Hello all,
We said goodbye to my best friend today. His health has been in rough shape this last month. He had been suffering from what we thought was a severe URI(infection) bUT he just wasn't responding well to any meds. Last night he woke me up pawing at my back. He was bleeding from his nose. I woke up cleaned him up and put him on a towel next to me. Throughout the night I would wake up and check on him if he didn't wake me up first wanting to be held or acknowledged. I thought maybe at first he had busted blood vessels in his nose (it had happened once before from all his sneezing)but he hasn't been sneezing for awhile now. Though as the hours passed the drainage was not lessening and his eye began to swell and his face seemed tender to the touch. I kept him as comfortable as possible and waited for my gf to get up (she works nights) to discuss our next step. Sadly even if I had the funds I don't think we could have done much for him and I didn't want to watch him suffer. (There is lots about his medical condition I haven't posted on here) but I felt it was time. We did in home euthanasia...it was better than taking him to the vet but in a way I felt rushed...I don't know it could just be my hightened emotional state. We should get his ashes back in a few days and we had his paw print done as well. I'm avoiding the bedroom (that was his area) I keep thinking I need to get his meds and make sure he's eaten but the room is cold,dark,and empty of life. I miss him so much already and it hasn't even been 12 hours.
This wonderful old man saved me. He was exactly what I needed and I was what he needed. My grandmother was a hoarder. Stuff,animals,more stuff... it's what I grew up in but knew was wrong. I decided when I was 18 to step up and do the right thing. I tried to get her help but instead that earned me banishment from her life as well as the 40+ animals she owned. Years later my grandmother was sick and helpless. She had no money and nobody. I was contacted by one of her friends asking me if I could help. Keep in mind this woman hated me, just imagine the biggest mess of a family and you've got it. I went to help her. Talk to her and asked about her animals. She told me yes but quite a few had died and gave me permission to go and check on them. I remember opening the door and of course if you've ever been around a hoarding situation you know the "smell". Of course it had been years since I had smelled or dealt with any of this and here I was a brand new "civillian" (I had just gotten out of the army) diving head first into this. And ya know there he was orange and white as could be still kicking after all these years...for the first time in a long time I hit my knees crying. I was overwhelmed by my entire situation but here was this old tripod bobtail cat I had loved so much as a kid. There he was looking curious and wide eyed. There were only 13 cats left most of which I didn't know. Bob was the one from my childhood who was still hanging in there. I took him with me and promised the others I would be back to help them (of course I left food and fresh water). I rehomed 9 and had 2 put down and of course kept Bob. Fast forward and this cat who I've shared so much history with,helps me cope after my grandmother goes into a coma and I have to make the choice. He spent nights sitting on my chest purring while I told him all my problems and cried god did i cry a lot.Giving me head bop when I would come home from working all day and college all night,he'd be happy and in turn I'd laugh and never realize just how much this sweet cat was saving me. I've worked with animals for 9 years in lots of aspects...I've seen euthanasia more times than I would like to count but this...this hurts like I never imagined. I had Bob for about 2 years. We battled stomatitis and even moved across country together to live with my gf. He got to be loved and have free roam of the house and have fresh food and water. He got clean beds and had his own laser pointer(he'd always "eat" the dot and look so happy with himself).He got to be a loving companion and not a thing to be added to the collection. I did everything I knew to do but sadly life must end. I am thankful for the time I got for the opportunity to show him what being spoiled was but I will miss him so much and wish we had more time together. Rest well, Bubba. I love you.
We said goodbye to my best friend today. His health has been in rough shape this last month. He had been suffering from what we thought was a severe URI(infection) bUT he just wasn't responding well to any meds. Last night he woke me up pawing at my back. He was bleeding from his nose. I woke up cleaned him up and put him on a towel next to me. Throughout the night I would wake up and check on him if he didn't wake me up first wanting to be held or acknowledged. I thought maybe at first he had busted blood vessels in his nose (it had happened once before from all his sneezing)but he hasn't been sneezing for awhile now. Though as the hours passed the drainage was not lessening and his eye began to swell and his face seemed tender to the touch. I kept him as comfortable as possible and waited for my gf to get up (she works nights) to discuss our next step. Sadly even if I had the funds I don't think we could have done much for him and I didn't want to watch him suffer. (There is lots about his medical condition I haven't posted on here) but I felt it was time. We did in home euthanasia...it was better than taking him to the vet but in a way I felt rushed...I don't know it could just be my hightened emotional state. We should get his ashes back in a few days and we had his paw print done as well. I'm avoiding the bedroom (that was his area) I keep thinking I need to get his meds and make sure he's eaten but the room is cold,dark,and empty of life. I miss him so much already and it hasn't even been 12 hours.
This wonderful old man saved me. He was exactly what I needed and I was what he needed. My grandmother was a hoarder. Stuff,animals,more stuff... it's what I grew up in but knew was wrong. I decided when I was 18 to step up and do the right thing. I tried to get her help but instead that earned me banishment from her life as well as the 40+ animals she owned. Years later my grandmother was sick and helpless. She had no money and nobody. I was contacted by one of her friends asking me if I could help. Keep in mind this woman hated me, just imagine the biggest mess of a family and you've got it. I went to help her. Talk to her and asked about her animals. She told me yes but quite a few had died and gave me permission to go and check on them. I remember opening the door and of course if you've ever been around a hoarding situation you know the "smell". Of course it had been years since I had smelled or dealt with any of this and here I was a brand new "civillian" (I had just gotten out of the army) diving head first into this. And ya know there he was orange and white as could be still kicking after all these years...for the first time in a long time I hit my knees crying. I was overwhelmed by my entire situation but here was this old tripod bobtail cat I had loved so much as a kid. There he was looking curious and wide eyed. There were only 13 cats left most of which I didn't know. Bob was the one from my childhood who was still hanging in there. I took him with me and promised the others I would be back to help them (of course I left food and fresh water). I rehomed 9 and had 2 put down and of course kept Bob. Fast forward and this cat who I've shared so much history with,helps me cope after my grandmother goes into a coma and I have to make the choice. He spent nights sitting on my chest purring while I told him all my problems and cried god did i cry a lot.Giving me head bop when I would come home from working all day and college all night,he'd be happy and in turn I'd laugh and never realize just how much this sweet cat was saving me. I've worked with animals for 9 years in lots of aspects...I've seen euthanasia more times than I would like to count but this...this hurts like I never imagined. I had Bob for about 2 years. We battled stomatitis and even moved across country together to live with my gf. He got to be loved and have free roam of the house and have fresh food and water. He got clean beds and had his own laser pointer(he'd always "eat" the dot and look so happy with himself).He got to be a loving companion and not a thing to be added to the collection. I did everything I knew to do but sadly life must end. I am thankful for the time I got for the opportunity to show him what being spoiled was but I will miss him so much and wish we had more time together. Rest well, Bubba. I love you.