“Napayshini: The Kitten Who Taught Me Love, Loss, and Courage”

By Dawn McGroarty — Holistic Pet Care Writer | Former Licensed Veterinary Technician with 20+ Years Experience

“Napayshini: The Kitten Who Taught Me Love, Loss, and Courage”

When I first met Napayshini, he was two weeks old—tiny, vulnerable, and fighting for his life. A client at the animal hospital where I worked had heard a faint cry coming from a dumpster during her morning run. Inside a trash bag were a deceased adult cat… and a litter of newborn kittens struggling to survive.

She rescued the one kitten who was still alive and brought him home, but quickly realized the gravity of what a newborn required—feedings every 2–4 hours, warmth, and constant monitoring. She knew I loved animals, especially cats, and asked if I could take him.

I said yes without hesitation.

And just like that, this fragile little soul became my whole world.

I wanted to give him a name worthy of the strength he had shown from the moment he was found. After searching for something meaningful, I discovered the Sioux name Napayshini, meaning “courageous and strong.”It fit him perfectly.

Seven Beautiful Years

Life with Nappy was pure joy. He was curious, affectionate, mischievous in the sweetest ways, and deeply connected to me. One of his favorite games was hide-and-seek. I would run and duck behind a chair, and pop up. He would arch his back, hop sideways, and run at me. Our bond felt ancient—like two spirits who had known each other many times before.

But one day, after moving back home, he made a strange gagging sound. Something about it froze my heart. He was still eating and drinking, but a few days later, while petting him, I suddenly felt the unmistakable change in his body.

He was losing weight.

My heart sank. I knew something was wrong—terribly wrong. And the worst part? I also knew that getting answers would require tests and procedures far beyond what I could afford at the time. It was a helpless, gut-wrenching place to be.

I did everything I could with what I had…, but despite my efforts, Nappy continued to decline.

The Hardest Goodbye

Eventually, I had to make the decision every pet parent dreads. My boss, an animal lover himself, let me leave early the day of the appointment. My stepsister drove me because I could not trust myself to function through the heartbreak.

Letting Nappy go was the hardest act of love I have ever given. My soul shattered that day.

Searching for Answers, Searching for Him

Afterward, grief consumed me. I wasn’t just mourning—I was drowning in guilt, terror, and unanswered questions.

Did I miss something?

Did I fail him?

Could I have saved him if I had more money?

Pain has a cruel way of whispering lies that make you doubt your worth.

In my desperation to understand, I searched online for anything that might help. I found pet loss groups, but they didn’t feel like what my heart needed. Then I began searching for animal communication and pet loss healing… because if I could just hear from Nappy again, maybe I could breathe.

I found a wonderful animal communicator, Charles Peden, whose services were affordable and grounded. During our session, Nappy came through immediately.

The very first thing Charles said was that Nappy was showing him trouble speaking and cancer in his throat.

It wasn’t my fault. It wasn’t something I missed. It wasn’t something money could have saved.

It was simply his time.

That message freed me. It began my healing. And it also planted the seed for something I didn’t yet know I would create years later…

🌈 The Paws & Remember Support Circle

Nappy’s story is one of courage, love, and the sacred bond we share with our animals. His life—and his loss—taught me that grieving pet parents need:

💛 A safe place to talk💛 Compassion without judgment💛 Tools for healing💛 Spiritual reassurance💛 Community💛 And the reminder that love does not end at death

So I created a private space within Paradise Pawsome:

🌿 Paws & Remember Support Circle — A gentle sanctuary for anyone navigating pet loss.

If you are grieving, if you feel alone, if guilt weighs on your heart… You don’t have to carry that pain without support.

Nappy’s spirit inspired this space, and his courage continues to guide everything I do.

You can join the support circle here:👉 [www.paradisepawsomepetcare.com/paws-and-remember-support-circle-private-group ]

May his story bring you comfort, connection, and the knowing that our fur angels never leave us—they simply move into a place where love lives forever.

🌿 You Are Welcome Here

This sanctuary is open to anyone in the world who is grieving the loss of a beloved pet. You are not alone, and you don’t need to navigate this heartbreak without support.

👉 [Join the Paws & Remember Support Circle](  www.paradisepawsomepetcare.com/paws-and-remember-support-circle-private-group)

A private, gentle, compassionate space to honor your pet and begin healing.

My Sweet boy, for whom this story and the dedicated group come from—Nappy sleeping on my comfy bed after a long day of chasing the cats in the house, or it was the gloomy NEPA weather. Mommy misses you with all her heart.