduated from College. My mom grew up with dogs (a collie and cocker spaniel), but her husband did not like dogs and my mom wanted a pet, so they got a cat. Muff was a gray ball of fur and gave them both great joy. She destroyed two different couches because she did not like to scratch on the given scratching post, but preferred the backs of the couches. When she was a kitten, she had ring worm and my mom "caught" it from her and she lost all of her eye lashes, but she didn't care, because she loved Muff and continued to take care of her.

Muff became a great lap kitty and when my mom would come home from teaching all day, she would lie down to take nap and Muff would curl up right beside her. Muff loved to eat popcorn, ice cream, yogurt, and fresh fish. One day when her dad got a fresh plate of fried fish (I think it was Bass and Crappie), he put the plate down and went to get something to drink and when he got back, Muff was enjoying the fish. I don't think he ever forgave her for that.

At 16 years of age, Muff was diagnosed with Chronic Renal Failure and was only given 6 months to a year to live. She had to have IVs and other medications and appeared to do better. Unfortunately, her dad chose to leave my mom and he took Muff with him. My mom told him that if she had to lose both of them, she would rather lose them at the same time. The interesting thing was that Muff died one month prior to my mom's divorce (after 21 years of marriage) in 1996. I was eight months old when my sister crossed Rainbow Bridge. She was a wonderful Southern Belle and my mom still misses her. One of my mom's former students (a 7th grade student) did a hand painting of her and it still hangs in the hallway. Mom is going to try to scan the picture so all can see it.

Both Mom and I hope to see Muff across the Rainbow Bridge in many years to come. We love you Muff.

Muff Portait
My mom says, "If anyone knows a Josh Summers, who would be about 26 years old and lived in the Irmo area, she sure would like to contact him and thank him for painting this portrait when he was in 7th grade.

17 comments:

Zippy, Sadie, Speedy and M'Gee said...

Oh, Muff sounds like she was a furry nice cat. Dad sez he can't leave mom cuz she'd keep us and he'd miss us to much...den he laffs and mom calls him a butthead.

KC and the Giggleman Kitties said...

Muff does sound very nice. I know you miss her. That is a nice picture of her, too. Wouldn't it be neat if the student sees it and gets in touch.
Purrs,
Missy Blue Eyes

michico*Adan*Lego-小芥*阿丹*樂高 said...

Thank you for introducing us Muff~!

MISS PEACH ~(^.^)~ said...

What a nice story about your dear Muff. We never forget the kitties who filled up our hearts and laps before us, do we. Our memories never die. I am glad your mommy has you sweet little Miss Praline! You are a such a beautiful lady! My mommy is in love with you...
Hugs from Miss Peachy

The Meezers or Billy said...

aww Muff sounds wonderful!! that's a beautiful picture of her too.

Goldie, Shade and Banshee said...

Muff seemed like a real sweetie!

We stopped in to say "HI" and welcome to the CB.

It is great to meet new friends. Especially floofy ones. ;)

purrs, Shade and Goldie

Sabrina, Sam and Simon said...

It is nice to meet you Praline, and to learn about your sisfur Muff. Our brother Max at the Bridge and her can be furriends! The Cat Blogosphere is a fantastic place to meet new kitties, and we will be back to visit you!
Purrs and headbutts,
Sabrina, Sam and Simon

jenianddean said...

That is a great portrait -- definitely something to treasure, and from a 7th grader at that! It was nice to learn about Muff ... it's a good reminder that life is precious, but you know you loved Muff with all your heart when Muff was with you, and that's all that we can ask for.
--Jasper

Robyn and The (Mostly) Badass Cat said...

It was so nice to learn about Muff. Your Mom is lucky she got gotcha'd by Muff and then by you. Some beansa re very lucky.
Purrrrrrrs,
Boni Maroni

Artsy Catsy said...

Oh, Sweet Praline, it's wonderful to meet you, and your Bridge sister Muff, too! We have lots of Bridge kitties and I just know all of them and Muff are great friends, happy and free and playing in the sun. And all of us here are looking forward to being friends with you, too - we've added you to our blogroll!

My bean aunt is a pet portrait artist, and we're amazed that beautiful portrait of Muff was done by a 7th grader!

Purrs,
Rocky
CEO (Cat Executive Officer)
Artsy Catsy

Gemini and Ichiro said...

That was a lovely tribute to Muff. It is very nice to meet you Sweet Praline.

PB 'n J said...

It's alwasy bitter sweet to think of the kitties that went before. That portrait of Muff is very beautiful and it's nice to have such a lovely memory.

But Mommy says that if Daddy tried to take any of us away from her he wouldn't walk right again (we're not sure what that means, but it sounds a bit painful)! :-)

Jans Funny Farm said...

Yes, those that came before will always have a special place in our hearts. Muff sounds like a really nice cat. Your mom probably had leaky eyes as she wrote this, so we're sure you comforted her.

purrs and tail wags

Lux said...

Muff sounds like a wonderful kitty. Lovely picture ...

Just Ducky said...

Hello Miss Praline nice to meet you. Welcome to the blogosphere.

Colby and Cheddar said...

We're sure your Mom is so glad that she has you ever since Muff crossed the Rainbow Bridge. It's so nice to meet you, Praline!

Your name makes Mom think of a joke. There used to be a show called, "The Perils of Pauline," which was even before Mom's time (and she's old). Then, on ANOTHER show called M.A.S.H., someone was eating and mentioned, "The Perils of Pralines".

Dat would be a great name for a story bout you!

Anonymous said...

What a precious kitty Muff was -- she sounds like such a special girl. Thank you for sharing her with us -- and what a lovely portrait of her!

Purrs and snuggles from Marilyn!