Crossing the Rainbow Bridge

Saddness has kept us from posting as we grieve the loss of Vladimir, my daughter's 13 year old kitty. He was mercifully put to sleep after a brief and sudden illness. Our veterinarian thinks he was most likely diabetic. Being naturally big, he always was a bit on the plump side. We will miss his clumping footfalls around the house. We could always tell he was coming from two rooms away sounding like he was wearing boots.
Vlad's diabetic condition has given us pause to think about the diets of our other kitties. Cuja Lula Belle is 16 years old has already had a major diet change to wet and raw food when we learned that she too has diabetis. She's much slimer now and although her health is still not perfect, she's not doing too badly for a girl her age. Modesto and Bashat are now being offered a diet similar to hers. (They're not crazy about it, so we have to make the change over slowly to give them time to adjust.)
We have an amazing house that once belonged to a semi-retired veterinarian. They loved all the animals that came into their care and many of their spirits still dwell here. Often, out of the corner of our eyes, we get a quick glance at a black and white Persian type kitty. Today, when I was cleaning upstairs, for just a moment, I saw Vlad sitting in his favorite place by the window and next to him was the black and white kitty. It's nice to know he's still with us.