of Kassie

June 28, 1986 - May 21, 2002

We don't know kassie's actual birth date. However we decided that she could use my great-grandmother's birthday, as it would have been close to when Kassie was born. Kassie was adopted from the local Humane Society on October 7, 1986.

I still remember the first night Kassie came to live with me. I had to lock her out of the bedroom because she purred so loudly! She had decided that she wanted to sleep on my head... and purr! Well I couldn't sleep... so had to lock her out of the bedroom! So she decided to sit in the hallway and purr! She finally got used to the fact that she was living here for good, and we both we able to get a good night's sleep. Kassie changed her sleeping habits a few times over the years. The first cute habit was burrowing under the covers. She would get under the covers and sleep there all night long! I used to worry that she would soffocate! As she got older, I guess she decided to stay on top of the covers. The last few years she had her little routine at bedtime. First she would lay on her daddy's chest. Then she would move to the side on the bed next to him. Later in the night she would move to my side of the bed. And there she would spend the rest of the night until it was time to get up in the morning.

In march of 1988, I attempted to adopt a little sister for Kassie. She didn't think that was so great. There were times that Amber and Kassie got along fine as you can see from the picture below. But for the most part I think Amber was intimidated by Kassie. So I decided Amber needed to go to a new home. Of course the ONLY home that I knew she could go to was one where she would be even more spoiled than she was with me: my parent's home! So Amber and I boarded a plane bound for New York so that she could go live with grandma and grandpa and Kassie could once again be an only child!

Kassie was quite adventurous! If she could climb it or jump on it or get in it, she would! Any box, drawer, laundry, etc was always there for HER comfort and enjoyment! Just a few of examples: Kassie on top of the kitchen cupboards and then helping me paint the ceiling beams! Burrowed in her favorite blanket! Hiding in the suitcase and sleeping in a box!

After the big earthquakes in 1992, Kassie became very good at telling me when there would be another aftershock! She would slink along the floor, heading for the bedroom and the safety of being under the bed! On the actual day of the quake was the ONLY time that Kassie EVER got into her crate on her own! I got it out and staged in case I needed it and happened to find her in it!

In 1996 we moved into a new house. Kassie didn't like the change... she spent the first several days living under the bed! Fortunatly she realized it was going to be all right and decided to come out and join the family!

September 1997 we decided it was time to add to the family! So on September 4th we brought home Brie! Kassie wasn't as disgruntled as we thought she would be, but she didn't want too much to do with her. Over time she learned to tolerate Brie and some of the most touching moments were when Kassie would allow Brie to sniff her or she would sniff Brie!

But that wasn't enough! So on July 2, 1999 we brought home Tyler! This was a little different story... as Tyler had been raised with kitties that liked to kiss the puppies. So when Tyler saw Kassie he thought he was going to get kittie kisses... uhm.. No Way! Again time worked and Kassie and Tyler became friends.

It was always quite a chore to get a picture os all three of them together. Try as we might, it usually ended up with Kassie walking away... not wanting any part of the picture taking. We managed to get a few of the three of them together.

And I think this is the only picture of all five of us taken on Christmas Day 2000.

We never had to worry about buying a bunch of kittie toys for Kassie to play with... she didn't really care for them. When she was younger, she would occassionally play with the cat nip bags. She'd get all wound up! Her favorite toys were always ordinary things. She loved the rings that came off the milk bottles. Of course, she loved strings! She also loved to play with emery boards! You could NOT file your nails if she was around.. she would start batting and you'd either have to give up and put it away or give it to her!

Kassie liked to be where we were, so when we were on the computer she was either on one of the desks or in my lap! And only she would decide which desk or which lap it would be!

And now Kassie lives with the angels at Rainbow Bridge. She isn't lonely because she is there with Amber and all the other kitties and doggies.

I know she is watching out for us and waiting.....

We miss you and love you,

mommie, daddy, brie, & tyler

Kassie's original photo page

Rainbow Bridge Poem