Good day all~
It's unfortuate that my first thread on these forums has to be in this forum :
. Yesterday my cat of 9 years, Simba, was put to sleep. Simba was my very first pet that I've had, and what a pal he was. If you don't mind, I'd like to share my story of Simba.
My sister (20 at the time) and I (9 at the time) coaxed our parents into getting a pet. This would be my first pet, and my sister's second. As I got off the bus from my fourth grade school day, I entered the house to find our new kitten, Simba. This was in 1996.
Simba never really cared for me much when we first got him. This was mainly because, unknowingly, I would antagonize him. However, he used to adore my sister. He would always sleep with her on her bed. Literally lay on the kitchen table when she would snack. They were very close. My sister moved out when she was 25, in 2001. From then on it was just me and Simba. By that time, I was around 14, and treated him how he should be treated. However there were still a few moments when I would "wild him up". Eventually, since it was just him and I, we really started to bond.
In 2001, he became sick. Anytime he would eat, a few hours later, he would vomit all of the food back onto the floor. This went on for a few days straight; we knew he had to go to the vet. He never liked the vet. He would growl, hiss, and even bark at other dogs! He also never liked being examined, therefore they always had to sedate him in order to do their examination. Once the X-rays were observed, the vet told us that he had a quarter stuck in his intestines! We were speechless. A Phone call later, and $1,000+, from my parents, he under went surgery. We got the call that night that he was fine, and it was actually a dime that he swallowed. How, we're not sure, but he did. He came home the next day (Saturday) and was completely bald except for his neck/head, and around his paws.
Ever since soming back from the first surgery, he was much calmer. Since that day, him and I grew a much stronger bond. He knew the time I'd get home from school and wait on the top step. He would sleep in my computer chair and even on my desk. He would wait for me in the hallway to awake in the morning and even when me and my dad would watch TV in our entertainment room, he'd jump up on the couch, I'd pet him, and he'd watch movies with us.
About 2 weeks ago, when I would pet him, I noticed a "bump", or a mass on his right side. My parents tried to feel it, but they could not. However, one morning my dad did. I was concerned. 4 years later (I'm now 18, in college), it was like Deja Vu. He started vomiting all of his food up on the floor again. 3 days past, and once again, we knew he had to go to the vet. Unfortunatey I could not go as I had classes that day. As soon as classes ended, I called my parents, and asked how he was. I was told the vet said he's "fine". I rushed home to see him. When I got in, once again, he was on the steps waiting. I petted him, kissed him, etc. He remained on the steps for almost the entire day/night. The vet told my parents that he had an abundant amount of hairballs in his stomach, so he gave him hairball medicine/food from Iams, and said that's would clear him up, he also felt that mass on his side and explained it was nothing to worry about.
The follwing days afterward, he was still vomiting everything. When we called the vet back, our vet wasn't on, but the vet who did the surgery in '01 explained we need to bring him in. Yesterday morning I put him in the carrier and we bring him in. When I got home from my classes I learned that he had a massive mass between his bladder and stomach/intestines, which was wrapped around his digestive track, thus causing him not to digest the food. Yes, this was the same mass I felt, and the same mass the other vet said was "nothing". The vet explained they could to surgery and try to remove it, send it to the lab, however if it came back malignant, they would be forced to put him to sleep. Our parents as well as the vet felt best not to put him through all that suffering, and to put him to sleep without the surgery.
We visited Simba at the vet's last night for the last time. Unfortunately, he was even hissing at my sister and myself. He simply hated being at the vet's office. I felt so terrible that they were going to put him to sleep and he wasn't even happy, but rather scared/angry. A day later, I'm lost without him. I came home from classes today, he wasn't their waiting on the step for me. I looked at my bed, he wasn't there laying under my covers. I went to my desk from where I'm typing this and he was not on my chair, or on the desk. He's gone.
I originally didn't think it would be this hard. He's just a cat right? Wrong, he was more than just a cat; he was one of my best friend, if not only my true best friend. I miss him so much . . . the house, and myself feel so . . . empty.
He may sound like a mean cat due to all of his growling/hissing, however at home, he wouldn't even consider doing that. I'll always remember Simba for his personality. There is not one single cat out there that could replace him, or even be close to his personality. From chasing the light of a flashlight, to slapping me in the head when I'd walk downstairs, signaling he wanted to play, and finally for always being there. Though, he had a "CAUTION" sticker on the cage he was put in, and on his medical chart, however, when home, he had one of the best personalities. No other cat could replace my pal, Simba.
Well, that's my story. Sorry for it being so long, but I just needed to share Simba's life. Nine years is a pretty short life for a cat, however at least I was blessed to have him for that long. He will always be remembered.
Rest in Peace Simby, and please, have fun with the other animals across the rainbow bridge; hopefully one day, we'll be together again.
It's unfortuate that my first thread on these forums has to be in this forum :
My sister (20 at the time) and I (9 at the time) coaxed our parents into getting a pet. This would be my first pet, and my sister's second. As I got off the bus from my fourth grade school day, I entered the house to find our new kitten, Simba. This was in 1996.
Simba never really cared for me much when we first got him. This was mainly because, unknowingly, I would antagonize him. However, he used to adore my sister. He would always sleep with her on her bed. Literally lay on the kitchen table when she would snack. They were very close. My sister moved out when she was 25, in 2001. From then on it was just me and Simba. By that time, I was around 14, and treated him how he should be treated. However there were still a few moments when I would "wild him up". Eventually, since it was just him and I, we really started to bond.
In 2001, he became sick. Anytime he would eat, a few hours later, he would vomit all of the food back onto the floor. This went on for a few days straight; we knew he had to go to the vet. He never liked the vet. He would growl, hiss, and even bark at other dogs! He also never liked being examined, therefore they always had to sedate him in order to do their examination. Once the X-rays were observed, the vet told us that he had a quarter stuck in his intestines! We were speechless. A Phone call later, and $1,000+, from my parents, he under went surgery. We got the call that night that he was fine, and it was actually a dime that he swallowed. How, we're not sure, but he did. He came home the next day (Saturday) and was completely bald except for his neck/head, and around his paws.
Ever since soming back from the first surgery, he was much calmer. Since that day, him and I grew a much stronger bond. He knew the time I'd get home from school and wait on the top step. He would sleep in my computer chair and even on my desk. He would wait for me in the hallway to awake in the morning and even when me and my dad would watch TV in our entertainment room, he'd jump up on the couch, I'd pet him, and he'd watch movies with us.
About 2 weeks ago, when I would pet him, I noticed a "bump", or a mass on his right side. My parents tried to feel it, but they could not. However, one morning my dad did. I was concerned. 4 years later (I'm now 18, in college), it was like Deja Vu. He started vomiting all of his food up on the floor again. 3 days past, and once again, we knew he had to go to the vet. Unfortunatey I could not go as I had classes that day. As soon as classes ended, I called my parents, and asked how he was. I was told the vet said he's "fine". I rushed home to see him. When I got in, once again, he was on the steps waiting. I petted him, kissed him, etc. He remained on the steps for almost the entire day/night. The vet told my parents that he had an abundant amount of hairballs in his stomach, so he gave him hairball medicine/food from Iams, and said that's would clear him up, he also felt that mass on his side and explained it was nothing to worry about.
The follwing days afterward, he was still vomiting everything. When we called the vet back, our vet wasn't on, but the vet who did the surgery in '01 explained we need to bring him in. Yesterday morning I put him in the carrier and we bring him in. When I got home from my classes I learned that he had a massive mass between his bladder and stomach/intestines, which was wrapped around his digestive track, thus causing him not to digest the food. Yes, this was the same mass I felt, and the same mass the other vet said was "nothing". The vet explained they could to surgery and try to remove it, send it to the lab, however if it came back malignant, they would be forced to put him to sleep. Our parents as well as the vet felt best not to put him through all that suffering, and to put him to sleep without the surgery.
We visited Simba at the vet's last night for the last time. Unfortunately, he was even hissing at my sister and myself. He simply hated being at the vet's office. I felt so terrible that they were going to put him to sleep and he wasn't even happy, but rather scared/angry. A day later, I'm lost without him. I came home from classes today, he wasn't their waiting on the step for me. I looked at my bed, he wasn't there laying under my covers. I went to my desk from where I'm typing this and he was not on my chair, or on the desk. He's gone.
I originally didn't think it would be this hard. He's just a cat right? Wrong, he was more than just a cat; he was one of my best friend, if not only my true best friend. I miss him so much . . . the house, and myself feel so . . . empty.
He may sound like a mean cat due to all of his growling/hissing, however at home, he wouldn't even consider doing that. I'll always remember Simba for his personality. There is not one single cat out there that could replace him, or even be close to his personality. From chasing the light of a flashlight, to slapping me in the head when I'd walk downstairs, signaling he wanted to play, and finally for always being there. Though, he had a "CAUTION" sticker on the cage he was put in, and on his medical chart, however, when home, he had one of the best personalities. No other cat could replace my pal, Simba.
Well, that's my story. Sorry for it being so long, but I just needed to share Simba's life. Nine years is a pretty short life for a cat, however at least I was blessed to have him for that long. He will always be remembered.
Rest in Peace Simby, and please, have fun with the other animals across the rainbow bridge; hopefully one day, we'll be together again.
