Sophie Grantham-Kane

Sophie kitty crossed the Rainbow Bridge on Sunday, August 9. She was a beloved member of our home (Jim & Stephanie) for nearly 14 years. We brought her and her brother Dusty home November 27, 2012, after the very sad loss of Mardi to wet FIP. We went without a cat for several days after he passed and the house was just not a home. They brought so much sunshine into our home after a very sad period.

About 6 months after adopting Sophie & Dusty, we started volunteering our time locally with another nonprofit animal organization and from that point on, Sophie & Dusty had to share their home with many fosters (and some cats we also adopted). In late 2014, we formed Sparkle Cat Rescue.

Sophie and Dusty outlived the other cats we adopted through the years. We are not alone though as we still have Dusty and he has other cat companions we are fostering. Sophie had been having health issues the past year and a half and had lost weight and had your typical senior kitty issues. She enjoyed spending time with mom while I knit, sleeping on the bed, and discovered when kittens are around being fostered there is more wet food around. Dad Jim loved her so very much and she spent a lot of time with him too.

Sophie was the meaning behind the word 'Sparkle'. Before the rescue ever formed, mom and dad had a craft business they used the word Sparkle Cat for and then transitioned it to the rescue name. Mom was trying to come up with a cute name for the business and wanted it to have a cat theme. One day while looking at Sophie, she noticed her fur glistening in the sun (or sparkling rather), and thus the name Sparkle Cat (Studio and then Rescue) was born. She will forever live on with the name and memories of all the love and happiness she brought to us.

Sophie and her brother Dusty were first loved and adored by our friend Cheryl who took them in after they were discovered at just a few days old at the Dollar General when it was being constructed in Graham. Workers heard a kitten meowing and discovered them and rescued them. Then Cheryl bottle fed and nurtured them to good health. Two months later, we adopted them right after Thanksgiving 2012.

As I looked through her photos this morning, it brought back so many wonderful memories of her from the day we adopted her, up until her last day with us. 14 years. There is never enough time. We knew it was time whether or not she herself wanted to leave us. Sophie, we will forever love you and you were an angel and the best kitty. Dusty and all the other kitties will miss you as much as we do.