Diablo my cat of 18 years and 3 months passed today. He had CRF,
but was doing well. An infection and kidney stone brought about his untimely end. Right up till then he had good quality life and was feeling good.
After his passing blood last week, and my emergecyvisit to the vets on Wed am, this week - and thetreatment he endured - he seemed to recover some.
However, this morning he deteriorated with a speedthat left me unprepared. He had a good Thursday night with usat home, he ate and slept and I cuddled him on the bed from 6-7 amFriday morning, as well as cuddled him some on Thursday night beforebed. He even managed a purr or two for me then. At 8am Friday I took him to the vets, he was too cold, and snorkeling a bit = too much fluid build up in lungs. They gave me bad news - got him ready with medsand sent him home to probably die - told me he might justquit breathing. I was okay with that. Before I left they gave him a drug to helphim pee, and he tried to go at home, it was the strain of pooping and peeing at home that brought on his breathing problems- he was literally gasping for air... He had an unknown heart condition, that made it more difficult to treat him. In the end - the vet was sure his kidenys were failing or going to, and that he would not recover and that the extent of his panting and gasping was such that he was suffering -he was severely anemic by that point as well- possibly from some bleeding internally. So as he lay gasping and panting, far away from us, slipping in and out of awareness, with little home, I made the decision to let him go to God with dignity - as the vet put it.
He was wrapped in his own blankie that smelled of home, he had me present with him, and he was being stroked and loved the entire time he passed. He was already halfway gone into coma by then, so Ido not know he "knew" what was going on.
We plan to bury him next to dear Sheba cat, who passedaway in March of this year. I'll put another rose bush there,to mark his resting place, and maybe even a bird bath as Betsy suggested.
I think I'd like to think of his ghostly self stalking the birds at the bird bath.In life, that is something he absolutely would do!
He used to wait each day for me at the front door, or in his basket,and get up and greet me as I came in. He put up with the othercats in the house - even to grooming them as "senior" male. He was such a storied cat, with so many life experiences and suchcharacter! He used walk on a leash at the vets, he never ever went to thevets in cage like other cats, LOL! He was in charge of dogs not the otherway around.
He ruled his roost with an iron paw in a velvet glove...and he ruled my heart from the day I brought him home, 1asa scrawny but fiesty little 6wk old kitten. He leaves me with 18 years and 3 months of memories..Really good ones some, really frightening ones too.
I know I'll never find another cat like him, even if I raise it from a kitten. In the end, as with all my furry companions our time was too brief. RIP dearest Diablo and may you be frolicking in a body free of pain, young and energetic, and happy.
And maybe, just maybe - your little ghost will come and visit me in my dreams to tell me how happy you are across the other side, and send me some comfort to know that you too wanted to end it, and wanted to pass over. For I know, that that is where you are - on the other side of the door, waiting for me to step through and be with you. You will be the first one to greet me, and maybe, even the one to guide me over the bridge myself, when my time comes to join you. Your faithful and loving owner Oona
but was doing well. An infection and kidney stone brought about his untimely end. Right up till then he had good quality life and was feeling good.
After his passing blood last week, and my emergecyvisit to the vets on Wed am, this week - and thetreatment he endured - he seemed to recover some.
However, this morning he deteriorated with a speedthat left me unprepared. He had a good Thursday night with usat home, he ate and slept and I cuddled him on the bed from 6-7 amFriday morning, as well as cuddled him some on Thursday night beforebed. He even managed a purr or two for me then. At 8am Friday I took him to the vets, he was too cold, and snorkeling a bit = too much fluid build up in lungs. They gave me bad news - got him ready with medsand sent him home to probably die - told me he might justquit breathing. I was okay with that. Before I left they gave him a drug to helphim pee, and he tried to go at home, it was the strain of pooping and peeing at home that brought on his breathing problems- he was literally gasping for air... He had an unknown heart condition, that made it more difficult to treat him. In the end - the vet was sure his kidenys were failing or going to, and that he would not recover and that the extent of his panting and gasping was such that he was suffering -he was severely anemic by that point as well- possibly from some bleeding internally. So as he lay gasping and panting, far away from us, slipping in and out of awareness, with little home, I made the decision to let him go to God with dignity - as the vet put it.
He was wrapped in his own blankie that smelled of home, he had me present with him, and he was being stroked and loved the entire time he passed. He was already halfway gone into coma by then, so Ido not know he "knew" what was going on.
We plan to bury him next to dear Sheba cat, who passedaway in March of this year. I'll put another rose bush there,to mark his resting place, and maybe even a bird bath as Betsy suggested.
I think I'd like to think of his ghostly self stalking the birds at the bird bath.In life, that is something he absolutely would do!
He used to wait each day for me at the front door, or in his basket,and get up and greet me as I came in. He put up with the othercats in the house - even to grooming them as "senior" male. He was such a storied cat, with so many life experiences and suchcharacter! He used walk on a leash at the vets, he never ever went to thevets in cage like other cats, LOL! He was in charge of dogs not the otherway around.
He ruled his roost with an iron paw in a velvet glove...and he ruled my heart from the day I brought him home, 1asa scrawny but fiesty little 6wk old kitten. He leaves me with 18 years and 3 months of memories..Really good ones some, really frightening ones too.
I know I'll never find another cat like him, even if I raise it from a kitten. In the end, as with all my furry companions our time was too brief. RIP dearest Diablo and may you be frolicking in a body free of pain, young and energetic, and happy.
And maybe, just maybe - your little ghost will come and visit me in my dreams to tell me how happy you are across the other side, and send me some comfort to know that you too wanted to end it, and wanted to pass over. For I know, that that is where you are - on the other side of the door, waiting for me to step through and be with you. You will be the first one to greet me, and maybe, even the one to guide me over the bridge myself, when my time comes to join you. Your faithful and loving owner Oona
