I started rescuing cats by accident, when a cat/dog rescue lady asked me to pick up a cat for her Rescue. I ended up keeping her. By a year later, I had another cat from the Pound and by two years later, I had taken in many cats from the lady, who was no longer able to care for the animals in her possession. One of these was a feral cat, "Mommy" and her 4 feral kittens. I adopted out all the kittens except for one boy, who didn't want to go anywhere else. I have have about 12 cats and kittens living with me at any one time over the past 4 years, plus foster cats/kittens intermittently. "Mommy" could never be tamed and she hid all the time, yet she lived with me for 4 years. She is a "true feral" - never lived with people and so truly wild. I took her in after I got her to get her tail amputated, as it was hanging by a thread due to an injury. She hated me, but I loved her as she was a touch of wilderness in the big city. She died this morning. I held her for the first time after her death as her son looked on. She will be buried in a pet cemetery. I was devastated and loved her deeply, especially because she could not love back. What a miracle when I attended church tonight and what was the entrance hymn but "All Creatures of our God and King" based on St. Francis's "Canticle of the Son." It was as if Mommy was sending it to me. I also had a friend praying for me - and the friend just lost her own feral cat this week. It was a true gift to hear that song on the same die Mommy died. I have never believed in animals sending us things from beyond the grave but since Mommy was so in tune with Nature, I feel like it is God's Nature who was truly sending me this gift of a hymn, which I sang with joy. God bless Mommy and all creatures . . . of our God and King. Thank you St. Francis.

Chicago, IL
Saturday, August 20, 2011