Cocheezie August12, 1997 - October 31, 2014

cocheezie

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I'm going to miss this opinionated woman who knew her own mind and stuck to it, but know that her original owner was waiting for her and there was a host of cat-loving family members eager to meet her. My mother-in-law always mentioned in every phone call that we were to look after her cat if anything happened. We took Cocheezie in to honour the mother-in-law. We had more than four years with this little bundle of opinion and enjoyed every minute of it.

There are too many empty spaces in the house were there should be a little black cat, and the waves of tears are doing little to fill the spaces.
 

goholistic

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Aw...Cocheezie. 
  I'm so, so sorry for your loss. This makes me so sad. Your mother-in-law would be proud. You took such good care of Cocheezie, more than your mother-in-law probably would have ever expected. I know just from reading your threads that you really poured your heart into helping this kitty and making sacrifices to ensure she had a good...no, great...quality of life until the very end. She was such a strong girl and sure checked a lot of things off her bucket list these past few months. 


Rest in peace, Cocheezie. 
 

nurseangel

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I think you are a blessing to have taken in your mother-in-law's cat and given her a happy life.  I'm so sorry for your loss.  
 

mnm

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I'm soooo thankful Cocheezie had you... it's always a concern of mine if our kitty outlives us.
 

Loving Mickey

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I am so sorry for your loss of Cocheezie.You did a wonderful job caring for her until the very end.She was lucky to have you.I always worry that a cat will have no one to care if their original owner passes first.Cocheezie was one of the lucky ones since she had you.Always remember that especially when you are in tears missing her.Take Care!!
 

jcat

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My condolences on your loss of Cocheezie. :rbheart: She couldn't have had it better than with you, and it's a comforting thought that she's been reunited with your mother-in-law.
 
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cocheezie

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Thank you all.

Monday, she stopped eating. Tuesday, we tried a variety of foods she had never had before. She ate six times. But the novelty of new food wore off quickly and on Wednesday, she had stopped eating and stopped drinking. I increased her subq fluids to 2x, sometimes 3x a day in smaller amounts to counteract dehydration. This she tolerated better than a massive wallop of fluid all at once. She showed interest when food was placed in front of her, and spent some time sitting in front of the water bowl as if she was deciding to have a drink or not. I threw a "hail mary" pass on Thursday by increasing her ranitidine. It didn't help. She had a few licks and walked away. When she wasn't sleeping, or checking the balcony to see if, optimistically, the weather had warmed up, she was sitting in front of the water bowl. She ate maybe a tsp of food later that afternoon. Also, as the week went by, she was becoming increasingly hard to medicate. This too was a sign. It was obvious that syringe feeding was not an option.

I spent the last night sleeping beside her. We did her favourite petting session where I hold her favourite brush up with one hand and scratch above her tail with my other hand. She rubs her face, neck, and chin against the brush. She loves this. Afterwards, she slept sprawled comfortably on her blankets which I took as a sign that she was not in pain. 

Friday morning, we made the decision. Even with a higher dose of rantidine 2x the day before, she still wasn't eating or drinking. We called the clinic to tell them we were coming. I spent some time grooming and making her look her best, and gave her a bit of subq fluids and a bit of ranitidine which I hope helped her feel more comfortable. We asked the vet (not our usual one, but a good one nonetheless) to examine her first and confirm that we were making the decision at the right time. The vet spent a long time palpitating Coch's belly. Cocheezie showed no discomfort. The vet's face was shocked when she realized how big the tumour was. The tumour was taking up Coch's entire abdomen. The vet said that she didn't think Coch was in pain judging by her alertness and the lack of reaction to the examination. The vet put out the suggestion that if Coch wasn't eating or drinking, it was simply because there was no longer room for her to do so. The vet also said that her coat was in amazing shape and that she hadn't been feeling unwell long. The vet did not think that her tumour had strangled her intestines because she was still having bowel movements relative to the amount of food intake. In the end, it wasn't the kidneys, or the liver, or the rapid heart, or the heart murmur - it was the tumour. And I am so thankful that to the best of our knowledge, Cocheezie wasn't in any great pain.

However, it was time. She wanted to eat and drink, but couldn't. Starving is not a pleasant way to die.

A few weeks ago, my DH had a dream in which Coch was lying on the 2nd floor balcony was surrounded in light (like there were many handheld sparklers surrounding her).  Cocheezie lifted off the balcony and floated through the air, getting smaller and smaller until she disappeared into the light over the catnip patch. So that is where her ashes will be placed.

Again, thank you everyone on the forum, for the incredible support and the on-the-mark information that helped us guide Cocheezie through her last year. Our family is forever in your debt.
 
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betsygee

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It sounds like Cocheezie had the best passing she could have had.  What a wonderful dream your husband had.  I hope you can keep that in your heart when you think of Cocheezie.  
 

di and bob

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I'm so glad you had such a big heart to take her in, it sounds like she had a wonderful life with you and loved you for it. She may be gone from your lives but she will live on forever in that special place in your hearts. I'll keep you all in my thoughts and prayers, I'm so sorry for your loss, the heavens have gained a beautiful angel.  You spared her the pain of starvation and let her go in peace, her pain became your pain. Bless you for loving so much. RIP beautiful Cocheezie!
 

chalupa

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I'm so sorry to read about Cocheezie. Although I didn't know her in the real, you described a wonderful creature who sounded like so much fun. She was definitely a strong cat in spirit and she fought hard to not be overwhelmed with sickness until the very end. I always looked up to you and Cocheezie. What a cool cat, it's such a sad way to go, it sounded like she wasn't done fighting. I'm so glad she didn't seem to suffer too much. You must have given her so much to look forward to everyday, she didn't want to give up. I will miss reading about Cocheezie. The coolest cats have a c and an h in their names, seems like.
 

abbyntim

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I am so sorry to hear that Cocheezie is gone. But what a life! I'd kept up with her since I joined this site and was so impressed with your care of her and how well she seemed, all things considered. It sounds like her final days were pretty good until the end, and I'm so glad to read that the vet believed she was not in any pain. I am sure your mother-in-law is very excited to greet her opinionated girl! I know you will miss her, I will miss reading about her.
 
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