Alaska, the beautiful & sweet Aby....

Hey all,

I had posted on here 3 months ago about my sweet kitty (who is now my avatar) who had cancer. View media item 291612




(the day I left her @ the vet's office - she only got to spend 1 1/2 other days at home as the vet granted her a short visit)


The last picture ever taken of her. She was down to skin & bones. Didn't even want to post this here but it is the last day she was home.

Long story short, she had been losing weight for a year. She had seen 3 vets, none of which 'knew what was wrong' . I decided to try a new vet, who immediately said she felt she had cancer. We (myself & the vet's office) tried everything we could for 2 weeks to get her built up so exploratory surgery could be done. From transfusions to daily IV fluids, 2 week vet stay, catheters, blood testing, appetite stimulants, steroids, anemia meds...  Alaska was a trooper, she never gave up, but during her surgery, it was found the cancer was extremely widespread and even with chemo she would deteriorate. The vet said it would not be fair to keep her alive so I had to make the gut wrenching decision to let her go.

It has been 10 weeks tomorrow since she left us & it is still extremely painful. I still cry 2x a week at least. I have other cats (11 actually), but each animal has their own personality...

I posted this 2 weeks ago on the 8 week 'anniversary' of her death.

I wanted to type up something special for this page but I am @ work and in tears, so this is the best I can do right now...

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8 weeks ago today I had to make the decision to end the life of one of my cats. While it wouldn't bother most people, and I had no option it is still extremely upsetting.
Alaska was a beautiful 7 year old kitty.
...
I adopted her from the HS in Jonesboro in 2009. Her owner had dumped her & her brother there. The best guess at the time is that she was around a year old.

She was insistent, as most cats are, she liked having both the sink and bathtub water dripping, even after I spent good $$$ on a nice fountain for them.

She was one of the most agile cats I have ever met. She could squeeze her way thru just about anything. She also frequently repelled off of me when she did not want to be carried. She was always on the go, she never sat still for very long.

She had a designated spot where she would sleep next to me at night & even 8 weeks after her death, none of the other cats have taken it over.

She loved people and being pet. She wasn't crazy about the other cats (I blame it on her being declawed by her former ass owner), but she learned to live with them.

I typed out a long message about her awful illness, but that isn't the way she should be remembered. I keep thinking when I get home she is going to be there meowing at me and running and jumping on the sink (for me to turn it on), lifting her paw, trying to get me to pet her.

It's funny, the vet told me the day after her first transfusion that she 'met Alaska'. Alaska spent the day chasing the vet around the clinic. The vet said she would speed up then Alaska would speed up - meowing behind her the whole time.

Hopefully eventually I can think of her and not have tears in my eyes, and instead smile at her crazy antics, but that day is not today.

Her carrier is still in my car. One day I will be able to get it out but not today.

Run free sweet kitty. You were very loved & your mama still misses you very much.

I'm so sorry about your sweet kitty Alaska.  I have to admit seeing that last picture you took of her made me sob, but I'm glad you included it.  Damn cancer!  She reminds me of my Garfy in a way.  He had cancer too and he was about 5 pounds at his death, down from 11.  Bless 'em. They just don't deserve this.  

Your descriptions of her antics made me smile.  I know how much you miss her.  

Thank you for posting the photos of Alaska and telling us who she was.  I know how hard it is for you, I lost my Rachel as she had cancer, too, and she got very thin before she passed on.  It is very sad.

Alaska sounds like she was the sweetest, kindest of cats and had a loving, wonderful home.  She was a beautiful girl.  I just want to let you know how sorry I am and will think of her story whenever I see your avatar.

She was such a beautiful girl. I'm glad that you have so many happy memories of her. She sounds as if she had a wonderful life with you.

Thank you for such a wonderful tribute to such a sweet cat, I cried through most of it too, I can feel your pain through your story. Only time helps to soften the acute pain we feel, I still cry when I clean my Chrissy's grave stone and think of what I lost almost three years ago. The other babies in your home will help to comfort you, I'm sure they all feel the loss too. If nothing else they can help to keep your mind off of your pain, and coming here to this site will bring you comfort from people who understand completely what you are going through. You have lost a family member and an important part of your life, so let yourself grieve for what you have lost until you can think of that precious baby with smiles instead of tears. Try to celebrate what you two shared, a love that even death will never take from you. I'll pray for you all, take care........ RIP sweet Alaska, you will be forever held in a loving heart and will never be forgotten!

Thank you for sharing the pictures of beautiful Alaska and telling her story.  I am so sorry for your loss.

I'm very sorry for your loss. Alaska was a beautiful girl with a big personality. RIP, sweetie.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your sweet girl -she was so beautiful.  I lost my precious princess Tiger to pancreatic/liver cancer in July, so my heart goes out to you. Hugs.

Beautiful Alaska