Many people have asked me why I would write with such joy and happiness about the death of my beloved pet. I will tell you why and why I don’t mourn for my beautiful friend.

Rizzy’s death was huge for me in a very spiritual enlightening way. Through his passing, Rizzy showed me an incredible miracle!

Simply a Bundle of Pure Love & Fear

Rizzy was a short hair smoky brown cat, and he was pure love. He was joy in motion. He didn’t just walk; he galloped everywhere. He was born with cataracts in his eyes so his vision was very limited and he often ran into things, especially when he was joyfully running through the house.

Rizzy was also very fearful. Due to his limited eyesight, he was scared of loud noises, not being able to identify what caused them. He did not like anyone touching his head. I think he had depth perception problems and could not tell how close you were so he got scared.

Love Wins Over Fear

My daughter loved Rizzy so much. She ignored his fears and would pick him up and hug him, kissing him often and telling him how much she loved him. It took a while, but this eventually wore him down. He began to feel less fear, and he became even more loving and affectionate with us. He would sit at the top of my work chair all day long and periodically rub his head or body on the back of my neck. This was how Rizzy showed me he was there and that he loved me.

What a Beautiful Creature

Rizzy LOVED turkey! It was his favorite food. If he heard the sandwich drawer in the fridge open, he would come bounding into the kitchen, expecting a treat.

Rizzy had many habits, which we grew to love, ways in which he connected with us. He came into the bathroom every time I showered, and he would sit on the counter and wait for me. He would make small noises to make sure I was still in there. I talked to him through the curtain to assure him I was coming out soon. When I finally emerged, he would act like he hadn’t seen me in a year, all loving and excited, like a happy child. He was so sweetly innocent.

The Fall

Last August, Rizzy began to throw up. Not a little, but a lot, every day. I took him to the vet where they determined he had cancer of the stomach or intestine. They gave me medicine to help with the vomiting.

Through September, October and early November, Rizzy just withered away, losing weight and eating less and less. The meds worked for a while helping him to keep whatever food he ate in. But then they stopped working, so I ceased giving them to him. No need to make his last days more miserable. It broke my heart to see him suffering.

Thanksgiving

Two days before Thanksgiving, Rizzy sat on the love seat with me while I ate my breakfast and he looked deeply into my eyes. It was like he was seeing into my soul and pleading with me for help and saying goodbye. I knew then that this was the day, he was ready to go. Soon after he went into the basement and lay down on some old clothes, looking for a place to die. I brought him back upstairs and called the vet.

I had never before lost a pet like this, and I will tell you going through the process of having him put to sleep was gut wrenching and awful. It tore my heart out, and I sobbed the entire time. Thank god I had a friend with me to drive and to speak to the vet’s staff. Poor baby Rizzy looked so little and innocent taking his last few breaths.

Rizzy’s Death

We brought Rizzy’s body back home in a box with some of his toys to bury him. When we returned to my house, my friend went out to dig a hole. I went into the kitchen, and this lovely frosted glass light that I have on the counter was dark, no light. I walked over to it as it is always on, and I touched it, and it lit up beautifully.

I felt a blanket of peace settle upon me, and understood that Rizzy was telling me he was ok. It made saying goodbye to him that day easier.

Painful Reminders Everywhere

Little things made me sad, missing the sound of his bell. He wore a collar with a tiny bell that he loved! Whenever I would get him a new collar, he would patiently wait while I put it on then run all around to hear the jingle.

 

The next day I was about to take a shower, and I felt the sudden loss of Rizzy all over again. He was my shower buddy; now he wouldn’t be there waiting for me. I wondered how long before all of these reminders would stop hurting. We had so many nice things that we did together.

Contact From the Other Side

I took my shower and emerged from the steam. As I dried off, I said out loud “I miss you Rizzy, ” and then I felt my head turn as if being compelled to look at the window. What I saw was an absolute shock and delightful miracle. There was a huge, unmistakable shape of Rizzy’s head on the window. We buried him right outside that window.

I felt a sudden rush of joy and happiness, and certainty Rizzy was still there with me, just not in his old form. He was telling me he still loved me and was right there.

I grabbed my phone and quickly took this picture; I knew no one would ever believe me without it. That shape had never before appeared in that window and it has not since.

Visits From Rizzy

About a week later, I had a vivid dream of Rizzy, and in it, I could feel the softness of his beautiful fur. As I pet him, he morphed into a puppy. I awoke the next morning comforted by the knowledge that Rizzy has chosen to spend his next life as a dog. It makes sense; he often acted more like an excited puppy than a cat.

Since then, I have been visited by Rizzy often in my dreams, and I can see him, feel him and talk to him, like I used to. Whenever I start missing him; I dream of him that evening, and I feel like he is right here still with us.

We Are Forever

I am so grateful to have this “beyond the physical life” connection with my dear friend. He is not lost, he is not gone, he has moved onto something different, and I am happy for him. I am even more joyful about what this lovely gift has shown me; we are forever. Even though our bodies may wither and die, we go on living, learning, growing and loving. I don’t have to be sad I still have my Rizzy in my dreams and my heart.