JDShredds
Well-Known Member
Since I've found connection and community around here, I felt I needed to share that last night my ex and I had to put down the cat we rescued 10 years ago. Quite quickly over the last two weeks she started going south and not eating, and after Ive been running her back and forth from the vet over the last 10 days we discovered she has lymphoma. Her liver and lymph nodes were badly swollen and she wasn't responding to steroids. Even the most extreme treatment including chemo would not have bought her much time nor returned her to a high quality of life.
She was the sweetest tempered cat I've ever had. She was my one remaining companion in this home, and my love for her was so pure. I cherished taking care of her every day, as in some sense she took care of me too. My morning ritual was intertwined with taking care of her, so needless to say this morning was terribly difficult and I've had many moments of hysterical sorrow. I always just wanted her to be happy and well. I'd go fetch her fresh grass to chew on, open the blinds with the morning sun for her to roast herself, sweep up the litter tracks, take care of food and water (she had a cute habit of drinking water from glass cups, so she had her own cocacola glass in the living room on a coffee table with "Allie" written on it in green ink). etc. etc. Until recent months we always played with toys before bed, but she lost interest suddenly (perhaps the first warning sign).
When she was rescued in summer 2009 she was skinny, losing fur and would have likely died soon. She also ended up having pretty bad allergies and had to go on experimental meds for an extended period of time (which worked and she eventually got weened off). Its worth noting those meds affect the liver, so while they extended her younger life, they may have shortened her elder years.
But I'm happy we gave her such a high quality of life for a decade. If one of us was upset, the first thing she would do is come comfort you by coming to you purring, rubbing and gently meowing. In recent years she really did have a high quality of life without being pestered with meds or bad allergies or anything. And I was very, very present with her, so I don't have an ounce of guilt. Its simply sorrow. This cat deserves a happy eternity, because she was a living angel. She really was.
We had a 2 year old cat, Moony, die quite suddenly from a heart condition a bit over 2 years ago. He was madly in love with Allie in his short life; he looked to her with the intensity of an autistic obsession. It just so happens that it is the full moon right now. There is a certain symbolism there; a sense that her little brother is watching and awaiting her. And even if that's just our own sense of symbolism, it feels real.
Rest in piece, Allie. My sweet little lady cat. My little bestie.
She was the sweetest tempered cat I've ever had. She was my one remaining companion in this home, and my love for her was so pure. I cherished taking care of her every day, as in some sense she took care of me too. My morning ritual was intertwined with taking care of her, so needless to say this morning was terribly difficult and I've had many moments of hysterical sorrow. I always just wanted her to be happy and well. I'd go fetch her fresh grass to chew on, open the blinds with the morning sun for her to roast herself, sweep up the litter tracks, take care of food and water (she had a cute habit of drinking water from glass cups, so she had her own cocacola glass in the living room on a coffee table with "Allie" written on it in green ink). etc. etc. Until recent months we always played with toys before bed, but she lost interest suddenly (perhaps the first warning sign).
When she was rescued in summer 2009 she was skinny, losing fur and would have likely died soon. She also ended up having pretty bad allergies and had to go on experimental meds for an extended period of time (which worked and she eventually got weened off). Its worth noting those meds affect the liver, so while they extended her younger life, they may have shortened her elder years.
But I'm happy we gave her such a high quality of life for a decade. If one of us was upset, the first thing she would do is come comfort you by coming to you purring, rubbing and gently meowing. In recent years she really did have a high quality of life without being pestered with meds or bad allergies or anything. And I was very, very present with her, so I don't have an ounce of guilt. Its simply sorrow. This cat deserves a happy eternity, because she was a living angel. She really was.
We had a 2 year old cat, Moony, die quite suddenly from a heart condition a bit over 2 years ago. He was madly in love with Allie in his short life; he looked to her with the intensity of an autistic obsession. It just so happens that it is the full moon right now. There is a certain symbolism there; a sense that her little brother is watching and awaiting her. And even if that's just our own sense of symbolism, it feels real.
Rest in piece, Allie. My sweet little lady cat. My little bestie.