In memory of Coco.

I can't believe it's 12 months today since we lost Coco.

In those 12 months I don't think a days passed by without me thinking about him, he was a cheeky chappy with a big attitude.

What Coco did best hunting for food in the fridge.

Coco loved his big sister Sheba.

Coco and Cody waiting to be fed.

Cocos cheeky side drinking my tea when I went on toilet.

Using Cody as a pillow.

Before we adopted Coco he used to follow us to the shops and then walk back home with us and follow us into the house and go upstairs eat Cody's food and then fall asleep.

I keep feeling guilty as if I let Coco down by not getting him to a vet sooner I phoned the emergency vet on Saturday and he said if I can get fluids and some food down him he should be ok to wait until our vet opens on Monday, I expected to get some antibiotics for him but they found a tumour on his kidneys that was to big to operate on so the best option was to end his suffering I never thought when I took him to the vets I wouldn't see him again.

The last photos we ever took of him, at the vets just before we said goodbye.

Coco visited me last night in my dream for a cuddle which was nice.

Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day.

First of all I'd offer a big thank you To Deborah Barnes author of  Zee & Zoey's Cat Chronicles for hosting this event and for the art work on the header. And to Ann Adamus from Zoolatry for bringing the event to our attention.

I really don't know where to start I always get emotional writing these sort of posts and have to stop to wipe away the tears before starting again.

All our fur babes have all been special in there own special way and have all been characters that have brought immense joy, pleasure and laughter.

Millie.

07/2007 - 10/2009

We got Millie as a kitten from second chance rescue, we got told she was 8 weeks old but when we took her to our vets for a check up he  estimated her nearer to 5 weeks and was riddled with ear mites, apperantly she was found on a building site with her dead mother.

She was a sweet little thing that could fit in the palm of your hand when we got her, despite her size she ruled the house and put Sheba in her place I think  that's why Sheba likes cats so much now she's learned to respect them unfortunately it proved to be Millies downfall she thought every dog was loving like Sheba but unfortunately got killed by a neighbours dog after wandering into the wrong garden, We still feel guilty because Millie had been in the back garden while we were gardening but because it was a nice day instead of bringing her in we decided she could have another 30 minutes outside, Millies favourite past time was bringing toads into the house.

Oscar.

07/2007 - 10/2011

Oscar was the quiet one of the family, We got him a week after Millie from the same place he was very shy and used to stay upstairs out the way, he took to Anne straight away but took me about two years to win him around he wouldn't even let me stroke him always running away from me, we think he must of been abused because he was afraid of everything after a lot of perseverance I finally managed to win him around, we got told he was feral so that might of had something to do with it. Sadly we lost Oscar to FeLV we were left with no choice but to end his suffering you could just see it in his eyes that it was time to say good bye.

Coco

Coco was the cheeky chappy of the family very vocal and very loving, we acquired Coco from a neighbour in May 2013 unfortunately we had to say good bye to him last December, we took him to the vets for a check up  and got told he had a tumour on his kidneys and it was to big to do any thing so the  best thing was to say good bye to him. When we took him to the vets I never imagined we would be coming home without him.

One of my favourite photos, Coco giving Sheba a kiss.

Coco helping himself to my tea after removing the tea bag.

 Coco searching the fridge for his ham.

The lovely Ann from Zoolatry created this for us last year which I thought was lovely of her.

One thing we've learned over the years is to take plenty of photos and never take anything for granted because you never know when it might be time to say good bye.

And not forgetting Titch and Gannet our Russian Dwarf hamsters.

And.

Frankie and Deano our rats.

Cocos life.

We got Cocos ashes back yesterday Monday 24/11/2014 the vets also gave us a lovely card. And had a little drink and lit a candle to celebrate his life I think it sounds better than his passing plus Coco wouldn't want us to be sad. He will be pain free and laying down the law now, he wasn't afraid to voice his opinion.

The card and lovely verse from the vets.

Thank you everyone for all your condolences Coco would of felt honoured knowing he was loved the world over and not just locally.

We've decided to plant a rose bush in his memory and scatter some of his ashes in the back garden and to scatter the rest on Conniston water whilst we're away on holiday.

Where we are scattering Cocos ashes it's nice and quiet with a bench to sit and have some quiet time.

Memorial print and plaque for the garden.

Some of the lovely tributes for Coco.

Kindly made by Ann Adamus from Zoolatry

We hadn't had Coco all that long but in the short time we had he left huge paw prints on our hearts.

It was 2 years to the day when Coco first walked through the front door but we didn't adopt him until May last year.

before we adopted Coco whenever we were walking up the road to the shops Coco would always follow us and either Anne or myself would have to wait at the top of the road so he wouldn't follow us to the main road, he would always wait until we were all together again and walk back with us chatting away and jumping up on the wall to give us head rubs. When we got home he would just walk in the house and go upstairs for something to eat and then sleep it off, he was hard faced and cheeky and knew what he wanted and invariably got it, it was his cheeky side which made Sheba like him so much he would never back down to her and was definitely the boss.

Coco had celebrity status around the neighbourhood everyone knew him because of his outgoing friendly nature he would stop for anyone who would offer him a stroke. Coco was a food thief and wouldn't think anything of walking in to a house and helping himself to a chicken or salmon fillet.

Before Coco moved in.

When we adopted Coco we kept him as an indoor cat and he never wanted to go back outside again.

Some photos showing Cocos happy/loving and cheeky side.

One thing our previous pets taught us was to take plenty of photos to go with the memories stored in our heads.

I was really looking forward to this Christmas with him he had settled in and his true character was showing through, one of my fondest memories was making a fish pie and Coco helping me in the kitchen he was chief taster when my back was turned I heard a slurping sound and he was drinking the milk out of the jug, he never failed to make us laugh, I've got to cook Christmas dinner without my little helper now it won't feel the same.

Cody and Sheba have been brilliant in helping us cope with our grief, now to see what surprises 2015 throws up for us, we always seem to get the poorly cats as if someone's saying show them love they've not got long with us.

Until we meet again you will never be forgotten.