Goodbye.

Posted by Cecil the Cougar: at 6:54 PM

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Hi Everyone,

This is my last post.

I am really sorry to leave the cat blogosphere behind. I have been truly inspired by your generosity towards each other, and I feel blessed to have been a part of this for the past couple months.

I have enjoyed reading all of your posts and will miss blogging tremendously. It has been a very fun past couple of months. I feel like I know all of you and your "mommies." The internet has a great ability to bring people with common interests together. Sometimes I feel like I have more in common with each of you, then some of the people in my real life... it's so true that only other cat-people can understand each other.

I will still be running Feline Direct and still sending out the Mewsletter. Unfortunately the personality of Cecil the Cougar is going away. There are people in my life who do not understand this hobby... I am not sure how I will go about continuing Phi Theta Gatos. I will have to speak to Crystal (Moki's mom regarding it). I will not let it disappear, but it may have to undergo some changes.

I will miss you all and be constantly wondering how you are doing.

So here is my tearful goodbye,

Kristina (Cecil's human mom)

If you need to get in touch with me regarding Feline Direct or Phi Theta Gatos please feel free to email me at kristina@felinedirect.com .

PS: A special thank you to Daisy the Curly Cat and her Mommie for introducing me to all of you. It has been a sincere pleasure.

Circle, Circle
Dot, Dot
Now you have your Cooties shot.

73 opinions:

Moki The Wobbly Cat said...

Oh NO! You can't leave us Cecil!!! We will miss you way to much...No, no, no! You simply can't go!

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

i will sure miss you honey...

smiles, auntie bee
xoxoxoxoxooxxoxoxooxxo

Daisy said...

Oh Cecil, I will miss you terribly! I want you to know how much I have enjoyed your blog and sweet personality. I wish you much love and happiness in your life. And should you ever decide to return, we will be waiting with open paws.

ps: Are you sure we cannot change your mind?

JB's Big and Small Worlds said...

No!! Cecil, is this true? I just got back to blogging as my mom got home today. I am so sorry to hear this news, but I guess I understand too. My daddy can not understand why my mom and I spend so much time on the computer....
We will miss you so so much and we will miss your reports. Maybe someday you can come back to the blogosphere.
Tears and Purrs,
JB

SophieKitty said...

Cecil! You can't go away! I will really miss reading about what you are up to. I am so glad I got to meet you and hope you decide to return someday. Love, SophieKitty.

Angel Junior, Orion and Sammy said...

Oh please don't go. I love having you here! Please, please stay! Please!

I am sorry those poeple in your life don't understand this hobby. I really hope you stay.

Anonymous said...

this is so sad! we're going to miss you. Rascal & Riley were looking forward to celebrating their first birthday with you too. please don't leave.

Zippy, Sadie, Speedy and M'Gee said...

No Cecil, yoo and yoor mommy are too importint to all of us to go away! Please don't stop, other people sed mommy was crazy to give us kitties a blog and she just sed "you have hobbies I think are strange, cost a lot of money and make your family wish for more of your time. I never say anything about them because what you enjoy is what you enjoy. Now shut up"

Just Ducky said...

Don't go Cecil and mum. Just because people don't understand, doesn't mean you have to stop.

Do what you love! Don't worry about the opinions of those who do not understand.

Purrs,

Derby

Victor Tabbycat said...

Oh, Cecil, I's furry sad fur u an yur Mom if you gif up bloggin cuz ofurs don't unnerstand. Mom don't unnerstand some ofur hobbies, but she don't make people stop. This hobby is cheap, safe, an creatif. We'll miss you lots!

Spike William and Angels China Cat and Willow said...

Oh no, Willow and I will miss you! Like some others said, my Lap Lady has friends and family who do not understand our blogging hobby. We hope that you will not leave because of any others. But we do wish you happiness in whatever you do.

Purrrrrrrrs, China Cat

meemsnyc said...

Oh no! Cecil, we love reading about your adventures. We will miss you! Take care of your mommy.

Samantha & Mom said...

Oh Cecil and Mom we will miss you! We love your blog! And your birthday was the same day as our mom's! Good luck in whatever you do and we still want to get the Mewsletter and we'll read Feline Direct! ((((((hugs))))))
Your FL furiends,

Gemini and Ichiro said...

My human says no one understands her either, but who really cares? We would hope that perhaps some day you will change your mind and stay with us.

Robyn and The (Mostly) Badass Cat said...

Oh no :( Some beans are not nice. We will miss yoo so much and hopes yoo can come say hi to everycat sumetimes. We hopes yoo can change yore bean's mind sometime too.
Lots Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrs and hugs,
The Hotties and Mom Robyn

Angel MoMo and Charlotte said...

I am sorry to see you leaving. Hope you will come back. All the best! You will be missed.

Tara said...

Cecil's Mom, I'm really sorry you have felt it necessary to bow to the pressure of those who are not understanding. I too have felt that a bit, and it can be very difficult to keep up with the blogging. I hope after time you will change your mind, and you and Cecil will return.

Tara's Mom

jenianddean said...

Oh Cecil and Mom Kristina - we are all going to miss you! We are so sad to see you all leave us, but as Daisy said "And should you ever decide to return, we will be waiting with open paws." Please know you will always have a special place to come where you are accepted for who you are....

Purrs and best wishes!
-Jasper, Josie, Huggy Bear and Maggie McKitten-Cat

jenianddean said...

PS I'm glad your cooties shot worked!! :)

-Jasper McKitten-Cat

Anonymous said...

Hi Cecil and Kristina,

If you enjoy the blog, we really hope that you continue. We enjoy reading about your adventures. Other people have hobbies we don't understand, so why can't we have one they don't understand? smiles

Even though my kitties don't blog, we all enjoy reading about what other kitties are doing and I agree with you that the community is great.

head butts from Charlemagne and Tamar, (and Mommy Colleen who types for them)

The Cat Realm said...

No, no, no Cecil. We will not accept this! Your blog is way to wonderful and valuable and entertaining and much much more to discontinue it! If you do not want to blog daily but just a cuple of times a week - now that would be acceptable. But going away - NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, please!
Karl, Emil and Mrs. OZ

Felix, Garfield & Jawsy said...

Cecil, we are missing u aredi!
We love what you brought to the cat blogosphere; big personality, nuggets of info and most of all, a caring and loving heart.
Come back soon!
Purrs and Headbutt to you and Mombean Kristina.

Astrid (…and the kitties too) said...

No no no no!
We werer just coming to say thank you so much for your package it finally arrived and momma finally gotted to take some pics and promised to post about thems this weekend.
now we must read that you are leaving.
K&O

did anyone hurt your feelings?
well it's your hobby - to be honest most of my family and friends don't understand this cat blogging hobby as well - but at east they say if it makes you happy it is fine with us... but it was a hard way argumenting through this for me too. ;o)
don't let other spoil your fun and happiness, that's what I had to learn...

All I can say is I loved to read your blog from the moment you and Cecil appeared in the cat community. and I'd miss you both badly.

as all the others before us said: we'd love you to stay but if not we will welcome you with open haerts hands and paws if you should decide tocome back anytime...

Astrid (and the boys Kashim & Othello of course)

The Meezers or Billy said...

oh Cecil - please don't go. our eyes is all leaky over losing a furriend!!! Cecil's mom, we are so sorry that you feel sad and hurt. what can we do to help you? we just don't want you to go!

Louche Tabby said...

......ahem.....THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN........it is your way of relaxing......and my god....there are stranger hobbies in this world than blogging about a cat!......plase do not be controlled........if it is taking away from your studies, fair enough....Kismet's mom is at grad skool and they only post as and when studies permit....and as Cecil ia a journalist he can only post as and when mews happens which isn't necessarily every day....I cannot believe someone wants you to stop having innocent fun?!....ther are far more sinister things going on on the internet than the Cat Blogsphere.....Peas don't leave us....

Diamond Emerald-Eyes said...

You're giving in to peer pressure because of some people who don't understand you? I have news for you human, other people will never understand you. Cecil is a part of this community and cutting his fuzzy little self off the internet is cruel to him and to the rest of the online community. There has been a lot of good publicity about cat/dog/hamster blogging of late and maybe you should be reading it. And if your friends don't understand you, perhaps they should be reading it as well.

We will miss Cecil, but we will not miss his human mom.

Anonymous said...

We sure will miss you, Cecil. Your Cougar Stripeys were just about Stripey enough, too! We hope you & your Mommie have the best and happiest life! We wish you all the best, always.

Parker said...

Well this has made my eyes leak. I don't know who the people are that don't understand why you like to blog, but I'm sorry for them too.
We'll be here if you need us.
I really like you Cecil - I'm glad you got your cooties shot!

Memories of Eric and Flynn said...

Cecil we don't want you to go just cuz some people don't unnerstand why you want to blog. We like reading about you. If it's cuz of the amount of time it takes up, maybe you could have a Cecil Day once a week. We hope you will still visit when you have time.
Purrs furrom Eric and Flynn

Goldie, Shade and Banshee said...

Cecil and your Mom, please reconsider. If this brings you both happiness and you have a bit of fun, who is it hurting? I know some people think I have gone a bit nutty in the head for this cat blog business but I think of it as writing a book of sorts, each post is a new chapter. It's a way of being creative and it helps me relax and escape a bit from this crazy busy world sometimes. Would they rather you started online gambling to pass the time?

You both are sweet and I would hate to never read about your adventures again.

If you need to talk to anyone, please don't hestitate to email me, I hear a lot of sadness in that post and it breaks my heart.

purrs, Danica~ Goldie and Shade's PM

Poppy Q said...

Sorry to hear you have to go. Please drop by and visit any time. I will miss you, you have been a great part of the CB.

Good luck and I hope things work out for you both.

Poppy Q

Boy said...

Oh no Cecil! Don't go away!!!
We'll miss you tewwibwy!
I gotted the Phi Theta Gatos badge alweady.
You sure you weawwy are going to weave us Cecil? No pwease no!!!

Beethoven said...

How can you go away Cecil? Don't go! I is going to cry and not stop crying if you goes away! And if I do not stops crying, the Giant Kitty is going to whap me!

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

Cecil
We were so saddened to read this posting by your Momma. We already miss you terribly. We wish you could stay and blog with us. Follow your heart Kristina. We will continue to hold onto your return to us.

Keep your tail held high Cecil!
Here's our five tail salute to you...

Purrs
Abby
Boo
Ping
Jinx
Gracie and Mom Debra

Titus said...

Please don't go!

Sabrina, Sam and Simon said...

Cecil, we don't want you to go :( We wanted to be able to see you grow up into a wonderful mancat. Our Momma has leaky eyes because she doesn't understand how some humans can be so judgemental about other humans' business. But if you ultimately really do have to leave the CB, we wish you the best ...
Purrs and headbutts,
Sabrina, Sam, Simon and Momma Jan

Monty Q. Kat said...

Wait, what happened?!? What did I miss?? DON'T LEAVE.

Tiki, Kirby, and StanLee said...

Cecil, please don't go. We will all miss you.

LZ said...

I do hope there are other reasons other than people not approving. The Woman used to be self conscious of helping us blog but long ago she decided that its just too fun and enjoyable and people can go suck on eggs. We will miss you but all things in life change, we wish you the best in life!

All of us

Jimmy Joe said...

Oh man, Cecil, this is bad news. We will really miss you if you leave the Blogosphere for good. I hope you and your momma can work something out. Good luck, great buddy.
Your buddy, Jimmy Joe

momsbusy said...

we really wish you would reconsider. my hubby thinks i am "a bit wierd" in my cat blogging. i reminded him that it costs nothing but a bit of my time. his hobby costs lots of $ and lots of time (his and mine). so now he says nothing and accepts that it makes me happy to blog and read the other blogs.

i have loved to read cecil's antics and see his pics. he is adorable and has such a purrsonality. please reconsider.

y2k & momsbusy

PB 'n J said...

We agree with everything everykitty has already said! Our Mommy was once worried about such things, but she decided that it brought us all so much joy that it really didn't matter what others thought.

We hope that you reconsider, but if you must go we will be here if you decide to return!

Purrs and hugs
Pearl, Bert, Jake and Mommy

Anonymous said...

It sounds as though you're in a tough situation and made a difficult decision. You have also learned in a short time that there are a lot of people who care about what goes on in the life of a cat, and our attitude is "If you love cats, you're my friend."

Wishing you all the best...

Jans Funny Farm said...

Kristina, It is sad to read your farewell message. We have really enjoyed your Cecil posts and wish there could be more. We've read the other comments and agree with Diamond Emerald-Eyes -- we will miss you but we're glad your mom will still be around doing Feline Direct and the Mewsletter.

Mr. Hendrix said...

whoa whoa whoa, this is a late April Fools gag right?
Are you going to let closeminded people keep you from doing something you enjoy so much? My mommy gets teased about blogging for me sometimes, but she says "Hey, my life isn't all that interesting, unless you veiw it thru the eyes of my cat." And people generally get it. This is a creative outlet and a fun way to meet good and caring people.

Bendrix and I really hope you change your mind. We're glad you're still going to be around, but it won't be the same...

Emma's Kat said...

I so agree w/everyone Cecil! Rosie said it purrfectly. It is your way of relaxing and if you enjoy it then, please don't let someone else take that away! Emma and I are just getting to know you! We again, will understand if u do decide to leave and we too will keep open arms and paws for your return... :(

-Emma's Kat, Marley, Emma, Benji & Sammie

Artsy Catsy said...

Oh, Cecil & Kristina, please reconsider your decision to leave! It's so hard if the people who don't understand are people you love or people you work for, but in the end the really important thing is 'to thine own self be true.'

There were people in my life who didn't understand our decision to blog, but eventually came to realize it wasn't just a hobby, but a way to make friends, to connect with and help others. How could anyone object to that?

We hope fervently that you won't have to bend to pressure, but if there's no way around it, we want you to know how much we've enjoyed knowing you, and we'll be here for you if we can help in any way ... and we won't stop hoping for your return!

Rocky, Sharolyn & all of us at Artsy Catsy

The Cat Realm said...

Have you re-considered yet??? We sure hope so.... And all the others are so right: cat blogging not only is an innocent hobby but it is creative and cheap and brings people together. Yes, REAL people, like my maid visited asta's mom and asta's humans visited opus and roscoe's mom and and and...
We so hope you will stay - even if you just post once or twice a week...
PLEEEEEEEEASE????
Karl Emil and Mrs. OZ
and the maid and the butler

Tiger Lily said...

Oh Cecil, we hope you reconsider and decide to stay with us after all! We will miss you so very much if you leave.

There are some people who laugh at my Mom and think she is even weirder than she was before because she helps me blog. She has decided she does not care!

We read a lot of blogs every day even though we do not have time to comment on all of them and we hope others do the same for my blog. It may be a tenuous connection but we do believe most of us are friends we otherwise would probably never have met.

If you really must go we will understand but we will be very sad about it and will hope you come back some day.

Your friends,
Jemima, Zeke, Sushi, Tiger Lily and Ruckus
and their people

L. Alida said...

Oh Kristina and Cecil, my heart is breaking! My tears are falling onto Billie's fur as I type this. This is so upsetting. You have become very special friends to me and I will miss you terribly! You need to do what is best for you right now. I understand. It's just that Cecil is so adorable and it has been such a sweet experience seeing him grow up. Thank you for sharing that. Please give him a kiss on his little M for me. Maybe you could give me an occasional update if you would like. I really consider you a friend. lfeecat@jasnetworks.net That's my e-mail.
I will miss that sweet little face so much!
Love and Hugs and Gentle Purrs,
Lorianna

The Lee County Clowder said...

We think Zippy, Sadie and Speedy said it best: "you have hobbies I think are strange, cost a lot of money and make your family wish for more of your time. I never say anything about them because what you enjoy is what you enjoy. Now shut up" That might be a bit blunt, but it gets the message across.

We're all hoping that you can at least post an occasional update, and keep commenting on blogs. Please.

If nothing else, maybe Kristina can send an occasional note to the Cat Blogosphere when she visits the local library.

ppuurrrrrrrrrrrr

Unknown said...

Oh NO! Please don't go! Couldn't you just blog a little less often rather than leaving entirely?

MaoMao said...

Oh no, Momma Kristina! Please please please don't go. We Ballicai would miss you terribly if you did, and we know you'd miss the Cat Bloggiesphere -- it's such a speshul place; Momma sez it's the sweetest, most caring place onna innernet. She would be cryin, too, if she felt like she couldn't help us blog no more. Her eyes are leakin fur you beckause she unnerstands what you're goin through.

Momma has people in her fambly who don't understand her helpin us blog. In fact, her mom and dad get so upset with her about it that they can't efun mention it, espeshully Mom's Mom. But Momma and her mom are like totally polur opposites, and if our Momma did efurrything her mom wants her to do she would be a diffrunt person kompletely and not the purrson we know and love. Momma's been fightin that battle all her life. Momma's a free spirit and most Cat People are free spirits... aw, heck, Momma wants to take ofur this komment:

MaoMao's mom here! (((((hugs))))) to you, Kristina. We cat people / creative people can't be herded into putting our spirits in cages and conforming to the expectations of those who are unforgiving of whimsy and imagination. Cat blogging is not only fun and a wonderful way to connect with kindred spirits, but it's also a ray of sunshine that brightens life and last but never least, it's a precious record of the lives of our dearly-loved cats.

I hope you'll reconsider your decision. In my case, I love my mom, but I told her in no uncertain terms that I'm going to live my life as I choose, express myself as I choose, and the choices she would make for me are not the choices I would make for myself. They never have been, and I will stand firm.

Okay, MaoMao is back...

We Ballicai love you, Cecil! We hope you change yur mind -- give yur Momma lots of rubbies and purrs and kissies and tell her that no mattur what othur people think, she's a sweet and speshul free spirit, and helpin you blog is one of the many, many ways she eckspresses that!

Lots of love and kittyhugs and purrs from MaoMao (and the Ballicus Mom).

Purrageous Pirates said...

Please do not let others take away something that you enjoy so much. If these other people love you, they will accept whatever you love as well, even if they make comments about your eccentricities. If they do not, then why listen to them? Please stay.

Dr Tweety of da Fab Five said...

Oh Cecil & da momee oevfur dere!!!! Dis iz awful newz. I tink I understand 'cuz da momee here struggulz, wonderin' if she can reely do the bestee fur other cats if she cannot helps me to vizit & so forth. She works all week & den triez to do all my blogz on da weekend, dat includez photoin' & stuff. She den lets me deeploy da blogz on da day dey were pree-pared fur. But she sez sometimez she tinks we cannot keeps on.
BUT! & I haz a BIG BUTT Cecil, if other peoplez told her it waz weerd... she would tell 'em tough noogiez.. cuz dis iz her only creeative outlet.
Here'z da reel deal... it's gotta be fun & makes YOU healthy... if it doezn't do dat, well, it may be time fur a change.
Howevfur, & dis iz a BIG HOWevfur (I haz lots of floof!) we DO NOT WANTS YOU TO GO!!!! We lovez you & will miss you terry-bully!
Mebbe we couldz haz a Cecil once a week?
We are sendin' purrzez to you & yer momee.
Love, love, LOVE,
Dr Tweety, Iris, Delilah, Maximillian, and Auntie Stinkie

Babs (Beetle) said...

We are so sad. We only just met you but we loved you from the start. Mummy has only been blogging for us a little while and already had a remark made by someone. She doesn't care though. Between you and us, she has reached an age where she doesn't care what others think any more.

We hope you come back coz we so want to read your blog again.

Purrs, Sukie, Livvie & Mitzi X

The Misadventures Of Me said...

I'm sorry, but I am a bit confused. Not by how you feel but by the influence of others have made you choose YOUR outlet or them. To blog is like a diary, an open diary yes, still to gather and rally and share opinions.

Life is full of choices, I am sorry your choice is to leave us. Good luck with all that you do. I do hope you change your mind though and stay with the rest of us cat crazy people. =)

TT's Mommy Bean

dennis said...

dennis says


CECIL, Dennis hardly knew ye...

Oh Cecil, please keep this blog up so Dennis can come and read old posts and look at your picture/

love,

DK & The Fluffies said...

Whatever your choice, know that you have a group of friends here who will always be here for you!

Anonymous said...

Oh Cecil, dear friend -- I'm so sorry to hear this. As MaoMao explained, Mom has people in her family who try to make her feel bad about helping us blog, but that's their problem, not hers -- and not ours. We will miss you so much if you go -- please think about staying. But if you can't, know that you always have friends here and we will welcome you back with joy and purrs.

Perhaps you could blog once a week or something. Mom used to help us Ballicai blog every day, but she's gotten so busy with various projects that she's only able to help us blog a couple of times a week or so. Regardless of what you decide, please know our hearts and our love go out to you and your sweet Mom.

Purrs and snuggles from Marilyn!

Karen said...

I enjoy reading your blog. I wish you were not leaving. Please stay.

Beau said...

PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE don't go Cecil!! The blogosphere wouldn't be the same without you, and we would miss you terribly!! Like everyone else said, we're so very sorry humans in your life don't understand, but don't care so much what they think. If it makes you happy and brings you joy, keep doing it!!! Please please pleeeeeease don't go away!!

Mr. Hendrix said...

i'm just coming to see the good news...that you changed your mind. please don't let bendrix down, you know he hates being disappointed.

The Cat Realm said...

Just checking..... We thought you might be back already.... We won't give up hope!!!!
Karl

MaoMao said...

We Ballicai won't give up hope, either!

Love from MaoMao, Dorydoo, Brainball, Marilyn, and the Ballicus Mom.

admin said...

oh we're so sorry to hear this sad news, we'd been missed lots of things around CB....pleaseeeeeee cecil dont go away, we'll be missing you a lot!
we found new & great friends here from around the world -far & away- it's truly inspiring, warm & enlightening to know other kitties from other part of our world....we do hope you'll be coming back.

(((((purrs & kittyhugs)))))

for cecil & mommy kristina

Karen Jo said...

Please don't go away, Cecil. I have enjoyed reading about you so much. My mother has said some rather cruel things to me about my blogging, but I haven't let that stop me. I just never discuss it with her. If you do decide that Cecil has to go, I hope that he might come back someday. We will still be here, ready to be your friends.

Goldie, Shade and Banshee said...

Just checking in.

I really think you should do a weekly round-up that way you are still involved with the CB. The PM had some friends of hers tease her about helping Shade and I blog just last night at a restaurant. She says it makes her happy and everyone has to do something just for pure joy once in awhile.

The people who have a hard time with it normally are jealous that they don't have something similar to bring them happiness or are envious of the time you spend. You could be glued to the TV during that time watching reruns.

Hope you reconsider.
purrs, Shade and Goldie

Sasha said...

Cecil, I have only just got to know you, so I don't think you should leave. Who are these people who don't understand your need to speak to others? Maybe they should leave well alone.

CRIZ LAI said...

Please don't go away Cecil!! sob~ sob~ Who is going to come visit Janice and the rest now? Try to reconsider not going away.. Once a cat is always a cat. STAY BOY!!

The Meezers or Billy said...

we just had to come back to see if you changed your mind. We is still crying. We will leave a comment once a week to let you know that we still miss you lots.

Astrid (…and the kitties too) said...

we don't want to put another peer pressure on you to come back.
just wanted to see if you pro'bly changed your mind. we miss Cecil!

the boys wanted to let you know that we are thinking of you!

luv, us

Toffee K. Ripple Fuzzypants & Feline American Angels said...

What? I'm confused. Are you goin' somewhere, Cecil?
DMM