Losing a beloved cat, or any pet, is always very difficult. Many have found comfort in a poem, author unknown, called The Rainbow Bridge. The first time I read this touching poem of comfort and hope, I cried. Many more tears have been shed upon subsequent reads of The Rainbow Bridge.

For those of you who haven’t read this beautiful poem yet, or for those who have but need or want to read it again, I will post it below. I hope all of you who are going through the grief of losing a beloved fur baby will find as much comfort in The Rainbow Bridge as I have and always do when we are dealing with such a loss.

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The Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown

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Do you believe that our beloved pets join us in the next life? Do you believe in the Rainbow Bridge? I do. I truly believe that if our cats and dogs and other pets were important to us here on earth, then God won’t deny us their presence on the other side.

Many times I have envisioned all our precious angel cats at the Rainbow Bridge - each at their healthiest, doing what they loved here on earth.

There have been other kitties in my life, like the mother and daughter duo I grew up with (Mitten and Ginger), but the following is how I envision the kitties I’ve had and lost as an adult. Mitten and Ginger, too, are basking in the warm sunshine amid the catnip fields found at the Rainbow Bridge.

Chauncy (12-84 to 12-93) is eating cheese and catching food pellets in his mouth, after which he curls up in his current place of choice for an afternoon nap. Once rested he bats and kicks his catnip sock, then carries it around.

Athena (9-84 to 1-89) is doing somersaults and kicking herself under her chin against a wall. When Jewel was a kitten and ran toward Athena, Athena would fall over. Now they both play together in the fields of Rainbow Bridge, just like those days.

Sidney (8-92 to 7-05) is in a field of sweet smelling candles, taking in the aroma and sighing deeply. He absolutely loved good smells, like Yankee candles and plug-in air fresheners. He is also lounging at the Rainbow Bridge spa where he rubs against the many soothing bristles like the cat spa he left behind.

Jordan (5-94 to 11-05) is uttering his famous cross between a purr and a meow, and lightly kneading biscuits on a soft, plush comforter. He brushes against bristles in the catnip fields, taking in the aroma.

Velvet (4-92 to 1-06) is rolling on the concrete, meowing. She darts through the fields at Rainbow Bridge, stops and slowly begins to walk in circles after her tail. Picking up speed, she chases it until she runs into a barrier. At home that was the wall.

Jewel (12-88 to 1-06) wakes up from a nap and begins to meow as she scans the area, looking. Once she spots her special mouse, she picks it up, carries it around and meows in the process. The sound of her purring permeates through the air in her own little corner of Rainbow Bridge.

Serena (9-94 to 6-07) is playing with her pom-pom balls and harvesting another crop of “magic mushrooms.” (When Serena was wild and ran through the house, we joked about her getting into the magic mushrooms.)

At the Rainbow Bridge our beloved angel cats and other pets have all their favorite foods, their favorite toys, and everything their hearts desire. Except us. And one day we will be reunited with them.

What are your precious angel kitties doing at the Rainbow Bridge?

The Rainbow Bridge: Pet Loss Is Heaven's Gain -- Buy from Amazon

© Melissa Knoblett-Aman