Waiting for baby birds? – © Colehauscats.com

Every time Mom gets this pillow out, Dad mentions how much he loves the bird nest on it. Now, I might be an indoor girl, but I’m bright enough to know what comes out of bird nests – baby birds!

Don’t mind me today. I’ll just sit here and wait for those baby birds to come a’tweeting.

Anytime, now…

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

We’ve been asked how everyone is handling the loss of mama Zuzu, who was needed at the Bridge one month ago today. We told everyone right after we arrived home, that very day, and shared her final moments again over the course of several days to make sure all the cats understood (to the best we think they would understand anything we say).

Quint was the perfect comfort cat, doling out kisses and hugs, and has taken to sleeping under the covers in our bed in the early morning hours just as Zuzu used to, something he has never done before.

Bed cat Quint – © Colehauscats.com

Tessa started acting out, perhaps sensing our anxiety, and began picking on Viola who is most definitely not one to back down. Tessa spent a full week, plus one weekend on time-out in the master bedroom where, initially, she seemed to look for Zuzu before settling into her usual nap, nap, and more nap routine.

Master Napper Tessa – © Colehauscats.com

Viola, who was bonded with her mama only until she turned seven or eight months old (so independent!), seemed to not want to hear of Zuzu’s passing at first. Four days later, she was extra, extra needy and wandered the house for a day wanting to look into closed closets and rooms, searching perhaps. We spent lots of time with her, told her again what had happened, and she gave us both kisses. She’s usually not a big Dad kisser. She, too, now likes to spend time under the covers in bed in the chilly, early morning hours and like her mama, really enjoys that quiet time before the day officially begins.

Morning bed cat Viola – © Colehauscats.com

Sunny called and seemingly searched for Zuzu for two days before amping up her Zuzu-appointed Patrol Sergeant duties. No one gets smacked or whacked for anything but overly-hyped kitties often get the Sunny death stare and that pretty much cranks that behavior down a notch or two. Ex-Patrol Sergeant Zuzu would be so proud!

Patrol Sergeant Sunny is not amused – © Colehauscats.com

Self appointed patrol deputies Pia and Olivia miss guarding the top of the stairs from allowing Zuzu to pass without demanding documentation. Now, they demand it of each other and hold little conversations that we imagine go something like this:

Pia and Olivia get in your face – © Colehauscats.com

“Oh yeah? So, where’s your passport?”
“Oh, don’t you sound all high and mighty! Where’s yours?”
“I asked you first!”
“And I demanded yours second. Therefore, you have to answer first.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Oh. Yeah.”
“Oh really?”
“Really.”

And then Mom says knock it off and they mumble a bit under their breaths before going off to have the same conversation elsewhere.

Miss Newton and Ruby, who probably spent the most amount of time with Zuzu in the master bedroom, have both taken her passing in stride. Ruby seems a bit more adventurous on those rare occasions when she thinks she wants to wander out of the bedroom to look at other things, but then again, Ruby has always done that during the autumn months. Miss Newton still likes napping during the day and starts howling for Dad-time mid-afternoon. No change there.

Mom no longer “sees” Zuzu around the edges of shadows like she did for the first week but we know Zuzu is watching over us.

Thank you again for all your gentle words and gestures of kindness and comfort during this past month. We are so much stronger because of you.

Angel Zuzu in the shadows – © Colehauscats.com

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A Colehaus Cats flashback:

2016 – No post
2015 – No post
2014 – No post
2013 – Miss Newton’s Basket 2
2012 – No post