In Memory of Pebbles 10/15/2006 – 10/27/2024
The start of Pebbles’ life was less than glamorous. Born to a community kitty, life outside can be uncertain. Food sources can be scarce, predators can loom with dangers around every corner. It seems a less than ideal environment to raise a tiny kitten, but lucky for Pebbles, she and her brother Avery made their way to Shadow Cats in 2006.
2006, can you believe it? Pebbles has been around for over half the lifespan of Shadow Cats! Some of our longstanding volunteers remember the days of her at the old sanctuary. Despite being a little shy, she loved her treats even then, and one of our volunteers, Geri, always made sure to give her a friendly scritch to remind her that human interaction didn’t have to be so scary.
While Pebbles was never much of a people’s cat, she certainly was a cat’s cat! For many years, Pebbles and her friend Tabby were inseparable. It was always a special sight to see, she and Tabby snuggled up into each other like they were warmth-seeking kittens all over again. Eventually, our sweet Violet joined the mix. The three of them would be snuggled up, a watchful eye on the folks coming in and out of Wildside. Heidi would even sometimes join the mix, like they were recording their own feline-friendly version of The Golden Girls.
Unfortunately, Tabby was let go after a neurologic episode our veterinarian was certain was caused by a brain tumor. We weren’t sure how timid Pebbles would recover. Thankfully, eventually, Violet and Pebbles became even closer. When they weren’t snuggled up in a soft bed together, they’d occasionally be spotted sunbathing out on the catio, watching the bunnies hop by together. But we encountered another roadblock in Pebbles’ quality of life.
Pebbles was diagnosed with kidney disease in a progressive stage. The standard treatment is regular fluid therapy, but we weren’t sure the shy old girl would tolerate it. Pebbles surprised us all when we got into a routine with her. She didn’t LOVE the poke, don’t get me wrong, but most days she’d let us do what we needed to do for her without issue. We’d give her the comfort of a blanket to snuggle in and under, and she’d stay still. Honestly, I think it got her a bit more used to being handled.
Which really worked out well for us, because my goodness, this old girl was then diagnosed with airway disease! How in the world were we going to successfully give this girl inhaler treatment!? While she initially despised this treatment even more, eventually…she must have known somewhere in her heart that we were helping her be more comfortable. It was then, I think, that Pebbles branched out a bit more with the staff.
She always loved treats, and even in her old age, when you shook that Temptations box…she’d perk up immediately! You’d even hear a rare meow from her. In the last few months, before her appetite soured, we’d often go into Wildside when we had a little extra wet food left over just to spoil Pebbles. Very often, she would easily gobble up a second plate! It was so precious to watch, mostly due to the fact that she was an incredibly messy eater.
We spotted so many cute moments with this girl, one of them caught on camera by one of our technicians, Gaby. Our shy, reserved Pebbles…rubbing her face on a catnip banana out on the catio! It warmed all of our hearts, knowing this sweet old lady was living her best life. Pebbles had 18 long years, 18 years of never wondering when her next meal would be. 18 years of catio sunbathing. 18 years of cuddling with her best friends. 18 years of being admired like a unicorn in the wild when our shy girl did something special. Pebbles may not have realized it, but she was a testament to how good life at the sanctuary can be. We gave Pebbles our everything.
Unfortunately, time caught up with our dear Pebbles. She was struggling medically, even with treatment, and her friend Violet spent her time cuddling with her out of concern. A rare meow heard from her, asking what was happening to her friend. We knew that our sweet old lady’s time was at an end. Pebbles was held in loving arms. She was purring so loudly, a sound we’d not heard from her before, as we lovingly pet her, and Wildside’s hardest napper slipped into eternal, peaceful sleep. Our girl was ready.
It’s hard, saying goodbye. Even when you know they’ve lived a long, happy life, it’s hard. Pebbles may not have been the snuggliest cat, but that didn’t make her any less special. Pebbles reminds us that no matter how badly we want to pick up and cuddle a precious cat, to love the one that’s in front of us for exactly who she is. And that, we did.
We’re comforted knowing that as Pebbles enters the endless glade where so many precious animals are finally free of pain, her best friend Tabby waits to guide her across the bridge. She can usher her to the finest, lushest cat bed, where the two of them can snuggle once again and swap the best of their gossip. Pebbles, old girl, you’re at peace. Take a deep breath, free of disease, and walk in a body that no longer hurts. With you, you took more love than you ever could’ve realized. And isn’t that all any of us could ask for?
Thank you to the wonderful volunteers who spent so much time with Pebbles, who watched over her through every shade and stage of her life. Thank you to the incredible staff that openly and warmly treated Pebbles, and always made sure to save an extra plate of wet food just for our old girl. Thank you to Pebbles’ sponsors, Dori N, Rebecca K, Alissa C, and Nancy H.
We will always remember the girl who had her dinner on her face, the girl who slept harder than any cat at the sanctuary, the girl who curiously played with toys when she thought no one saw her, the girl who would always meow for a treat. We love you, Pebbles. We always will.
Pebbles has 4 Sponsors
“If Pebbles is not ready for affection then I respect that, yet I want her to know that from a distance someone is thinking of her. And she reminds me of one of my own, Dingo, who arrived as a feral cat and stayed. Dingo has cancer now, and I am happy to have given her a good life and wish the same for Pebbles.”
-Dori Naef
Rebecca Katzenmeyer
Alissa Cannon
Nancy Henry