Jan 2024 – Noel Staying Warm
Noel has been gone for several weeks now. She was one of our oldest and longest cats. I was thinking about all the events and other animals she lived through in her almost 17 years. She outlived 4 dogs: Squash (2010), Sofie (2022), Louise (2022), and Charles (2023), and left us with 2, Jolie and Bearnard. She outlived her fellow felines Zackary (2010), Cuddles (2010), The Muffin Man (2012), Constance Kitty (2012), and Nine (2022), leaving us with Stella and Mini Cooper. The human children were only in middle and high school when she rescued us and now they are adults with cats of their own. She also had time with multiple Guinea Pigs, Mr. Moto, Georgia, Checkers, and maybe others.
We have been thinking about her a lot these last couple of weeks. Her not being here is very evident.
Dec 2023 – Noel telling Bearnard to get off her spot on the couch
No one really likes to talk about the loss of a beloved pet. No one tells you how much you will cry. That a companion will leave a hole in your heart way bigger than their little 10-pound body.
Oh, and then there is the guilt. Few of us are lucky enough to have our animals pass away peacefully in their sleep. So we feel guilty that we had to ‘put them down,’ or that we ‘let them die.’ Guilty that we didn’t play with them enough or didn’t pet them enough, or this, or that, or any one of a million possible things we could feel guilty for.
No one tells you that you will second guess almost everything you’ve done since they were a kitten. Did we give her the right food for her particular issues? Did she have issues? Should we have done more?
Look Mom, I brought you some birds!
The one thing I can tell you about grief and loss and the continued ebb and flow of missing Noel after being with her daily for 16 years, 10 months, and a bunch of days, is that she is burned into my memory and heart forever.
We all grieve differently, but grieve we do. So if you have ever lost a pet, or several, I offer you my heartfelt condolences. Please know that over time your sadness will lessen and your tears will flow less. And know that the best thing you can do for you, and to honor their memory, is to go on and not get lost in that sadness. For me, I go and hug my other dogs and cats and humans, and let the love that I felt for Noel translate into even deeper love for the others.
Here’s to you Queen Noel: Your memory is a blessing. “yehi zichra baruch”
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: Blog, cat blog, DogDaz, grief, lorian lipton, losing a pet, Pet, pets, rainbow bridge, white cat
Noel, the Christmas Cat, here. I know you heard some stories about the stupid dogs during the holidays, but no matter what I put in their path (chocolate, garbage, and other dog-killing things) they seem indestructible.
I, on the other hand, had a wonderful holiday and Mom has started to give me some extra yummy wet food (I am not supposed to know that there is medication hidden in it). V calls me ‘Poodle Paw’ because the fur on my leg, where the IV was when I had my teeth cleaned, is finally growing back in, but really slowly. Since Mom realized that Jolie was sneaking onto the kitchen table and stealing my food, which has been solved, I get my full servings – though I always cry for more.
I hope that you got everything you wanted for the holidays. Even though I can’t get rid of those darn dogs, I will continue to remind them who is Queen.
Have an awesome start to 2024!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Blog, cats, Cats and Dogs, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, lorian lipton, Pet, pets, white cat
We are waiting and hoping that our stockings will be filled with wonderful treats and toys. Mom said that if we are extra good and behave ourselves the next few weeks there may be a special holiday dinner in our future. We are thinking sweet potatoes and turkey, maybe even green beans (we love those).
It’s almost time!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Blog, Cat, cat rescue, Christmas and holiday season, dog, Dog People, dog rescue, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, lorian lipton, Pet, pets, white cat
Dementia does interesting things to animals. It appears that Noel at almost 17, has decided that she is a dog. Don’t get me wrong, she screams like a cat, constantly and continually, but she is behaving more and more like a dog.
She waits at the top of the stairs with them (Bearnard is hidden next to Jolie). Many times she is there by herself.
She even tried to join in when the dogs were playing with their Snuffle mats (and luckily they just ignored her). The Littles are not in the least bit food aggressive, so Noel being close does not cause a ruckus (thank goodness!)
She has taken over Charles’ spot (our recently deceased PomChi) on the couch and now, I guess she is just running with the pack.
Mini Cooper on the other hand finds the dogs ridiculous!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Cat, cat blog, cat dementia, cat senility, Dog People, dog rescue, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, dogs and cats, lorian lipton, papillon mix, Pet, pets, shih tzu mix, white cat
Noel here:
Is there a reason that this new demon dog is in my spot?
Get out you darn dog!
How dare he think he can have the run of the place!
Pretty soon I am going to have to put this youngin’ in his place.
You better Watch out, BEARnard – Queen Noel rules the zoo (now and always).
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Cat, cat blog, Cats and Dogs, dog, Dog People, dog rescue, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, lorian lipton, Pet, pets, white cat
A cat’s life is just so purrfect. Sleep 18 to 20 hours of the day and eat or bathe the rest of the time. I have said it before and I will say it again, I want to come back as Noel.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Blog, cat blog, cat rescue, cats, DogDaz, domestic short hair, lorian lipton, Pet, pets, white cat
Noel stares at us from the window in the kitchen. She sits on the kitchen table while we are watching TV in the living room and starts to throw things on the floor, eat napkins, and chew on anything on the table (like the plastic windows of envelopes). She has actually figured out how to open the lid on the dog treat containers. Lately I have left the food processor on the table because I use it a lot, so she now likes to bat at it to make noise. MEOW OUT LOUD!!!
This can go on for hours (this picture is 10 minutes after the first one). Even if you give her a snack she will start up again a few minutes later.
Why aren’t you paying attention???? Why aren’t you feeding me more snacks??? Why, why, why, why, why??
If I ignore her long enough she actually comes into the living room, jumps up on the coffee table, and tries to get in my face about her need for more food. “Meow, meow, meoooooww, meooooow!”
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Please note that lately, she is weighing in much too heavy for someone almost 16 years old; so don’t think she is malnourished.
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PS: She sings at 3 AM for at least 20 minutes and again, of course, when I get up at 5ish if I am not fast enough to the kitchen food bowls. Sometimes she does this in the middle of the day but mostly that is her sleep time.
What kind of mischief did you get into today?
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Cat, catblog, DogDaz, lorian lipton, Mischief Monday, Pet, pets, white cat
Queen Noel very rarely suns herself at the front door anymore. Her habits have changed a great deal with her age (now 15 1/2). She mostly stays up in her herb window or on Mom’s recliner in the living room. But today, she was there to meet the Littles as they returned from a crisp fall walk. Charles even brought a whole dead branch as an offering to the Queen.
Oh, BTW, I noticed that the dog art on the front door has now moved down from the Louise and Sofie level in the middle to the lower level with the Littles. Noel doesn’t care -she likes the view no matter what.
Have a Wonderful Wednesday!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Blog, Cat, Cats and Dogs, dog, Dog People, dog rescue, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, lorian lipton, Pet, pets, white cat
DogDaz Zoo 