Ed and Elaine with their black cat, Terry. Terry’s miraculous story is going to have you repeating it to unbelieving friends for the rest of your life!

In December 2014, Pope Francis consoled a young child at the loss of his dog. The Pope's compassion and observation did not surprise pet lovers as he quoted apostle Paul, "One day we will see our animals again in eternity of Christ. Paradise is open to all God's creatures."

Every December it is “miracle month” for Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales articles.  No matter how purr-pared you are for this next article, you won’t believe your eyes as you read this rescued cat’s unbelievable story!

“Who else can I tell this tale to other than other pet lovers!?” said Elaine, “This true story happened early Christmas morning, and I've been calling our long-hair-black cat, Terry, ‘Holy cat’ ever since!

My husband, Ed, was watching TV shortly after midnight on December 25, 2015.  Terry was napping on the back of the living room couch, as Pope Francis appeared on the screen and began his Christmas Mass.

When the Pope started reciting the Consecration Prayer, Terry immediately sat up and faced the TV.

As he ‘watched’ the Pope, Terry raised his left paw high in the air, staring at the Pope the entire time.  He held his paw up during the entire prayer!  As you can imagine, Ed could barely believe his eyes and looked on in awe!  Ed stopped watching the Pope and focused on Terry.

At the end of the prayer, Terry lowered his paw down.  Neither one of us had ever seen Terry hold up either paw for more than a few seconds.  It was a Christmas miracle like none other!  It was like witnessing something from the manger scene at Christ’s birth when all the animals gathered abound the baby.

 A friend of ours, after hearing Terry’s story, began calling him, "Cat-echism."

Before this miraculous event took place, Terry was having serious intestinal issues.  Since his ‘visit’ with the Pope, Terry has been healed of all his health problems without any medical intervention. 

On February 8th, 2016 Terry had his mid-year senior health exam and he passed with flying colors.  He was given a clean slate of health. 

Oddly, Terry now has the energy of a 10 month old cat!  He was 11 in May, yet he is friskier than ever, running around the house, playing with his cat toys, throwing them in the air, bouncing his balls and chasing them.  He is remarkable, full of energy and lovable.

Terry ‘found’ me at a Massachusetts spiritual retreat in 2005. He was a starving kitten and the retreat’s kitchen staff fed him scraps. Whenever I was outside, he’d follow me.  I had wanted a black cat for awhile and couldn’t believe how fast Terry attached himself to me.  Four days later, my  husband arrived to pick me up, along with a brand new cat carrier, and we drove Terry back to Connecticut with us.

I never take my pets for granted because they are a heavenly gift. I believe, like Pope Francis and apostle Paul, that all animals belong to our Lord and that one day we will see our beloved pets in Heaven again.

Terry's love for us is unconditional, just as the Lord's love is for us.  I believe Terry was used as a channel of God's love that Christmas morning, and Ed was an honored witness of God's love for all the living creatures that he entrusts to us for a short period of time on earth.

And thank you for Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales, Ed and I have learned so much from reading it over the last ten years.”

“It is the oddest thing”, explains Elaine, “Every time I wanted a certain color of kitten it would show up!   When I wanted a calico kitten, shortly after one appeared under our deck.  When I wanted a grey cat, Misty cat was found up at a summer camp where our son worked as a counselor.  The same for our orange cat, Pumpkin.  I had his name chosen before he even showed up. And then there was our Holy Cat at the retreat.

When our beloved dog, Benji, died I was consumed with grief. Shortly after his passing, my husband and I were out driving.  I looked up into the sky and saw pastel balloons drifting with the wind.  I told Ed, "If there are 14 balloons, I will know Benji is happy and in Heaven.  I started counting and there were exactly 14  balloons!”

Cartoon:
A big dog sits in front of a Christmas tree that is lying on the ground, “Oh, thank goodness you are home,” said the dog with feigned relief, to its returning owners. Then he explained what happened, “The tree feinted!”

Mary Ellen's Silver Persians swam their way into readers and viewer's hearts! They have appeared in International magazines and newspapers around the world. (France, England, Canada, China, Germany, USA, etc.)

Also, several National and International TV shows featured the swimming felines teaching pet-water-safety. And their furry faces appeared on a line of shirts.