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- Jun 29, 2013
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Cherise was a sweet and affectionate calico cat who had a bit of a mischievous side as well. As much as she loved to snuggle and cuddle, she was also a garbage digger and a cabinet top climber, both of which are not allowed. Although she got in trouble sometimes, she was such a good girl and a cat that all my friends said they would love to steal for their own.
I always wanted a calico cat and she and her brother Rubin came to me in 2000 when I rented an old dilapidated house. The previous tenants left them and 2 dogs at the house when they moved out. She had 2 litters of kittens the first was Leo, Wicca, Java, and China. The second was Vega, Nirvana, Iona, Shiva, and Scooben. Of these kittens, I kept Wicca and she has been a very special friend to me.
I only recently found out Cherise was sick. I took Cherise to the vet on June 18th because she seemed too skinny when I was holding her. She weighed in at only 3.8 pounds and the vet ran some tests to see what was the matter. Turns out her liver was failing and the vet recommended euthanasia.
I was shocked and mortified at the thought. I totally wasn't prepared to hear that. I opted to try the medication and several supplements. I also purchased about $100 of special expensive canned foods (I have been feeding canned only for about 2 years, but not the designer kinds). At that time Cherise was still eating on her own, although somewhat reluctantly and with occasional vomiting. I was encouraged however, because her eyes were bright, ears forward, she was interested in the daily activities and she didn't act like she was in pain.
She deteriorated after about 5 days. She flat out refused to eat and I took to feeding her a slurry through a syringe. It was tedious and difficult for both of us, but I felt I could save her. She couldn't keep more than 3-4 ccs down at a time. We worked our way up and I was pleased when I weighed her at 4.5 pounds and for one brief day 5 pounds. Then she began to backslide rapidly. She began to look seriously ill. Her balance was affected and her had trouble walking. She also became jaundiced and developed a twitch, which I later realized were seizures.
On Sunday June 30th I had the day off and debated whether to call the vet for euthanasia. I decided against it because the office was closed that day and the cost would be 3x more than normal. I simply couldn't afford that. On Monday July 1st, I worked but came home twice during the day to feed Cherise. At 3pm she was actively resisting and terribly ill. I needed to get her to the vet but I was also needed back at work. I arranged to take her in the next morning.
Cherise couldn't wait. She passed away at 6pm on July 1st, half an hour after I got home from work. My sweet girl waited so I could sit by her side as she departed this world. After I was sure she was gone, I took her in her basket out to the garden where she loved to lay. I drained her mouth of fluid and picked a small cluster of flowers and catnip to adorn her body. I am tortured knowing that she suffered and I was not able to save her. I am truly devastated by losing her. this whole event has shaken me down to the core. I haven't felt this sad since my grandmother died 20 years ago.
I showed her body to my other 4 cats several times that evening, both alone and in the group. Wicca, Cherise's daughter, was the most distraught and she circled the basket almost continuously. Ripple waited for a quiet chance to sneak up close for a sniff. Aiko had a brief look and a sniff and then went off by herself. Skittlez cautiously approached for a sniff and a long growl.
As much as I loved this cat, I elected to have her cremated and commissioned an artist to make her an urn. I groomed her and took a clipping of fur, a whisker, and a toenail for a memento. I dressed her body in a long strip of white cotton fabric. I tucked a bouquet of flower and catnip from my garden into it. I added feathers and incense and a drop of my own blood on her paw. I made a little program with her photo, lyrics to the song she was named after "Rubin and Cherise" by the Jerry Garcia Band, a personal note from me and these lyrics I dedicated to her as I was nursing her:
"I’ll be your keeper for life as your guardian
I’ll be your warrior of care, your first warden
I’ll be your angel on call, I’ll be on demand
The greatest honor of all, as your guardian"
Read more: ALANIS MORISSETTE - GUARDIAN LYRICS
Have I ever heard of people doing this before? No. But it felt right. She has been a friend for all these years and a part of my family so she deserves the best sendoff I can give her. I am grieving for her every day. As I mentioned, this is very hard for me. When I see the places she liked to lay, or where I cared for her, I am often moved to tears. I will miss her forever.
I always wanted a calico cat and she and her brother Rubin came to me in 2000 when I rented an old dilapidated house. The previous tenants left them and 2 dogs at the house when they moved out. She had 2 litters of kittens the first was Leo, Wicca, Java, and China. The second was Vega, Nirvana, Iona, Shiva, and Scooben. Of these kittens, I kept Wicca and she has been a very special friend to me.
I only recently found out Cherise was sick. I took Cherise to the vet on June 18th because she seemed too skinny when I was holding her. She weighed in at only 3.8 pounds and the vet ran some tests to see what was the matter. Turns out her liver was failing and the vet recommended euthanasia.
I was shocked and mortified at the thought. I totally wasn't prepared to hear that. I opted to try the medication and several supplements. I also purchased about $100 of special expensive canned foods (I have been feeding canned only for about 2 years, but not the designer kinds). At that time Cherise was still eating on her own, although somewhat reluctantly and with occasional vomiting. I was encouraged however, because her eyes were bright, ears forward, she was interested in the daily activities and she didn't act like she was in pain.
She deteriorated after about 5 days. She flat out refused to eat and I took to feeding her a slurry through a syringe. It was tedious and difficult for both of us, but I felt I could save her. She couldn't keep more than 3-4 ccs down at a time. We worked our way up and I was pleased when I weighed her at 4.5 pounds and for one brief day 5 pounds. Then she began to backslide rapidly. She began to look seriously ill. Her balance was affected and her had trouble walking. She also became jaundiced and developed a twitch, which I later realized were seizures.
On Sunday June 30th I had the day off and debated whether to call the vet for euthanasia. I decided against it because the office was closed that day and the cost would be 3x more than normal. I simply couldn't afford that. On Monday July 1st, I worked but came home twice during the day to feed Cherise. At 3pm she was actively resisting and terribly ill. I needed to get her to the vet but I was also needed back at work. I arranged to take her in the next morning.
Cherise couldn't wait. She passed away at 6pm on July 1st, half an hour after I got home from work. My sweet girl waited so I could sit by her side as she departed this world. After I was sure she was gone, I took her in her basket out to the garden where she loved to lay. I drained her mouth of fluid and picked a small cluster of flowers and catnip to adorn her body. I am tortured knowing that she suffered and I was not able to save her. I am truly devastated by losing her. this whole event has shaken me down to the core. I haven't felt this sad since my grandmother died 20 years ago.
I showed her body to my other 4 cats several times that evening, both alone and in the group. Wicca, Cherise's daughter, was the most distraught and she circled the basket almost continuously. Ripple waited for a quiet chance to sneak up close for a sniff. Aiko had a brief look and a sniff and then went off by herself. Skittlez cautiously approached for a sniff and a long growl.
As much as I loved this cat, I elected to have her cremated and commissioned an artist to make her an urn. I groomed her and took a clipping of fur, a whisker, and a toenail for a memento. I dressed her body in a long strip of white cotton fabric. I tucked a bouquet of flower and catnip from my garden into it. I added feathers and incense and a drop of my own blood on her paw. I made a little program with her photo, lyrics to the song she was named after "Rubin and Cherise" by the Jerry Garcia Band, a personal note from me and these lyrics I dedicated to her as I was nursing her:
"I’ll be your keeper for life as your guardian
I’ll be your warrior of care, your first warden
I’ll be your angel on call, I’ll be on demand
The greatest honor of all, as your guardian"
Read more: ALANIS MORISSETTE - GUARDIAN LYRICS
Have I ever heard of people doing this before? No. But it felt right. She has been a friend for all these years and a part of my family so she deserves the best sendoff I can give her. I am grieving for her every day. As I mentioned, this is very hard for me. When I see the places she liked to lay, or where I cared for her, I am often moved to tears. I will miss her forever.
