Had a horrible job to do tonight. Go down to the vets while he very gently put our old cat to sleep, bless her. She went blind in May but coped admirably with her affliction seeing as how she was 17, but on Monday morning I found her pacing the floor in circles. Non stop!! She went outside and ended up in the muddy stream still pacing in circles. Twice we rescued her from the mud and had to confine her in the house. Strangely enough she was still eating, drinking and using the litter tray between pacing the circles. We took her down to the vets on Tuesday and he looked askance at her behaviour thinking she may have had a stroke. The blood tests all came back today - all clear and as fit as a flea! We discussed the predicament - he could not stop her pacing the circles unless she was heavily drugged but there was no apparent reason for it. The kindest thing was to gently put her to sleep. Perhaps it was a brain tumor or a bleed, we shall never know. But as I stroked her as the medication did the business i thought at what a lovely life she had had over the 17 years. We found her nearly dead in the road, an abandoned kitten, covered in fleas, lice and suffering with cat flu, we took her home and she lived in a wastepaper basket. The vet didn't give her much hope - 24 hours at the most - bah!
She grew up with the boys and played roughly with them, she would bite bare feet and hands, scratch heads and do Evil Kinevil stunts around the walls. She loved to chase the boys and she never tired of doing it. When T was expecting our first grandchild she chased her around the furniture one night much to our amusement.
Every night she would wait at the gate for the shepherd to come home rain or shine and follow him up the path to be rewarded by any spare milk from his lunch box. She new the sound of every family car and would be on the doorstep for each of us but it was the boss who got the full treatment - every single night until she went blind and couldn't find the way.
The matriarch of our collection of cats, all rescued from here and there around the county. She was a lovely cat, never aged, never ill - just so happy to be here. She was a gem, bless her. we will miss her.
23 comments:
So Sorry.
Lovely homage to a faithful old friend. You know you've done the kindest thing, and a faithful friend, in the end, depends on your gentle mercy.
Dear memories for your whole family.
Sad news SBS but a faithful old friend deserves a dignified end. It's about time they allowed it for human kind.
So sorry to read that J. She had a good innings and has left you with fond memories. I so agree with wipso's comment.
A lovely obituary - worthy of The Times.
I am sorry to hear this J but so agree with pondside and wispo. In the end this was so much the right thing to do. What a character too!
Oh, bless her. I am sorry. What a lovely life she had and what a lovely dignified death you granted her.
Take care my friend and hope to see you soon (although it will probably be September now!)
xx
I hope Wipso wasn't thinking of her much older sister when she commented on your blog!!! RIP Tatty cat - she will have had the best of cat lives with you and yours SBS.
So sad, so sorry. It does sound like a stroke as it is exactly how my own dear Gwennie behaved. Seventeen is remarkable, and she is at peace now.
Lovely post for a faithful old friend..have been in your sad place this year too and know the hurt,,,
So sad, when and animal like this dies, or has to be put to sleep. A time for quiet tears. But life goes on and another will step or grow into her shoes.
A poignant post, but sounds as though she enjoyed a happy life, which is the most important thing. It's always sad to say goodbye to a much-loved pet, but sometimes it's the most loving thing to do. She's left you with some lovely memories.
I have been in that sad place. I still think of my dear cat. He was such a gentle soul.It is such a hard thing to do, and although we know to release them is for the best, their personalities tug at our heartstrings.I too am sorry to hear about the loss of your dear faithful feline friend and family member.A lovely post of dedication.
Not a nice thing to have to do, but it sounds unavoidable.
RIP Tatty Cat. What a lovely post to remember her by. Isn't it the case that vets can give a cat an excellent long life with just one simple: "Bah! It'll never make it." Well done Tatty cat. You proved the vet wrong.
Sorry to hear about your loss.
SBS I am so sorry. What a marvellous feline she was and what a superb name! I love the games she played. I had a cat once who would play tag with me. Stange creature that she was - we all adored her.
Been there a few times too many, and it hurts, but at least she is not going to get hurt, and she fell on four paws when she was found by your lovely family.
IE
x
awww what a shame, a blumin good innins though. why do pets have to get old ? why can't we just get new batteries or something.xx
Commiserations, m'dear. I'm sorry I didn't see this earlier. Horrid job for you - have been there.
'Better to have loved and lost than never loved at all' a lovely blog about a dear friend.
Oh SBS - doing a quick catch up. So sorry to read this, but happy memories.
CKx
So sorry to hear this news, J. What a wonderful life she had with you, though. If I comeback as an animal, I'm going to find you out and sit on your doorstep so you take me in!xx
So sad, but the best you can do for a good companion. I had to make a similar decision last year too - it somehow seems harder when they are otherwise OK. But what a fantastic life you gave your furry friend - she was so lucky to find you. And you will have thousands of happy memories for evermore.
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