Posted by Susan
Back in 1992, a beautiful feral kitty came to live with me. She was terrified of everything and it took a year, working with her every night at least once an hour, for her to trust me enough to let me touch her without being bitten. It took another year to be able to pick her up without her going into a complete frenzy.
It was worth the effort.
For so many of us, our furry family members are an integral part of our lives and we cannot imagine life without them. However, as all of us critter lovers are all too aware, our critters likely will not outlive us. Even with the advances in veterinary medicine, we just can't always fix what's wrong.
Several weeks ago my Louise was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma. It was like a physical blow to my heart.
Although chemotherapy was an option, it wasn't a good one in this case. I would have done it in a heartbeat if it would grant us any additional quality time together. The only humane option was hospice care as long as she felt good and had a quality of life.
"Susan's Medical Center" immediately commenced. She tolerated all the needles, pills and supplements with grace and dignity. Who knew a former feral would allow all this?
After a week, she had gained almost half a pound. She carried her fuzzy toy around while making her funny Louise-noise. She purred and made "kitty paws" while settled happily in my lap. There was hope that things were looking up ~ for awhile anyway.
Then, almost overnight, she began getting weaker and weaker. Her legs were slipping out from under her.
When she didn't bounce back after a couple of days, I saw that her quality of life was gone. All she wanted to do was sleep in her teepee. She didn't want to eat. The gutwrenching decision was required to let her go.
The vet is the kindest, most gentle and most compassionate person I've ever known. I think it hurt his heart almost as much as it did mine.
She only got 10 days out of the deal. It's just not fair.
There is a Louise-sized hole in my heart. A Louise-less world is just not OK.
11 comments:
It's been nearly a month since I had to put down the stray I took in just this past November. He had FIV and had been severely injured (we're not sure how).
I understand your feelings completely and you have my utmost sympathy.
I can't claim it gets better or hurts less, but you do get used to the hurt after a while.
Like your kitty mine took all the manipulations from the vet like he'd lived with us his whole life. He didn't once complain. He seemed to know we were helping him.
My heart broke that night, too.
I'm really sorry about your kitty.
*hugs*
I'm so very sorry for your loss; you have my deepest condolences. It's no less difficult to lose a loved one who walks on two legs... the only healer is time. RIP, Louise.
Susan - I'm very sorry for your loss. It's never easy to have to make that choice; even if its the right choice to make.
Susan, it sounds like you did what was exactly right and exactly humane. I am so sorry you had to lose your dear Louise.
{{{{{{{{{{{{Susan}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
Tara,
Kudos to you for not immediately euthanizing an FIV kitty and doing what you could to save him. My sympathies for your loss.
Unfortunately many vets (and most non-vet humans) do not completely understand and think an FIV kitty can spread the disease by casual contact.
FIV is usually passed through deep bite wounds. It is not passed through play, sharing food and water dishes and mutual bathing.
I took Owen in this past fall when he took up residence on my back patio. During a torrential rainstorm I found him under a shrub, soaking wet, waiting for me.
First order of business was getting him neutered and a full checkup. His FIV+ status came to light and the vet was relieved when I didn't flinch. A non-biter FIV+ kitty is not a danger to the rest of my herd.
Owen has fit into the family quite well and is happy, healthy and can look forward to a long life. I just have to be especially watchful for gum disease and infections.
Thank you all for your condolences, hugs and sympathy for Louise. (I can sure use the hugs!) I've had to go through this *several* times before. It's never easy to make a decision like this even when it's the right thing to do.
If grief is the evidence of being loved, Louise was loved extra well.
Susan - You've talked about Louise before and I know she was a wonderful friend to you.
May you reach a point where the joy of her memories overshadow the sorrow of her loss.
Awww. I want to cry. :( My cat Monster died from kidney problems, so I can kind of relate to how you feel. I was messed up for life once she died. And recently, my aunt's cat, who was like 20 years old, had to be put to sleep because the life was just leaving her. It was so sad. I hope the Louise-sized hole in your heart gets better.
-Emily
I'm so sorry for your loss.
You made a good decision though, and she lived a good life. Just imagine how short that life would have been had you not taken her in and loved her regardless.
You gave her all you could give her. , and I believe in my heard she was happy until the end.
Thanks, JCE. I have lots of wonderful memories of Louise, but at this point it still hurts like everything.
Emily, I'm so sorry about your Monster. It's unfortunate that kidney disease is such a common thing for our kitties. The disease can be slowed, but it always wins. Sympathies to you and your aunt for your losses.
Anon, you're right. Louise would have had a very short life if she hadn't joined my family.
A vet clinic had worked for a couple of months to try and tame her, but they weren't having any luck. She was just too terrified. They were going to put her down (a clinic would go broke if all the abandoned animals left with them stayed indefinitely).
I'm so glad to have been given the opportunity to bring her home.
sorry for your loss
i just posted about my cleo. she died a year ago sat.
we miss her. we buried her in the backyard and i want to make a nice garden around her stone.
Kristi
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