K.C. of a Thousand Trails: The Cat Who Saved My Life

By Gay Paris Pratt

Have you ever wondered how one person could have crossed paths with you a convenient time in your life? Some people plan it out, methodically, from childhood. Others were born to serve a mission on earth from God that endures throughout their entire lifetime. My amazing cat, K.C., was one of these beings…

Have you ever considered that God’s animal beings have missions on earth, too?
This is a true story of one such sentient being—in a cat suit—who was assigned by the angels to pounced upon an unsuspecting woman’s life that was in shambles in a time when internet and smartphones did not exist. This cat helped save her from choosing death, and then devoted his entire life to transforming her into a better human being. This cat had a mission assigned from God. The mission was—me!

This story is not to convince you, but rather to enlighten you as to the possibilities of the divine—along with the billions of internet cat and pet videos of people who are trying to share the good news of their intelligence: “animals have souls!”

This account is to serve as a comfort to anyone who has lost someone—be it your pet companion or human relation—to a serious illness. No one escapes the pain of heartbreak…but to endure such an obstacle course of anguish brings a light of lasting peace that will anchor your heart with joy that exists past this lifetime—being reunited again with beloved pets in the hereafter…

It’s called love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 29, 2011
• ISBN: 9781524641467

Gay Paris Pratt

Gay Paris Pratt was born in the suburbs of Los Angeles, California. Product of an inter-racial marriage, her linage extends from the Vikings of Denmark and the malevolent brother of King Richard the Lionhearted, King John of England, to the natives of Latin America, Aztecan, who were conquered by Cortez, himself. Her caste is politically incorrectly called: Hispanic. She graduated from the Dick Grove Academy of Music. She holds three certificates in Composition and Arranging, Vocal Performance, and Songwriting. She has traveled around the world playing music, which is her passion. At 58, she is a student of Liberal Arts and Digital Technology at the Chabot College of the Arts in Northern California. She also holds various certificates for legal procedures from many years of assisting California lawyers as a legal assistant. She has been on the writing teams for NASA at JPL and Rockwell International, assisting with their aerospace publications. She is a licensed Notary Public and holds licenses in Real Estate and Life Insurance. She is a breast cancer survivor and hopes with this book to bring comfort and hope to those who have lost loved ones to the disease. She also hopes to travel the world helping to improve the treatment of animals in rescue shelters. She is a firm believer that God lives—and so do all His animal beings in the afterlife. And so shall we all be re-united.

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© 2011 Gay Paris Pratt. All rights reserved.

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Rev. Date: 01/07/2022

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Edited by:

Ethan Applegarth: Level three

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Ethan was born in Palm Springs, California and grew up on a ranch near Thermal, California. He is a graduate of the Idyllwild Arts Academy and Bennington College in Vermont. A law enforcement officer, also taught English as a foreign language in Cuzco, Peru. At 29, he is a graduate student in Latin American security policy at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. He has 3 books published, including Casa de Cuerva, a book of 501 poems, and working on his 4th.

Emily Colleen Brown: Level two

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Emily is a native of Southern California. She is 16 years old in this picture, a senior in high school and a straight-A student. Among other numerous talents, she has already written many stories and is currently writing her novel.

Evelyn Miriam Koenig-Volk: Level one

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Evelyn is a devoted earth-mother to the world. Before that, she was a proof reader in a design company.

Denise Josey Gardiner: Level one

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Denise went to law school and has been assistant writer to many legal documents at numerous law firms. She was an inspirational speaker, an advocate of God’s holy Christian work. She passed away peacefully in her sleep December 25, 2019, from uterine cancer.

Heather Lind Greyvelle: Level one (see chapter4)

Is addicted to reading and has written two books.

For my brilliant mother, Ann Pratt Larsen de Perez, whose dry wit I admired,

but who was disappointed that I did not inherit her passion for reading books;

So I’ll write one instead...

Contents

Acknowledgements

Forward

Introduction

Chapter I

Flashback in the Future

Chapter II

My Rescue

Chapter III

K.C. of A Thousand Trails

Chapter IV

Heather & Herc

Chapter V

K.C.’s Friends

Chapter VI

K.C.’s Prayer

Chapter VII

Walk’n’Y Ranch; The Noah’s Arch of Shadow Hills

Chapter VIII

Traveler

Chapter IX

Looking After The Gra’ma-cat & The Grandpa-cat

Chapter X

Cancer

Chapter XI

Giving K.C. Back To Heaven

Epilogue

Afterthoughts

About the Author

About the Author’s Family Tree:

Acknowledgements

I thank the Heavenly Father of the Universe for the gift of my beloved companion, K.C., who made this book possible. I pray each time before I write so that my fingers may be connected to the veil of the next dimension, where eternal knowledge exists—and is ours to receive—so I may represent the correct message of this true experience.

I thank the Heavenly Father for all the following people, who were assigned to be put in my path to love me and K.C. unconditionally as part of their families, clothed and fed us; and who cared for gifted animal beings of their own that reverberated with K.C.’s exceptional intelligence.

Andrew Schermerhorn (most of the photo journals)

Angel Flights Southern California (numerous flights to my breast cancer surgery appointments)

Barbara and Mike Marty (Chapter X)

Bishop Brent Frost, CPA – LC2ndWard

Bishop Rick Richmond, Esq. – LC2ndWard

Bishop S. Lee Ross, Magnate Philanthropist – LC2ndWard (deceased 2015)

Bishop Gary Scott, M.D., and family – LC2ndWard (Chapter X)

Denise Gardiner (deceased 12/2019) and children, Cameron and Talayne (Editor and Chapter VIII)

Evelyn Koenig-Volk and family; Paul, Nicolas, Sophia, Grandma Mary, Grandpa Egon (all chapters)

Heather Lind Greyvelle (Forward, Chapters, I, II, III, etc.)

Jed and Andrea Bradshaw and family (Chapter VIII)

Marsha Mae (Highschool) (deceased 10/2010) (Chapter VIII)

Melanie Ann Cich, lifelong Highschool friend, who always gives me and kitty refuge and love despite myself…

Mountain Ladies, Marcy Koch and JoAnn Holm (Chapter XI)

Nicklin (Nick) Wagner Quackenbush (On Demand editor, and angel-assigned ‘Life-Coach’ and best friend) (all chapters)

Sean Markie, Founder Helping Hands Senior Foundation

Sisters-in-laws: Linda Perez and Felicitas Perez – who tamed my brothers and gave them lots of grandchildren to our parents – and freed my populate-the-Earth duties!

Tanya Lee Yank (deceased 2008)

I thank all K.C.’s vets: Dr. Miller at Miller Animal Clinic, Dr. Alex Stern at Five Star Veterinary Center.

I especially give my warmest thanks to Dr. R.E. Palmquist, at Centinela Animal Hospital, who supported me throughout K.C.’s last days on earth with his skill, kind words, and gifted prayers. Look for his book titled: Releasing Your Pet’s Hidden Health Potential.

I thank Dr. Michael W. Fox, Vice President of the Humane Society of the United States, for his profound understanding of how people and their animal beings connect in such lasting human/animal bonds.

I thank my mother, Ann Pratt Larsen de Perez, for her peerless and unconditional love and her great sense of humor. I’m grateful that God allowed me to come out of her womb into this beautiful world.

I thank my father, Steve Perez, for giving K.C. a chance; for seeing him as I saw him and for learning how to love him, especially through the rough times in his latter days; when he laid healing hands on K.C.’s

head—without question when K.C. was sick. For this I am grateful.

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Esteban Lira Lopez Castillo Perez

June 1921 – May 2010.

He became a medical doctor at 60. Here he is 19 years old.

He passed away a month before the publication of this book.

Forward

By Heather Lind Greyvelle

Most of us humans live lives of ordinary existence. We hold some combination of duties to our spouse, job, children, parents, and pets. We face the usual challenges in our lives; financial crisis, family squabbles, marital discord, job dissatisfaction, maybe the loss of a career, and perhaps physical or medical problems.

Everyone, sooner or later, loses a loved one.

Some of us have the good fortune to know an extraordinary person, and we derive great benefit from it. Those who don’t actually know an extraordinary person themselves can see these unique beings from afar as role models, heroes, leaders, reformers, inspirations, spiritual motivators. Even at a distance, they affect us profoundly.

Occasionally, there is a lucky rare person who encounters an extraordinary individual, and they find themselves living an extraordinary existence themselves—even if only for a while.

This is the story of a woman who had the amazing fortune to not only know such an extraordinary creature herself, but to live an extraordinary existence with him. His life and death changed her life, her perceptions, and her heart.

The most incredible thing about this individual is that he was not human—at least, not in form. In spite of that, or maybe because of it, in spirit, in heart, in his mission in life, he achieved the humanity to which most of us only aspire. Share the journey with that rare lucky person: share her joys, her sorrows, the frustrations, and insights in the following work.

Allow this extraordinary cat to touch your life and let your life, too, become extraordinary.

Introduction

This book is for the cat-aholic or the all-around animal lover. It’s also for the spiritually inclined. If you are none of the above, then move on. But if you are seeking, sit; stay.

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Me, 3 years old; a cat lover from the beginning.

I was born into this world captivated by cats. I can still recall my first main ambition in life when I was four years old. I wanted to grow up to be a cat. I ran around the yard daintily and cried "meow, meow". Learning to purr was a bit harder. Still, I soon mastered the art and became fluent in feline. It never once occurred to me, so young, how ridiculous I must have looked to others. It didn’t take long for me to learn to love all animals, but I loved cats the most.

I learned that people are born with an innate love for a specific species of animal to act as their stewards throughout their life on earth. Some people are given talents to love and care for multiple species at the same time, of which I am deeply in awe. Just as God gives people missions to take care of his animals, I learned that God also gives missions to his animals to take care of his people. I’m one of them. And this is my story to prove it.

I grew up raising and rescuing cats and many other animals, much to my parents’ dismay. I remember I suffered a lot of heartache from not being able to save the lives of the cats and little creatures because I was too young to earn any money to take them to the vet. My parents were of the Great Depression generation and did not believe in spending hard-earned money at the veterinary clinic—especially for cats.

Cats are supposed to work for a living, my mother would bellow at me. They can survive on their own.

I never did see it that way. I often snuck the newly born kittens into the house in my bed, when no one was looking. Or I kept the box of the baby chicks, ducklings, or birds by my bedside all night and next to me all day, so I could care for them. I even harbored mice, rats, frogs, lizards, and garden snakes, if they didn’t bite me too much. At times they did, but I didn’t care. I sensed somehow it came with the territory of trying to tame wild things and experience their existence.

I grew up in Orange County, in the suburb of Anaheim, California, when it was pre-Disneyland; acres of orange groves, avocado trees and lush fields of tall milkweed, thistle and wild grass. It was the ideal playground for a curious child. I was never bored with the ever-changing habitat. My world came complete with a built-in petting zoo. This helped me pass the time while my parents worked long hours to make ends meet.

It’s a wonder I did not become a vet. It had crossed my mind numerous times. However, the thought of seeing so much of the helplessness of unwanted animals—victims of human abuse—weighed heavily on my heart, and consequently, outweighed the pursuit of such a career.

I carry my share of guilt for how I saw animals treated. I didn’t know how to save them who found their way to me during my youth. I was ignorant. I felt helpless.

Still, I was a stubborn little rug-rat. I tried my best, and asked around, especially the aging farmers nearby, before they sold their orange groves to the land developers preparing a future for Disneyland. These old souls taught me whatever I needed to know about each little injured creature I held up to them in my hands. However, most of the time I don’t think I knew the difference between nurturing and torturing. I was too young.

I could give them love. I knew how to do that. At the very least, the little creatures that died in my hands knew that I loved them.

Now that I’m older and wiser, my eyes are only somewhat opened. I find myself asking for forgiveness—not only from the almighty Creator—but from those animal beings, themselves, dwelling peacefully in heaven. When the time comes to meet up with them on the other side of the veil, I think I will have a lot of ‘splainin’ to do. I would like to make up for any injustices of my own hands while here on earth; to earn their forgiveness before I pass on into the next realm.

It had been about 9 months since the most important animal intelligence in my life passed away. I went to the library to find the Beyond The Veil series by Lee Nelson. It was a sequel to my favorite book about life after death, Embraced by the Light by Betty J. Eadie. That book always seemed to bring me the most comfort when I wrestled with spells of blue from missing K.C. Then, another book seemed to pop right in front of my eyes. It was called, Animals as Teachers & Healers by Susan Chernak McElroy. I knew this was the book I needed to read and I devoured it within hours.

Another book fell into my hands by chance, Arf Angels and Other Heavenly Creatures: True Stories of Animal Visitations by Anita Perry.

These kinds of tributes served as catalysts in sparking my own writing to chronicle the major event in my life. Animal beings have souls, just as human beings do. Animals have assignments from God to accomplish in life, just as human beings do. I knew I needed to add my voice to the testimonies in Ms. McElroy’s and Ms. Perry’s books because they focused on the spirits of animals.

It always bothered me whenever I heard believers in a certain ideology claim that animals have no souls. In fact, I was downright aghast when I first heard it from someone’s mouth. I felt sorry for all the people who held such convictions.

I knew I needed to write a book about this cat-being I had been privileged to share a life with for nearly 20 years. I wrote the book to be not only a way to cope with his passing, but to also add testament that animals do, indeed, have souls, and their spirits live on after their bodies are laid into the ground.

They will be resurrected in the afterlife through God’s eternal plan that provides that we will be reunited with them.

Ms. McElroy’s book inspired me to move forward, so I could connect to the truth that animals too are God’s children. God’s animal beings are gifts for us to look after. They are sent to us from God with specific assignments to love, heal and teach. Ms. Perry’s book endorses this message.

My message to you is this: We love our animals because of their intelligence. The reason why we love the intelligence of our animal friends is because it is part of the light force of God’s intelligence, which is love.

Love is a degree of intelligence.

In college I learned that all life forms have a light frequency that can be scientifically measured; even rocks. In THE SECRET (Rhonda Burn), a recent pop-culture interpretation of the laws of physics, Dr. Ben Johnson, M.D., N.M.D., D.O., summarized it very simply:

"...first there is the Universe, then the galaxy, planet earth, and you. Inside your body are organ systems, then cells, then molecules, and then atoms. Then there is energy… Everything in the Universe is energy."

The difference between the groups of life was the more light frequency that was measured in a life force, the more intelligent it was. The photographs recorded ranged from rocks, plants, animals and humans. All had visible light sources and frequency waves in varying degrees and colors. That meant that the elements are

alive.

A scripture source states: "The Glory of God is Intelligence, or in other words, light and truth." (D&C 93:36). But I’m not talking about the intelligence one gets from a diploma from the University of Godhood. The reference in this case is about the degree of light source, spirit or energy.

In the book, The Life Before, Brent L. Top, states:

…individual intelligence prior to spirit birth; the spirit was ‘organized’ from uncreated eternal elements known as ‘intelligence.’

Top quotes from other authorities:

"...It is the light of truth; it is the spirit of intelligence."

He further quotes:

…They have been organized in different shapes [as individual entities]; the organism [individual spirit] had a beginning, but the elements or atoms of which it is composed never had…

In other words, God doesn’t always work in mysterious ways. God works with the laws of physics (WHO do you think invented the laws of physics?) That’s why the elements obey God’s universal laws. The elements are living entities. They live!

Therefore, God’s intelligence or light force is so great, a mere mortal cannot stand in his presence without physical consequence–like burning up–unless transformed, quickened or translated into God’s frequency. (The First 2,000 Years by W. Cleon Skousen; Writing of Genesis).

W. Cleon Skousen further states in reference to the creation:

…that the present state that they (the animals) are in is not their original state; and that their capacities have been once much greater than we now see them and are capable of being restored to their former conditions. The First 2000 Years, [Ibid].

This means to me when I meet up again with my beloved pets in the afterlife, I will be able to have actual conversations with them (not imaginary ones I had been struggling to decipher)—they might even be a personage like me before they came to planet Earth assigned as an animal being as we could only understand it in our Earthly state! However, please don’t misunderstand me and confuse it with reincarnation—which I do not believe in.

What I understand, now, through my own hard-earned experience is how we delight in the light of our animals’ intelligence. This is what brings us so much joy when we allow ourselves the privilege of knowing an animal friend. We watch spellbound and roll with laughter from home videos of Animal Planet’s Funniest Animals. We love bragging about what our little companion did today or yesterday, or years ago…

It’s all about their intelligence.

Intelligence is another meaning for ‘spirit’ or ‘energy’. It’s matter. It lives. Albeit, most of us can’t see it with our mortal eyes (some people see auras), but it’s all around us.

The more intelligence our animal friends have, the more we love them, especially when they show intelligence that matches ours. It’s because they have a life force—a spirit—just as humans do. It has been scientifically measured and recorded in acclaimed universities. It’s energy. It lives.

Of all the many venerable definitions of LOVE Stephen R. Covey has written, the most powerful one to me is:

"...wanting the spiritual growth of the other…"

We can apply this to our animal-beings. We want to let them make intelligent choices because we want to experience their intelligence. Therefore, we can’t wait to put our videos on the internet to share our documented experiences because we love them so much. In turn, they become more intelligent.

We, as human beings, respond to that love because we love to be in the light of their intelligence, which is like being wrapped in God’s love—which is light.

Acting accordingly, you will experience the most purebred love reciprocated from both the animal and human kingdoms, which is a profound part of God’s plan of eternal life.

I’m not saying love your pet rock (you can if you want), or the electromagnetic energy of your computer—which is often more intelligent than we are—I’m just repeating one of the most basic and well known of Biblical commandments: "love one another." It has a scientific reason behind it, i.e., because it is good for our health, and hence, our eternal well being. Animals provide this kind of pedigreed love.

So how is it not possible that we should be reunited with our beloved animal beings in the afterlife? We are!

In The First 2,000 Years W. Cleon Skousen states:

...It is given further credence from the fact that animals will apparently enjoy some power of articulation after their resurrection as seen by John in an open revelation. He describes them as ‘praising God.’ ...John saw the actual condition of these animals as they shall exist in the full felicity of their glory following their redemption or resurrection. [Revelations 4:6].

Further, Skousen asserts more plainly:

"But all mankind must pass that way [temporary separation of the spirit from the body at the time of death] in order to gain bodies which are not only immortal, but are also exalted to some degree of glory. And not only must man follow this procedure, but the animals as well [italics added], and the plants. Even the earth must die before it can be resurrected and exalted." [Ibid., 88:26]

Moreover, I believe that our animal beings live a truly more honest and innocent earthly existence than the majority of the human race. Think about that.

While you are thinking, may I challenge you to suggest that the spiritual in all reality is the source of the scientific mind.

Ultimately, this book is a testament to the truth that there is a loving God and He lives, and He has a plan of eternal life for all of us, including our animal family!

He also has a sense of humor!

Whether you agree with the above stated or not, it doesn’t matter. I know it to be true from the intelligence that enlightens me. And that is what does matter. The Holy Spirit—which is eternal intelligence—reveals the truth. Therefore, anyone can find the truth just by asking.

My most humble aspiration is that this account will reach that certain someone at the right place and time, who is seeking a source of truth, comfort, and healing in his or her life—as I am longing and looking forward to being reunited with my soulmate kitty, K.C., and human family in the afterlife. I hope this true story of K.C.’s life will achieve such a purpose—to put a smile on your face and warmth in your heart—and reignite your hope with the good news: Animals have souls, and you will see and live with them again in the next life! And I’m not the only one who knows this—why else are millions of people posting billions of internet videos of their beloved family cat and pet family members as proof and testament of their intelligence. Like me, they want everyone to experience that same joy…

CHAPTER I

Flashback in the Future

It was late October 1988. A newly acquainted group of friends and I had spent a sunny Saturday exploring a rural area hidden in the neighboring San Gabriel foothills of Southern California. I had met them at the campgrounds during the summer. This weekend we were looking for a house to live in, where we could share rent. We wanted to escape the icy winter of the Santa Clarita foothills.

We piled into my van and cruised up and down the streets. They took us to see unusual historic buildings made of stone. Towards the end of the afternoon we made our last stop. One large two-story house looked like a medieval castle made completely out of stone, complete with a turret. It was so compelling that we parked our van and jumped out to see what the castle was all about. We saw a single man going in and out making repairs. I ran over and introduced myself and my friends. I told him how much we admired his house—and may we have a tour?

In his mid 30s, he was quite delighted to show off his handiwork. He explained that he and his business partner were full-time underwriters by day for a large insurance corporation in L.A. Their real job allowed them to purchase properties, fix-’em-up and ‘flip’ them into profitable sales on their time off.

This castle has an interesting history, he told us. It was about to be torn down and made into parking lot.

Next door, there was an unsightly apartment building overlooking the rustic grounds of the castle. It was a shame. The guy explained how they went through legal channels to draw up documents to deem the Castle an historic landmark. He expressed the hope that a rich Japanese businessman would buy the Castle for a cool million dollars and preserve this local treasure.

One lady in my little tour group, Nick, had heard rumors of a witch that used to occupy the Castle. She had mentioned this earlier as we were driving by. I asked if he had heard of such a thing. He mused. He had, as a matter of fact, heard of something similar. We climbed the circular staircase enclosed by the round tower. He went on about the history of the Castle he’d researched in the public archives. It was a particularly rich story, especially in the 1920s prohibition period. He had us spellbound with stories about Mafioso who ran their illegal shipments of bootleg through underground caves. The caves stretched more than a mile long and led out to the stony wash up in the backyard foothills.

This Castle has caves?! You mean like secret passageways and compartments?

Just one that I know of.

Can we see it?! We gave a unanimous vote of excitement.

Sure! But the entrance to the caves is all blocked up with boards.

That’s OK; we don’t care; we just want to see.

He took us outside to the backyard garden, still green with grass. He led us to small wooden door embedded in the stone wall. It was weather-worn and crooked. The hinges were rusted from past rains. The cellar stairs, unevenly carved into the ground, had cracked with age. He fumbled for a skeleton key from his bulky key ring, jingling surplus metal.

"It might be open. Nobody uses this space anymore except for storage."

Sure enough, with some muscle pressure and a few kicks from his boots, the cellar door opened, complete with creeks and moans of an awakened portal.

Watch your step.

Our host steadied our arms as we ascended single-file into the dark abyss. The only light came from fractured windows caked with years of dust. The door was left open. The floor was made of earth. The air was damp and stifling.

Throughout the tour, I was in front of the brigade asking questions. Heather and Nick lagged behind, oohing and aahing, bending their heads together for discreet comment. Renee looked pleasantly lost.

Our leader turned to the left and stood in front of what was supposed to be a wall. It was boarded up with all shapes and sizes of wooden planks nailed into each other in an unsightly pattern, almost as if someone had been in a hurry to get out of there. He lifted his arm in that direction.

There’s your cave, or whatever’s left of it.

Our group moved closer and stood in front of the disarray of messy carpentry. There were cavernous holes between the unfitted boards. We peered through the chinks down the black corridor.

This is where they smuggled in the bootleg back in the day.

I ventured further about the possibility of foul play.

Oh, yeah he nodded, stroking his chin, I think it may have been quite possible that there were a lot of murders during that time.

Did you ever feel any presences of ghosts or spirits? I asked. I restrained myself from asking him what I really wanted to ask; a slightly more uncouth version:

Have you seen any dead people?

He stopped and thought for a moment. His eyes narrowed and gazed into space.

"I didn’t think I