The graphic at the top left was created in Shannon's honor by Diane from Diabella Loves Cats, which was one of the first web sites I discovered in the old Mining Company days. Diane has become a good friend over the years, and we have discovered many interests in common.

We offer you our most sincere condolences in this time of sorrow.

We have created a permanent memorial to Shannon with some special mewsic to honor his life and spirit.

We actually based it on a Meditation theme commissioned by the Tao of Meow and re-arranged it to reflect Shannon's nature from your wonderful stories about him. What stuck most in our minds was the wonderful story of the 16 pound cat jumping from a high perch (Shannon's' 7th life). It got us to thinking about what it must have sounded like as he pitter pattered (thumped?) around the house. So the middle section uses some thumping pizzicato strings to tell the tail. The other melodic and contrapuntal treatments reflect the thought best expressed by Asa (Just another Day-- "He loves you." Asa said. "You're his whole world.")

My wonderful forum host Gary, wrote:

The article is very moving and is a fitting public testimonial to the life of a truly wonderful cat. The words that you quoted about what a cat can teach us are so true. Mike has literally changed my life.

I know that right now your world must seem very empty and cold. Please know that as I touch my little Mike sleeping on the couch, both he and I feel a warm glow coming from heaven - that's Shannon.

Up on the Bridge, I'm sure Shannon is answering all sorts of questions that the Bridge Kitties have. I can see them in a semicircle around him, paws eagerly raised. One kitty asks him, "how did you get so good at answering all these cat questions?". And Shannon replies, "it's because of all my years of practice as Assistant Guide to the Cats Site." And a certain Guide down on Earth is beaming with pride, "that's my boy."

I'm so sorry for your loss. What a long and wonderful life he had with you, and such a touching tribute to his memory. I got all choked up. I've lost my three favorite cats over the past four years - it seemed that each "grew into" that favorite place as I needed them to. It hurts like hell and doesn't matter how many times you've gone through it, but I wouldn't want it any other way, and it's the best tribute to how special they are.

We will see them again.

Franny, I'm so very sorry to hear about Shannon. I think we both knew he was biding his time. He had a wonderful life and you did everything you could to help him in his last year...There's nothing you could have done to stop it. I think you made the right decision. He would have relapsed, probably in the middle of the night when you couldn't get him to the vet. It's better that you let him go peacefully than have him go through that again...Remember the good times.

I know Shannon would not want me to mope about and weep, and the knowledge that some day I'm going to be held accountable to him inspires me to move forward and honor his memory by continuing to provide helpful information to other people owned by cats.

My son and I were driving to lunch today when I opened an envelope from the Dean of the University of California School of Veterinary Medicine at Davis, CA. The letter notified me that my veterinarian, Dr. Deitrich, had made a donation to their Companion Animal Memorial Fund in Shannon's memory. This fund supports studies into problems confronting domestic animals.

After I read the letter to my son, he said, "Shannon sure became a well-known cat, mom."

That he was. Well-known and well-loved.