Susy was one of the first feral cats I rescued when I moved into the area I live in. She showed up one spring, very skinny and very pregnant, and was keen to make friends with anyone who would feed her. I only had one cat at that time, so it made sense for me to start feeding Susy too. Shortly after she started coming for food she had two kittens in an abandoned house near to mine.
Susy was a great mother. She was very protective of her kittens and would chase off any other animals that came near. The kittens started following her to my house after a few months, so our little family grew to 4 cats. I got them all blood tested and vaccinated and had Susy spayed. I made appointments to get both of the kittens fixed when they turned 6 months old too. Sadly, before that happened, the male kitten Zebedee disappeared. Susy and I were heartbroken.
But Susy still had Mia and the two of them moved in with us full time.
There were a lot of needy cats in my neighbourhood at that time and I didn't want any of them to have to struggle to survive. I got a lot of cats fixed, found homes for kittens and ended up taking in any friendly cats who couldn't find homes. Susy was less than impressed. Even though most of my other cats got on very well together Susy never bonded with any of them. She always insisted on having her own room, which she sprayed regularly to keep out intruders, and would start fights with anyone she took a disliking to. But I guess that's what you get with your typical calico cat. Susy had her sweet side too.
She was always very chatty and vocal. We nicknamed her Susy Siren. She was also known as Susy Mao Mao, as that's what she'd answer when we called her name. Whenever I went for walks Susy would follow me to the edge of her territory, then meow at me not to go any further. When I'd come back an hour or so later she'd always be waiting for me.
Our vet got to know her well over the years. She had a couple of UTI's, but most of the time the reason we had to take her to the vet was for war wounds. She'd have a torn ear or an infected scratch from picking fights with bigger cats. All of my cats were wary of her and backed down when they saw her coming. Susy was the queen, and she knew it.
Over the past year Susy has been slowing down. She started to walk kind of stiffly and I noticed bouts of incontinence. Our vet carried out blood tests and suggested joint supplements for her arthritis. It seemed she wasn't sick so much as very old. I don't know exactly how old she was, but I'd been caring for her for over 12 years. She started to lose weight and spent most of her time sleeping. I think the rest of my cats must have breathed a sigh of relief. At least they didn't have to worry about being slapped for breaking one of Susy's rules.
A few weeks ago she stopped eating. We took her to the vet a couple of times for SubQ fluids and I did my best to syringe feed her, but Susy didn't want to know. After a couple of days of me struggling to syringe KMR into her Susy took to her basket and never got up again. She passed away last Saturday, wrapped in a blanket in front of the heater. I think it was a pretty peaceful way to go.
Susy, my dear old girl. You were quite a character and it was an honor to have been your human for so long. When you get to heaven please give Zebedee a hug from me. You'll find lots of our other feline friends waiting there for you too.
Mia and I miss you. Sleep well my love.
Susy was a great mother. She was very protective of her kittens and would chase off any other animals that came near. The kittens started following her to my house after a few months, so our little family grew to 4 cats. I got them all blood tested and vaccinated and had Susy spayed. I made appointments to get both of the kittens fixed when they turned 6 months old too. Sadly, before that happened, the male kitten Zebedee disappeared. Susy and I were heartbroken.
But Susy still had Mia and the two of them moved in with us full time.
There were a lot of needy cats in my neighbourhood at that time and I didn't want any of them to have to struggle to survive. I got a lot of cats fixed, found homes for kittens and ended up taking in any friendly cats who couldn't find homes. Susy was less than impressed. Even though most of my other cats got on very well together Susy never bonded with any of them. She always insisted on having her own room, which she sprayed regularly to keep out intruders, and would start fights with anyone she took a disliking to. But I guess that's what you get with your typical calico cat. Susy had her sweet side too.
She was always very chatty and vocal. We nicknamed her Susy Siren. She was also known as Susy Mao Mao, as that's what she'd answer when we called her name. Whenever I went for walks Susy would follow me to the edge of her territory, then meow at me not to go any further. When I'd come back an hour or so later she'd always be waiting for me.
Our vet got to know her well over the years. She had a couple of UTI's, but most of the time the reason we had to take her to the vet was for war wounds. She'd have a torn ear or an infected scratch from picking fights with bigger cats. All of my cats were wary of her and backed down when they saw her coming. Susy was the queen, and she knew it.
Over the past year Susy has been slowing down. She started to walk kind of stiffly and I noticed bouts of incontinence. Our vet carried out blood tests and suggested joint supplements for her arthritis. It seemed she wasn't sick so much as very old. I don't know exactly how old she was, but I'd been caring for her for over 12 years. She started to lose weight and spent most of her time sleeping. I think the rest of my cats must have breathed a sigh of relief. At least they didn't have to worry about being slapped for breaking one of Susy's rules.
A few weeks ago she stopped eating. We took her to the vet a couple of times for SubQ fluids and I did my best to syringe feed her, but Susy didn't want to know. After a couple of days of me struggling to syringe KMR into her Susy took to her basket and never got up again. She passed away last Saturday, wrapped in a blanket in front of the heater. I think it was a pretty peaceful way to go.
Susy, my dear old girl. You were quite a character and it was an honor to have been your human for so long. When you get to heaven please give Zebedee a hug from me. You'll find lots of our other feline friends waiting there for you too.
Mia and I miss you. Sleep well my love.
I'm so sorry for your and Mia's loss and your sadness. I'm no good at writing condolensces - I'll leave that to those who can do it better. Susy had a wonderful life with you and even her death was peaceful. I'm glad about that as life doesn't always end as we would like it to. You did a marvellous job and she was obviously very happy wth you. Lovely photos and memories for the future when you've got over your grief. RIP little Susy!
It sounds like she was a tell it like it is kinda gal and didn't let anyone stand in her way. She kept intruders out but let you into her heart.
Now she is at peace, RIP dear angel.
