In Memory of Toomy 2/14/2020 – 4/6/2024
Turmeric, affectionately dubbed Toomy, started his life in an alley in Puerto Rico with his 3 siblings: Pepper, Mandarin and Ginger. All of the “Puerto Rican Four” were found and TNR’d by a local rescue, Save a Gato, in 2020. These spunky kittens were neutered, vaccinated, and ready to start their brand new lives! But all four ran into a bump in the road we’re all too familiar with: they tested positive for feline leukemia. Without the necessary resources to house these cats, Save a Gato reached out to Shadow Cats, and we blessedly had the space to intake these sweet kittens.
They hopped on a plane and were on their way! It was a precious sight, to see these adorable brothers lined up at the window in our ISO room, listening to the birds chirping, watching the leaves on trees rustling. They seemed enraptured by the world around them and took nothing for granted. When they joined the Cookie’s Place gang, they fit right in. Toomy played as hard and happily as only a kitten can, spending many years sunning on catios, nibbling on treats, getting up to the standard kitten mischief.
We watched Toomy grow into a delightful, handsome kitty. His brothers couldn’t join him on that journey due to the harsh reality of leukemia and it’s unpredictable nature, but even still Toomy knew a fantastic life and many friends in Cookie’s Place. His favorite thing to do was catch flying treats, either with his paws or his mouth, which surprised even himself some of the time! And though he absolutely hated getting his ears cleaned out, he would totally allow you to do it for the small price of constantly scratching his chin and chest.
Toomy had some favorite spots in Cookie’s Place, sometimes sprawled out with Morris and Saffron, some more precious ginger boys. But when you’d walk into Cookie’s Place, so often it would be Toomy sitting proudly atop the cat scratcher awaiting your affections. He wasn’t the snuggliest boy, preferring to sit beside you than on your lap, but he loved love all the same, and love is exactly what he got during his time at Shadow Cats.
We wish our time with them could last forever, but feline leukemia usually has other plans. Toomy was only four, and leukemia sprouted cancer around his colon—untreatable. Though Toomy received many gifts in his lifetime at Shadow Cats: love, plentiful treats, a ready hand to receive scritches from, many toys and tunnels to play in, sunny catios and sunny smiles, we had one final gift to impart…the most gentle passing.
In Cookie’s Place, surrounded by friendly faces and all of his closest kitty friends, Toomy passed adored, treasured, revered until the last possible moment. Our hearts break in his absence, but now Toomy is free to frolic across the rainbow bridge with his three brothers, free of sickness and knowing only sun, only warmth, the purest feeling and fondest memory.
Thank you to Vista Vet, to our incredible staff, to the volunteers that loved Toomy and anyone who looked at Toomy’s sweet face and felt their heart warm. Thank you to those who sponsored him: Heather H, Pat B, Deborah A, and Rain N. All of you gave our Toomy an incredible life, and for that we’re sincerely thankful.
Toomy had 4 Sponsors
Heather Hudson
Pat Brown
Deborah Anderson
Rain Nox