It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share after a long struggle with GI lymphoma, our super sweet girl has passed away.

She’s been in our lives here at the store almost since its beginning. This is going to be quite the adjustment — for us and for Willard.

How did the fates conspire to bring us together, you ask? Well… let me tell you. Stop me if you’ve heard this one.

Way back in January 2016, for a few short & wonderful months, we had a store cat named Ben. Found in a parking lot late one night rifling through a fast food bag, he was our very first store cat. We weren’t looking for one, but he fit right in. All three legs of him.

This store cat thing is pretty cool! We have the space, and we definitely have the food — this is awesome! Unfortunately, Ben wasn’t meant to be with us long. In April of ’16, his heart just became too tired, and we soon found ourselves a store without a kitty again.

September ’16 rolls around and we decided it was time for a new store cat. We have the space, right? BUT. Maybe Ben was lonely sometimes… so this time, we’re getting TWO! So they can be buddies!

Our area is fortunate to have so many dedicated rescues, so for our search we started north at True Friends Animal Welfare Center. We put the car in park — let’s just go in and see, right?

Well, in the first three minutes (no exaggeration), we found Willard. From a knee-level kennel, this beefy toothless boy meowed up at us. He was perfect. Big boy cheeks and loved being held by all of us. He checked every box.

Now the search became about finding him the perfect buddy, so on to the big open cat Romper room we went. Two young boys and their mom entered. Some kitties scattered, but some came right up to us in search of head scratches. There she was — a plain tuxedo girl with a little chin goatee and a lightning-bolt zigzag in her fur. But the cutest part? She had half a meow and chirped at you to say hi. I’m making the noise now but id never be able to spell it.

But the big question. Would she and Willard jive?

They sure would.

When she wasn’t finding her way into a box of extra air conditioning filters, she was maneuvering around playing dominoes within the treat shelves. She even found a way to sneak into a freezer one day while we were stocking! What would that fb review look like if we didn’t realize she had jumped in?

Bridgette is going to go down in the books as one of the greats.

Greatest shelf climber. How did she even get up there??

Greatest hairball present leaver. She seriously had sniper-like precision. How many beds did we have to donate after she left her mark? We’re sure to find a hairball time capsule on the tippy top of a back room warehouse shelf someday — maybe when we pull down next holiday’s decorations. Cat people get it.

She was the best chewer-opener of expensive bags of food. Countless bags over the years. I don’t even want to think about the dollars lost.

Best shoulder jumper. How many folks crouching down were ambushed by a kitty who wanted to ride your shoulder like a parrot? Once she realized she could do that, no one was safe!

And most importantly — best buddy to Willard. How on earth is he going to eat all this food by himself now, Bridge? He’s not used to stretching out in his bed so much either.

Thank you to everyone who loved on her, gave her treats, scratched her chin, or simply paused to say hi over the years.

I have to take this opportunity to mention some very important people who came together and truly made this a peaceful time for her final days.

A little behind the scenes - On Thursday, I was on the road for only an hour when I got a call from the girls. Something to the effect of, “We know you just hit the road for Maryland and you’ll be gone for the weekend… but we think it’s time for Bridgette.”

Maybe she was waiting for me to leave. I would miss it

Thank you to True Friends for entrusting not one, but three of the most wonderful kitties to us — Sophie, Bridgette, and Willard. What an era.

Thank you to Dr. Zajac and the staff at Bunker Hill Veterinary Hospital, P.C. You’ve been her vet since her True Friends days and have always provided the most wonderful care for all 3. You didn’t have to stay late on Friday, but like always, you all went the extra mile and ensured there would be no suffering.

To my girls at the store — I’m blown away by your compassion. I know this is technically a job for you, but we’ve woven ourselves into a family, haven’t we. You are truly wonderful human beings. Your warmth and concern for Bridgette during her illness speak volumes about your character. I’m so proud to call you my friends.

Sarah and Jane — Now you two. I don’t even know where to begin. When I couldn’t be there, you didn’t hesitate for a second. You stepped in and carried one of the heaviest burdens for me, taking her to her final appointment while I was out of town. You didn’t try to shield yourselves from the heartbreak of it. Instead, you gave her your whole hearts. You made sure she was surrounded by love, chicken nuggets, Nickies Fabulous Hoagies french fries, and most importantly she was surrounded by familiar voices in her final moments.

One day, when you both finish nursing school, medicine will be better because of caregivers like you. Every patient — two-legged and four-legged alike — will be lucky to be in your care.

Purrfect Adoptions by Denette, thank you for helping us hospice her these last few weeks — from managing her medication schedule to bringing Bridgette some “McDonald’s.”

And today, after writing most of this post while driving back from Maryland, I got to say goodbye to my girl myself.

Here’s how that was made possible…

Lauren R. Calvey at Aspen Meadows Pet Aquamation & Memorial Services — you kept her safe for me and gave me the chance to say goodbye.

From personally picking up Bridgette at the vet to giving me a quiet room to say goodbye privately today — because of you, I was able to see her one last time and take comfort in knowing she was staying close to home, not sent off to some faceless center far at the other end of Pennsylvania.

Pet parents — this is not a subject any of us want to think about but please know, when the time comes, the family at Aspen Meadows is right in Clarks Summit. They will handle your babies with compassion and dignity.

And lastly, to our Bridgette — thank YOU.

You did such a good job, sweetheart.

It’s been almost 10 years with you and getting used to your absence will not happen quickly. No kitty could have done more. Rest in peace buddy. You were so very loved.

We like to think you’re somewhere now, kicking Sophie out of her bed like you used to do.