Cole: Over the Rainbow Bridge

 

Some of you might remember this awesome mancat from my posts many years ago. I met Cole (formerly Coltrane) and Cash (formerly Crash) at Cat Care Society in 2013. I fell in love with the pair immediately! Cole looked a lot like Lita, and I understood and connected with Cash in a way most of the shelter staff didn't. 

Cole endeared everyone to him. I don't know any shelter employee or volunteer who didn't love Cole as much as I did. He was such a sweet and gentle mancat. 

I was spending a lot of time with Jewel in the vet clinic that used to be in the basement of Cat Care's building. After every visit, I'd have to wait for paratransit to show up and take us home, so I'd go up to the shelter and visit the adoptable cats. At least twice a month, I'd go upstairs, find Cole, and if he wasn't with Cash already, I'd pick him up and take him to wherever Cash was. I'd hug Cole and pet Cash and talk to them. Most of the time, Cole smelled nice, as he'd absorb the perfume everyone wore when they carried him around all day. 

I wanted to take Cole and Cash home so much, but my situation simply didn't allow for it. I knew these best friends were a pair of incredibly special mancats. 

Cash and Cole were the best of friends.
Photo credit: Karen. Photo used with permission.

About a week after Jewel passed away, I went to the shelter to visit Cole and Cash to cheer myself up. I was stunned to find out the pair had been adopted and had already gone home. As with so many adoptions for those who work with shelters or rescues, this news was bittersweet for me. Of course I was thrilled that these special boys had a loving home, but I knew I'd miss them terribly! I didn't think I'd ever hear about how they were again, but fortunately, the universe had other plans. 

Knowing how much I loved Cash and Cole, one of the shelter staff introduced me to the amazing woman who adopted Cole and Cash that summer, and a beautiful friendship was born. 

Over the years, I've gotten to hear lots of stories about Cole and Cash in their new home. It turned out, not only did Cole look a lot like Lita, he acted a lot like Lita, too. He loved his people deeply and slept with them at night. He was a bit of a scaredy cat and could often be found hiding when other folks came over to visit with his people. And, he gave amazing hugs! What more could you ask for? 

Today, Mom Karen let me know that she had to say good-bye to Cole. He was 18 years old. His little body had had enough, and it was time to go be with his best friend, Cash, at the Rainbow Bridge. Cash has been waiting for Cole there since 2022. They are together again. Now they can watch over their people together once again until they all meet again. 

I'll miss you, Cole. I love you and Cash, and I'm so grateful for all the wonderful visits we had while you were at Cat Care and all the love and care your forever people gave you. 

Cole

March, 2006–July 2, 2024

Forever Loved