The odds were against him but TCS prayers were for him: he was in a litter of abandoned newborn ferals found in a March snowstorm, all still in the sac, umbilical cords attached. Our feedstore had just begun stocking colostrum for small animals and Trucker was given a chance. Trucker was the ONLY survivor - one tiny perished with the first hour of rescue; I trapped a feral mom & she took in the remaining 3 plus her own but a 2nd sibling died in less than two weeks. The 3rd little guy passed on about a month later. Meanwhile, the unvaccinated feral mom and her kittens got very ill and the mom was put down (when I trapped her, the vet said vaccination would do no good). Her own kittens were much older than Trucker and responded well to treatment (all are now spayed, friendly adults). But the vet had doubts for Trucker. My prayers began to be only for Trucker to grow large enough to be "put down" peacefully...
....BUT TRUCKER.....who looked like a wombat, not growing whiskers until July, 2015, fought on. Took immeasurable doses of antibiotics, plus herbs, and finally grew into a handsome charcoal gray cat. I got him neutered and fully vaccinated last month. Last night, he and I had an incredible cuddle and celebration that "WE MADE IT! WE PASSED THE ONE YEAR BIRTHDAY!"
Sadly, Trucker got out into the street this morning and was struck by a car. My prayers have been answered - it was an instant, quick passing, so very, very much easier than the little siblings had last year. And easier than my beloved housecats, JonnyCat & Joey, who lived indoors but got medical complications. With losing Trucker,there are no unknowns - Trucker didn't just simply vanish, I am not wondering if he is shivering in the wind and oncoming snowstorm......
This is such a hard loss, a very hard loss....Only 1 year old - at the best part of his life, before the burdens of illness and age....Godspeed, Dear Trucker, my little "wombat cat"....was it just "your time" or should I have prayed for more?????
