In Memoriam - Betsy

30th November 2010

Betsy, Baby, or Buttons as she was first named, was born a Manx who was apparently always terribly timid, an under-thebed girl, who was afraid of loud noises and sudden changes of any kind. After the death of her beloved mother, with whom she slept at night—the only time she came out from under the bed—Betsy, or Buttons as she was called in those days, came to live at BrightHaven with her brothers Oscar and Tiny Treasure on July 7th 2003.

Oscar was a portly, genial Siamese mix and Tiny Treasure the largest, most gentle and sweet tabby cat I have ever had the pleasure of knowing!

When Betsy first came to BrightHaven in 2003, she was a diminutive girl and remained curled in a tiny ball all the time, clearly terrified. She refused to eat or drink and did not respond to being with either TT or Oscar, so finally we took them away and kept her on her own. We kept her in a large cage/condo with the door left wide open so she could come out and explore when ready, but she never did. The day came when finally she disappeared one night and we found her in a cupboard on a shelf in my office. It was the kind of open-fronted unit that housed pull-out lab equipment and so I emptied it, hung a curtain over the front of it and there she remained for a year!

She did finally explore the house and come out a little more, but would always run from most humans and did not socialize at all with other animals although she did not seem afraid of them.

After the move to our current house almost seven years ago, Betsy changed dramatically. Although remaining fearful and in the background, Betsy became more of a family cat and actually would come out to eat sometimes. She was often seen in the living room and seemed to be taking on a new-found strength.

She soon moved into my bedroom – mostly under the bed—but came out often, went into the garden regularly and started to sleep on my bed and then in my arms at night. Betsy, or BetsAnn as she was now nicknamed by Richard, who adored her, and "Bettle my Petal" by me (yes, very silly huh!!), gradually made the change into a loving and cuddly, wonderful girl. On a one to one basis she became demonstrative, assertive and full of love. She would often grab and bite you if you moved your hand away from her too fast, but once still, she would be immediately content again!

In good weather BetsAnn would always be out in the garden, lying on the grass or snoozing on one of her favorite chairs, and any volunteer taking the time to seek her out would be rewarded by her climbing happily into their lap for a long snooze together!

Betsy had a temper. If approached by another cat she would hiss angrily and often spit too. At first I thought this a display of her deep rooted fearful nature, but then I noticed others mostly retreated fearfully from her...maybe a tough little broad after all!!

Bets would really have liked all the other animals to please go away and allow her the luxury of being the only one. She loved to be loved and wanted it all for herself. She hated to share, but improved gradually in time until finally she managed to share my bed with at least 5 other cats close by. She generally loved to sneak in under the covers in my arms and sleep deeply and soundly all night.

Back in 2008 Betsy's health began to deteriorate quickly and so we were thrilled when Dr. Adriana Sagrera was able to take the reins of her care. You may recall reading of dear, tiny little Betsy repeatedly over the last couple of years as we have seen her preparing to leave this earth, only to be surprised as she rebounded to better health again... and then again! Betsy was not about to die until "she" was ready it seemed. Recently, in her early twenties, dear Bets-Ann has been terribly tired, eating less and less each day and sleeping more and more...just like any human approaching the end of their days.

Almost three months ago I felt the need to begin to sleep on the blow up bed at night, close to her, but frequently wondered if maybe she was about to rebound to better health yet again…..not so, and after a night spent as usual in my arms in our much used blow-up bed, Betsy left quickly and sweetly to start her journey to a new life at 6:18am this morning, with Fray, Richard and I in reverent attendance.

In one of these stars I shall be living
~ in one of them I shall be laughing.
And so it will be
~ as if all the stars were laughing when you look at the sky at night.
And there is sweetness
~ in the laughter of all the stars and in the memories of those you love.

–The Little Prince Antoine de saint Exupe'ry

Unexpected travel plans are dancing lessons from God.

–Meher Baba.

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