Pumkin, my little friend.

leshelby

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I'm so glad I found this site. I've never been able to talk about how I lost pumpkin and have people truly understand. Last year in March, Mittens, the cat I've had since I was 2 years old, passed away after a long, happy 18 years of life. I was so devastated though. I was moving when my mom called and told me to come to her house right away but I didn't make it in time. My poor mittens finally had enough and went peacefully. We cremated him like we did to my moms other two cats and have his ashes in a silver vase at her house. Fast forward to this march, a year after Mittens died, I was on my way home when the car in front of me screeched his breaks, swerved, then drove on, but I saw why...as he swerved, I saw an orange blur dart from under his car into the bushes on the side of the road. I stopped and tried to look to see if it was a dog or something and found the prettiest orange cat I've ever seen. He didn't run but he cried like he wanted help. He sat up and walked but didn't come near me. I got an old blanket out of my car, scooped him up, and took him to the 24 hour vet hospital. He had a tire mark on his back paw and they had to amputate his tail. Other than that, they didn't find any broken bones or bleeding, and he was purring and happy. I took him home that night and gave him some food and water and kept my 5 month old cat in my room. I slept on the couch so I could watch the cat but he never ate anything and drank very little.

The next morning, I was about to take him to my vet. He followed me everywhere...he even laid up against the bathtub while I showered. My vet looked him over and noticed his gums and ears were almost white. He was not infested with fleas but had ear mites and was not fixed or marked in any way. My vet thought he was about 4 or 5 years old. They tested for anaemia and found he was very dehydrated. His eyes were also a gold color that meant he was sick. My vet determined that the cat, who he started calling Pumkin by the end of the visit, had been very very sick before getting hit by the truck and that there was probably nothing I could do...I was devastated and I hadn't even had him for 24 hours. The vet gave me some special food and told me to keep him updated.

A few days later, Pumkin still had not eaten. I tried everything...I tried a bunch of different wet foods, even baby food and cream cheese but he had no interest. I noticed things were going to turn out badly when he let me put the food on his nose and didn't lick it off. He had stopped drinking water by then. I knew then that this cat who I had tried to take such good care of was not going to make it. I had never experienced anything like this before...I've fostered kittens that were three days old that no chance in hell of making it and never lost one...I felt I had let down this beautiful cat who obviously was only looking for a home. I cried when I called my vet back and made the appointment to end pumkins suffering...the appointment was made for that weekend, after I had had the kitty for a full week.

After I got off work, I made the terrible drive home to pick up Pumkin for his appointment. When I got home, I called for him and looked around and wasnt able to find him right away. He usually came slowly crawling towards the door. I looked in my room and that's where I found him in what he had made "his spot" on my pillow...and he had already passed. I cried and just pet him for an hour...I'm tearing up now just remembering. I called my vet and told them he had passed. I found a beach towel and wrapped up his stiff little body and took him to my vet where they disposed of him at no charge to me. My vet hugged me and told me I had done a great thing but I felt like I let the little cat down so much. I had him for such a short time, i know it sounds a little crazy, but i have such a soft spot for the fur babies. I know there's nothing I could have done, but until I lost mittens, I hadn't lost a cat for almost 8 years when my moms cat laverne died. And as I said, each stray cat I rescued or cats I've fostered never died on me and all found loving homes. One thing I am grateful for is that Pumkin didn't die on the streets, and had a loving home at least for a little bit. A few days later, I got a sympathy card from my vet with a little silver paw keychain with pumkins name on it. I'm grateful for my vet for caring as much as I did about my little week long friend.

Thank you for reading and letting me share.
 

mani

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Oh golly, I wept as I read your story.

I'm so sorry that you lost Pumpkin. 

You were blessed to have been together for that short time and you gave him everything you possibly could.




R.I.P. Pumpkin

 
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jcat

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It sounds as though Pumkin was looking for some love and care before he left this world, and fate brought him to you, who were willing to give it. You made a big difference in his life, even if it was for just a short time. RIP, Pumkin. Somebody cared.
 
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