Hi, I posted this under the original Freddie thread, but am putting it on a new thread for those of you who may not know my sad news. I posted this on Monday afternoon, 21 March, the day before Freddie was to have his surgery.
Hi,
Sadly, we assisted Freddie on his journey to Rainbow Bridge at approximately 2.15 p.m. (UK time) today (Mnday 21 March). A very sad day for me, I have fed Freddie twice daily for 3 years now, and have loved him all of that time, worried about him, he always had the best quality food in case he got an infection and therefore had the reserves to fight it.
Hubby came home early, we trapped Freddie so easily, he loved being outside for the few mintues he was there, in the cage. We caught him too easy, no resistance. He was 3.4 kilos 2 weeks yesterday, today he was 2.8. Considering that he was drinking loads of water he was dehydrated. Anyway, the vet sedated him, no problem at all. He was asleep within minutes, His blood test showed positive for feline leukaemia. Normally the test takes 20 minutes, Freddie´s took 10. On further investigation his gums were nearly white, severe anaemia the vet thinks, on feeling his internal organs she thinks he has a tumour in his stomach, his teeth needed a very good clean. His coat was in excellent condition, no ear mites and no sign of fleas, so obviously the Program liquid worked, at least I know that, bless him. I kissed and cuddled him, and patted him, for the first and last time. For a feral the boy done good, I just wish I could have done more. He must have had the leukaemia a while to be so advanced.
We spoke at length with the vet, covering any option that might be available. She was of the opinion that he did not have a lot of time left. he would need daily injections, which means an hour each time round trip, having had to trap him first, he would then need sedated to have the injection. He would need tablets several times a day, he would never be allowed outside again, and we might have been able to give him another two or three months of life. The decision to let him go peacefully today was not easy, but he would have had no quality of life for those two or three months, stressed out which would make his health worse, and no chance at all of recovery. I didn´t stay whilst the vet sent him on his way, he was zonked out from the sedative, but he is being cremated with his ashes returned to us. He might have been a feral cat, but I loved him for three years, and he could have joined us any time he wanted to, he knew exactly where I lived, some nights if I was a bit late he would be outside next door, waiting. He deserved the dignity to die peacefully, and to be wanted at the end, with love and rememberance. I think I will scatter his ashes in "our spot", where I used to sit and talk to him when he was eating. I can still see and hear him, I would whistle and within minutes I would hear a maiow and Freddie would come running down the steps. He had been missing a bit recently, maybe it was due to his not feeling too well, I will never know. The vet said if I did let him out he would probably find a quiet spot and stay there until he died, a slow, painful death. I couldn´t do that to him, he deserved the best I could give him.
So, I am a very sad ex-mum to Freddie. We lost our white /ginger cat 21 November, Scully 11 February and now Freddie 21 March. Bit tough going right now on the grieving front. I am not sad I brought Freddie indoors, he was there waiting for me two weeks ago, he knew I would care for him. He had warm fleece blankets, lots of hidey holes, food, water, music, soft lighting, and me with him a lot of the time. I do feel guilty for keeping away from him and not chatting much the last two days, but that was only done because I thought he needed to regroup after the wand toy incident. Maybe the stress of that tipped him over the edge, I don´t know, but I will try not to beat myself up about it because nothing I did for Freddie was meant to hurt him, all I wanted to do was help the little guy. Hubby said maybe the stress of being indoors triggered off a big reaction, who knows.
Right now Freddie is at peace, the last thing I could do for him, and I am very sad, but I loved him and I think he knew that, and I could not let him suffer.
I will pop off and on, finding out about ferals, there may be another one along, better to have lots of knowledge and be able to understand and help, maybe sooner another time.
Thank you all for your help and support, I have really appreciated you being here for me, I am just sorry I have to share this sad news with you.
Take care,
Victoria
I miss the little guy like mad, the store room feelds cold and empty, so sad. Several of my friends are also sad at his passing, so I think it is nice for Freddie that he has people who are sad at his departure from this world, even though he did not know them. I loved him and wanted him for three years, and am devastated to lose him, but although I feel sad, I am also happy that we were able to release him from any further pain or suffering, and that he was warm and well fed, with attention and love, for his final days. It would have been even more heartbreaking had I never known all this and he just never turned up again, waiting for a lonely and painful death, and I would not have known or been able to help him. At least this way I know what happened and that he had to leave me, and I could help him do that and ease he way to the next world.
Thanks again for all your support and kind words, I have appreciated it all.
Take care, and hope all your kitties know how lucky they are to have such caring people on their side.
Victoria
Hi,
Sadly, we assisted Freddie on his journey to Rainbow Bridge at approximately 2.15 p.m. (UK time) today (Mnday 21 March). A very sad day for me, I have fed Freddie twice daily for 3 years now, and have loved him all of that time, worried about him, he always had the best quality food in case he got an infection and therefore had the reserves to fight it.
Hubby came home early, we trapped Freddie so easily, he loved being outside for the few mintues he was there, in the cage. We caught him too easy, no resistance. He was 3.4 kilos 2 weeks yesterday, today he was 2.8. Considering that he was drinking loads of water he was dehydrated. Anyway, the vet sedated him, no problem at all. He was asleep within minutes, His blood test showed positive for feline leukaemia. Normally the test takes 20 minutes, Freddie´s took 10. On further investigation his gums were nearly white, severe anaemia the vet thinks, on feeling his internal organs she thinks he has a tumour in his stomach, his teeth needed a very good clean. His coat was in excellent condition, no ear mites and no sign of fleas, so obviously the Program liquid worked, at least I know that, bless him. I kissed and cuddled him, and patted him, for the first and last time. For a feral the boy done good, I just wish I could have done more. He must have had the leukaemia a while to be so advanced.
We spoke at length with the vet, covering any option that might be available. She was of the opinion that he did not have a lot of time left. he would need daily injections, which means an hour each time round trip, having had to trap him first, he would then need sedated to have the injection. He would need tablets several times a day, he would never be allowed outside again, and we might have been able to give him another two or three months of life. The decision to let him go peacefully today was not easy, but he would have had no quality of life for those two or three months, stressed out which would make his health worse, and no chance at all of recovery. I didn´t stay whilst the vet sent him on his way, he was zonked out from the sedative, but he is being cremated with his ashes returned to us. He might have been a feral cat, but I loved him for three years, and he could have joined us any time he wanted to, he knew exactly where I lived, some nights if I was a bit late he would be outside next door, waiting. He deserved the dignity to die peacefully, and to be wanted at the end, with love and rememberance. I think I will scatter his ashes in "our spot", where I used to sit and talk to him when he was eating. I can still see and hear him, I would whistle and within minutes I would hear a maiow and Freddie would come running down the steps. He had been missing a bit recently, maybe it was due to his not feeling too well, I will never know. The vet said if I did let him out he would probably find a quiet spot and stay there until he died, a slow, painful death. I couldn´t do that to him, he deserved the best I could give him.
So, I am a very sad ex-mum to Freddie. We lost our white /ginger cat 21 November, Scully 11 February and now Freddie 21 March. Bit tough going right now on the grieving front. I am not sad I brought Freddie indoors, he was there waiting for me two weeks ago, he knew I would care for him. He had warm fleece blankets, lots of hidey holes, food, water, music, soft lighting, and me with him a lot of the time. I do feel guilty for keeping away from him and not chatting much the last two days, but that was only done because I thought he needed to regroup after the wand toy incident. Maybe the stress of that tipped him over the edge, I don´t know, but I will try not to beat myself up about it because nothing I did for Freddie was meant to hurt him, all I wanted to do was help the little guy. Hubby said maybe the stress of being indoors triggered off a big reaction, who knows.
Right now Freddie is at peace, the last thing I could do for him, and I am very sad, but I loved him and I think he knew that, and I could not let him suffer.
I will pop off and on, finding out about ferals, there may be another one along, better to have lots of knowledge and be able to understand and help, maybe sooner another time.
Thank you all for your help and support, I have really appreciated you being here for me, I am just sorry I have to share this sad news with you.
Take care,
Victoria
I miss the little guy like mad, the store room feelds cold and empty, so sad. Several of my friends are also sad at his passing, so I think it is nice for Freddie that he has people who are sad at his departure from this world, even though he did not know them. I loved him and wanted him for three years, and am devastated to lose him, but although I feel sad, I am also happy that we were able to release him from any further pain or suffering, and that he was warm and well fed, with attention and love, for his final days. It would have been even more heartbreaking had I never known all this and he just never turned up again, waiting for a lonely and painful death, and I would not have known or been able to help him. At least this way I know what happened and that he had to leave me, and I could help him do that and ease he way to the next world.
Thanks again for all your support and kind words, I have appreciated it all.
Take care, and hope all your kitties know how lucky they are to have such caring people on their side.
Victoria
