There was an old woman who lived in a shoe
She had so many cats she didn?t know what to do.
A few days ago my granddaughter Emma and I were out in the front yard welcoming the latest edition to our cat family. A friend was riding by and hollered out the window, ?You?re the old woman who lived in a shoe.? I don?t know what in the world she could have been talking about. Surely it wasn?t the fact that there were a half-dozen cats and kittens surrounding me.
I admit it. I have a weakness for poor little kitties. I have probably adopted at least a hundred in my life. Right now I have Gray-Gray, Twin, Fluffy Cheeks, Rabbit, Rose, Annie the orphan, and Carmel who has no tail. Then there are the strays that come and go, Yeller and her kitten Yeller, Big Jaws, Butterscotch, Gray Tom, Orange-White Tom, and yet another huge yellow Tom. Emma gives them most of their names.
All together there are about fifteen cats that are either full or part time residents of?Byrd?s Cathouse, Bed and Breakfast. Some kittens, like Annie have been dumped out because people know me, and know I?ll feed them. One man even admitted he had dropped cats off at my house. And others like Carmel I adopted because the owners didn?t want him, or maybe because I have a major weakness for bob-tailed cats. Some are neighbor?s cats, and others like Yeller and her kitten are just wild cats that have lived here longer than I have.
A couple of years ago my husband found a beautiful little solid white kitten taped up in a shoebox. Can you believe that? I know everyone is not a cat lover. In fact I know people who simple hate cats. I?ve heard horrible stories about people shooting cats for sport, or running over them on purpose.
Cats are very special animals. Most are smart and loving. They even recognize their names. Each cat has it?s own personality. Some cats want to be rubbed on all the time and others are distant. Each little kitty is unique in his or her own way, just like us. I have had cats that were mean and ornery. I?ve even had cats that didn?t take care of their babies. But, I?ve also had mommy cats that would care for other mommy?s kittens. Gray-Gray, my oldest mommy has let three different litters nurse at the same time.
All my cats stay outdoors, but I did have one that I kept inside for thirteen years. His name was Hecliff and even though he?s been gone since July 20, 1998 he still lives on in our memory. Hecliff was a full-blooded Manx. He had no tail and his hind legs were a bit longer than his front ones, as is common for that breed. Hecliff had a horrible disposition. He would let you rub him on the head, but if you ventured toward his back or belly he would tear you up. He was not a people person. Friends and family knew they didn?t mess with Hecliff. I still miss him sleeping at my feet. But I don?t miss his clawing at my toes when I moved them under the covers.
Animals are so important to God that He created them even before He created Man. God did however appoint man to have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Doesn?t that mean we are to take care of God?s creation?
What happens to animals when they die? Do they go to heaven? Who knows? Maybe, maybe not. The Bible doesn?t explain this to us. In the book, Heaven is for Real, little Colton says he saw animals in heaven just like on earth. Will old Hecliff be waiting on me when I walk through the gates into heaven? Will all the cats that I?ve cared for be there? Lord only knows, but if they are I?ll truly be the little old woman who had so many cats she didn?t know what to do. For I have loved hundreds.
Kitty cat, kitty cat, come play with me.
Stop chasing that mouse in the field,
And the bird in the tree.
Kitty cat, kitty cat, come play with me.
Genesis: 1:25
And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
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Three years ago this coming September, my 14 1/2 year old yellow lab Brandy died. I couldn’t stop crying. Every day for 3 months straight, I cried and was so sad I missed her so much. Then one 5:00 morning I was woken up by her barking very loud in our downstairs foyer. As I lay in bed listening and now being very alert, I heard her bark again this time outside on the front porch. Her bark was a very happy bark and I felt she was telling me I’m happy, don’t cry. God took her to heaven along with all the other innocent creatures He created who have died. I know all My pets are in heaven and God felt my pain and sent Brandy to tell me she is happy in heaven.
Three years ago this coming September, my 14 1/2 year old yellow lab Brandy died. I couldn’t stop crying. Every day for 3 months straight, I cried and was so sad I missed her so much. Then one 5:00 morning I was woken up by her barking very loud in our downstairs foyer. As I lay in bed listening and now being very alert, I heard her bark again, this time outside on the front porch by the front door. Her bark was a very happy bark and I felt she was telling me, I’m happy, don’t cry. God took her to heaven along with all the other creatures He created, no matter if they are someone’s pets or not. God loves His creatures, after all He created them for His glory. The bible states when there will be a new heaven and a new earth, the lion will lie down with the lamb, that says it all. Yes, there is a heaven for all God’s creatures, I know.