Pearl Ashton
(1996 - 2010)

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General Details

Name:	Pearl Ashton
Nick Name:	Pearl
Gender:	Female
Type of Pet:	Cat
Breed:	Brown Tabby
Age:	14 years old
Lived:	Sunday, 17 March 1996 - Saturday, 11 September 2010

My Story

Pearl came to the Ashton household in 1998. She was the third cat I owned, and I got her because a friend of mine's cat, Dingy, just had 9 kittens, and my poor friend was overwhelmed! She asked friends to take them first, so I stepped up. The previous owners named her Pearl, probably because she had this wonderful white spot on her chest, and white paws. The rest of her was black, really, even though she's called a "brown" tabby. She had stripes and was really a beautiful cat. Her eyes were incredible! They alternated between black, brown and a beautiful light green.

Pearl's personality was always the "peacemaker" and she was a real friend. When she arrived at Woodstock Ave. in Staten Island, NY, Tiger, my oldest cat, was starting to fade. Pearl immediately assumed the role of "helper of Tiger" and spent a lot of time cuddlying next to her, rubbing up to her, and just being a wonderful little sister. She also diffused a lot of the tension between Bimble and Tiger, who really never had gotten along. Tiger put up with Bimble, who I brought in as a "friend" for Tiger while I attended law school and worked full-time. I wanted Tiger to have a companion! Ha! That never happened really. They were more like two ships in the night passing, and it was better that way....

So when Pearl came on the scene, thankfully, Bimble took to her right away. I know this sounds weird, but I really do think Bimble had a crush on Pearl. He really loved her, and they bonded right away, thankfully. And this way, Bimble stopped bothering Tiger, which I know Tiger was happy about.

Over the years, Pearl became the "youngest" one, always fun, always playful, and always diffusing any tensions between Tiger and Bimble. When we moved into Manhattan in 2000, Pearl adjusted very easily and was never a problem, unlike Bimble! The first night we moved there, my bed was in a loft which poor Bimble couldn't figure out how to get up to. She was too afraid of coming up the stairs, so she cried all night long at the foot of the stairs! Pearl just found a spot on the couch, and never ever complained about anything!

When we made the big transition to California, Pearl and Bimble had to go in the Cargo section of the plane, and Tiger got to stay with me under my seat. The night before the flight, Pearl DID freak out a bit...and wouldn't come out from under the middle of the bed. I had to move the bed completely in order for her to come out....we almost missed our flight because of it!

But once we got to California, she and Bimble really bonded and adjusted pretty well. When Bimble started to venture onto the neighbors' porch to bother them and eat some of their plants, Pearl never did. She always hung out in the apartment, and if anything, she was helpful. There were some mornings I'd sleep through my alarm, and she would pounce on the bed, making sure I got up and got to work! She also always loved to play before going to bed, would make sure I was tucked in, then would go to her "spot" in the Living Room and sleep. She always liked having her own space.

When we moved to Palo Alto, I could tell she really wasn't thrilled with the garage set up, but she had been an indoor-outdoor kitty back in her "youth" in NY before I had her, so she adjusted very well. Unfortunately, poor little Bimble, who was always used to sleeping with me couldn't because my boyfriend at the time was allergic. Pearl always tried to make Bimble feel okay. I remember the first night putting them in their respective beds, making sure they could see each other face to face, and I could tell that Bimble felt better knowing Pearl was right next to her.

Unfortunately, things got crazy where I lived in Palo Alto, and I almost lost Pearl at one point. As she started to age, I could see that it was getting harder and harder for her to be outdoors most of the time. She never liked the smell of the garage (my ex put up this horrible soundproofing cork up because it was the "cheapest" that really smelled awful), so she preferred to stay outside a lot.

When her buddy Bimble passed away, I thought she would want another companion, so I got Lenny. Big mistake! Lenny had been rescued after having been found in a field abandoned by her mother after a month. She was a kitten and took a lot of my attention and time, which Pearl didn't like. And poor little Lenny had a lot of "issues." She never teethed properly, so she was constantly biting everything...including Pearl. I think she also played rough, having been born into a litter that was wild, and Pearl was not thrilled about that either! I think Lenny thought she would want to "play" with her, and Pearl felt she was being attacked. So poor little Pearl HATED being left in the garage at night alone with Lenny, but I was fearful that Pearl being outside all night was not a good thing. Pearl started to get really mad at me, which I knew was not right.

Things got even worse when a sunroom was built to the house where I was living. Since there was a lot of construction going on, poor Pearl would sometimes be covered in dirt, and she started to run away alot. Thankfully, after one such jaunt of 3 days of her being missing, I decided that she needed to be in a better place. I found her shivering under a car near the house, and decided that this poor little cat needed much more attention and care. I brought her to Pet Hotels and a friend in San Jose took her in for a time, until I could get myself together to move as well.

In January 2007, Pearl and I moved to Santa Barbara. (I brought Lenny to a friend of mine who was another animal lover in Florida, so it was just me and Pearl.) She was THRILLED. She started to trust me again and really loved the place in Santa Barbara. She was much happier to be in a safe, warm environment. She was getting older, and I think she was really happy to be an indoor cat again. Although when she did accidentally get out one day and saw the landlord's backyard, I think she thought she was in heaven! It was a well manicured, huge backyard and she loved that as well, but I didn't feel comfortable having her "roam" the backyard as I was in the front of the house, and after all she had been through, I knew she needed to stay inside. Besides, the landlord never stipulated "backyard rights."

Luckily, I moved again (soon after she found the backyard) to Downtown LA. Pearl and I stayed in a hi-rise on the 23rd floor (!), which I know she wasn't quite sure about. I remember her liking the porch, but being very cautious when she was out there! We were closer to the helicopters than the birds, it seemed, so when a bird DID appear, she really enjoyed that, but thankfully, never went after one!

In 2008, I bought a wonderful Condo (only on the 3rd floor!) in Pasadena. Pearl LOVED the Condo. She loved the porch and the whole place! It really felt at times as if it was Pearl's Condo, and I just lived there. Plenty of birds came around, as well as a few squirrels, and I think an occasional rat (unfortunately) in the middle of the night. She would hold sentinel at the porch door at night to get a peak of the rat!! What a cat!!

When we moved to Santa Barbara, I started to brush Pearl every night, which became her favorite part of the day. She used to literally RUN onto the bed for brushing time. And I think her last years here were probably the best of her life. Finally, I think she knew that I really did love her, and I finally was able to give her my full attention, which she had never really had before.

In early June 2010, she started to get sick. At first I thought it was a piece of plastic she had eaten (she had a fettish for plastic and paper!), because the vet showed an x-ray with a "mass" in her stomach. Unfortunately, that turned out to be a tumor. She also had Inflammed Bowel Disease, the poor thing, which I knew made her feel very uncomfortable. Pearl LOVED to eat, and when she started to eat less and less, I knew something was very wrong. Unfortunately, things deteriorated rapidly, and by mid-September, she was very weak and I could tell she was really tired and in pain most of the time, the poor thing. My vet and I tried to do everything we could, but by the end, we knew it was just a matter of time. I was going to put her down, but she decided she wanted to die here in her Condo. The morning I was supposed to take her to the vet, I woke up to find her gone. It was hard, but actually, much easier than having to put her down. I have a feeling, knowing Pearl, she did that on purpose. :)

I already miss her tremendously, but I know that she is much happier now. A big thanks to Dr. VanderHoof of Altadena for taking excellent care of her during her last days. He was wonderful with her and with me, and his staff was as well. Having to go through something like this is tough enough. They made it a lot easier.

So...that's Pearl's story. I think all in all, she lived a pretty good life. She was definitely a strong little cat. She had a great personality and was always there for me and for her brothers. Even up until the last night! She really said "goodbye" in her own way and I'll never ever forget her. I do find a lot of solace in the fact that she is no longer suffering, and I have this image of her dancing around up there with Tiger, Bimble and maybe even Lenny. :)

She was born on St. Patrick's Day, so I called her my "Irish" Kitty, and died on Sept. 11th..probably so I'd never forget. She was an amazing, wonderful, loving little creature. And she was a true friend.

Love you Pearl,
Monica

Latest Tributes

12 / 15 tributes

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From: lisajo43

R.I.P. Pearl

From: filmmash

Aunt Monica, Wes and I are just sitting here having some breakfast and rocking out to your album...so I though...

From: filmmash

Monica, I'm so sorry to hear about Pearl's passing. And I'm so glad I got to meet her when I visited you in Pasaden...

From: mailformary

Wasnt sure if my first post went through....so I am lighting this candle for Monica....for her to be at peace...

From: filmmash

Hi, Monica. I will look at the memorial when I get home. So sorry for your loss. Pearl had a wonderful mother who rea...

From: filmmash

Hi Monica, What a wonderful, sweet way to remember your little Pearl!! I know how attached we get to our little ...

From: filmmash

Hi Monica, I think that was a wonderful way to remember and acknowledge Pearl. That was an excellent biography of ...

From: filmmash

Sorry about your loss. I know she was much loved and had a wonderful life. I love all of her pictures. My thoughts...

From: filmmash

Indira mentioned laying flowers for Pearl... Thanks, Indira. :)

From: filmmash

Hello Dear Monica, From Switzerland I send love and comfort. Pearl is blessed to have you here lighting candles and ...

From: filmmash

Much love to you and honor to Pearl. She was a lovely companion for you and it was clear you loved her dearly. I'm ...

From: filmmash

So sad to hear the news of Pearl's passing, Monica. I know how much you loved that little girl. She was a very easy...

Biography

Owners Names:	Monica Ashton
Other Family Pets:	Tiger, Bimble and Lenny
Country:	USA

Interests

Favourite Toy:	A little lion; Birds, Mice, Flying feathers
Favourite Place:	The Condo
Favourite Meal:	Fancy Feast Chicken Dinner
Favourite Game:	1) Laser Toy; 2) Thing In A Bag
Type of Affection:	Loved to roll over and have her tummy rubbed
Pet's Peeves:	Lenny

Passing

Place of Passing:	Home
Date of Passing:	11 September 2010
Cause of Passing:	Cancer
Type of Funeral:	Cremation
Place of Burial:	Home

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2,262 Visits | Online Memorial Created By: filmmash on 17 September 2010 | Back to Top

Pet Memorial

Pearl Ashton
(1996 - 2010)

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Pearl Ashton (1996 - 2010)

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Pearl Ashton
(1996 - 2010)

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