Tribute to Willow the Siberian Lynx

 

5/6/94 - 1/3/2013 Arrived at Big Cat Rescue 6/1/94

 

Willow was born at a fur farm in Canada. We had bought all of the kittens the farm had and they were shipped here in crates so small that the kittens could not move. The little wire crates appeared to be full of sticky, smelly gray fur. We opened the crates and pulled out the contents, and found a group of soiled, starving, sick and stressed little kittens. None of them died in transit, which was a astounding, considering the condition in which they had arrived, but sadly several did not survive long after. Willow was always one of the skinniest and willowiest of the group and thus her name.

 

She was raised with Natasha and Alexander, the bobcat hybrid, and still remains one of the friendliest cats here. She shared her large grassy habitat with Natasha. They were often seen lying in the sun grooming each other’s beautiful fur coats.

 

Like all wild cats, Willow was stoic and showed no signs of being ill until she refused her food one night.  The next day she seemed just too tired and stiff to move so she was taken in to the vet where she was found to be in the final stages of renal failure.  She made it clear that she was ready to go.  Natasha sleeps most of the time now and is a year older than Willow.  When she is awake she seems to be looking for her old friend from her resting spot.  We are heartbroken at the loss of Willow and even more so, to see Natasha looking so sad.

 

Photo circa early 2000’s of Carole and Natasha.  We do not display photos of people touching cats after 2004.

 

Hi, I’m Carole Baskin and I’ve been writing my story since I was able to write, but when the media goes to share it, they only choose the parts that fit their idea of what will generate views.  If I'm going to share my story, it should be the whole story.  The titles are the dates things happened. If you have any interest in who I really am please start at the beginning of this playlist: http://savethecats.org/

 

I know there will be people who take things out of context and try to use them to validate their own misconception, but you have access to the whole story.  My hope is that others will recognize themselves in my words and have the strength to do what is right for themselves and our shared planet.  

 

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Music (if any) from Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com) This video is for entertainment purposes only and is my opinion.