OhioTC18
Gone But Not Forgotten
I know I've mentioned here that we have 3 pets, 2 cats and a dog. The dog has had a rough couple of years with his issues but right now he is doing great. We have been dealing with our female cat for the last 6-8 months.
A little bit about her. She came to us almost 16 years ago at about 4 weeks old. Someone tossed that little black ball of fur out of a car window and sped off. She was only supposed to be there for the day until a home could be found for her. The person that asked us to care for Bitsy never did return for her. Bitsy was named that because of how little itsty bitsy she was. She became my girl. I was the only one able to pet her much or hold her. She'd bite anyone else if you'd pet her more than one stroke. Nasty little disposition, but you would have one too if you were tossed out like trash. She was always cleaning herself, I think taking pride in the fact she was a beautiful girl, all prim and proper.
At 15 I think she just slowly wore herself out. In October her eyesight started failing. She would walk right into walls or walk right over the dog like he wasn't even there. She had begun pacing the floors day and night, which never is a good sign. Been doing that since October as well. If she wandered over by her water bowl, she'd walk right in it. She would have a few good days and then a few bad ones where she wouldn't leave one room for 2 days. But she'd always perk up and be back to "normal" for a few days. She even quit cleaning and grooming herself which was not normal for her. If she turned a corner too quick, she just fell over. A lot of her balance was not there anymore.
We consulted with the Dr. and she said at her age just make sure she wasn't in pain and that she ate and took fluids. All was well in that regard. That pattern continued until 3 days ago. She was laying by the back door on the heat register vent which was her favorite spot but she wouldn't/couldn't move. We folded up a nice blankie and laid her on that to rest. She laid on the blanket for the last 3 days. In over 48 hours she never moved, no food or fluids. Her strong little heart didn't know the rest of her body was done. By now, she had no "quality" left in her life, no matter how much quantity we stretched it into. All we were doing now was being selfish for ourselves not wanting to let her go. Had she just gone naturally, I would feel better. She was just too stubborn I guess.
We called the vet this morning but couldn't bring her in for a few hours, they were already booked up. That was a long wait. But Dr. Long finally was able to see us and talked to us. Let us have whatever time we needed with her. I held my pretty little black cat while she took her last breath. I had prepared her final resting spot days ago while we had a break in the weather with the ground thawing. No more pacing, no more walking into walls, no more falling over and flopping around.
Goodbye Bitsy, Daddy's little girl.
A little bit about her. She came to us almost 16 years ago at about 4 weeks old. Someone tossed that little black ball of fur out of a car window and sped off. She was only supposed to be there for the day until a home could be found for her. The person that asked us to care for Bitsy never did return for her. Bitsy was named that because of how little itsty bitsy she was. She became my girl. I was the only one able to pet her much or hold her. She'd bite anyone else if you'd pet her more than one stroke. Nasty little disposition, but you would have one too if you were tossed out like trash. She was always cleaning herself, I think taking pride in the fact she was a beautiful girl, all prim and proper.
At 15 I think she just slowly wore herself out. In October her eyesight started failing. She would walk right into walls or walk right over the dog like he wasn't even there. She had begun pacing the floors day and night, which never is a good sign. Been doing that since October as well. If she wandered over by her water bowl, she'd walk right in it. She would have a few good days and then a few bad ones where she wouldn't leave one room for 2 days. But she'd always perk up and be back to "normal" for a few days. She even quit cleaning and grooming herself which was not normal for her. If she turned a corner too quick, she just fell over. A lot of her balance was not there anymore.
We consulted with the Dr. and she said at her age just make sure she wasn't in pain and that she ate and took fluids. All was well in that regard. That pattern continued until 3 days ago. She was laying by the back door on the heat register vent which was her favorite spot but she wouldn't/couldn't move. We folded up a nice blankie and laid her on that to rest. She laid on the blanket for the last 3 days. In over 48 hours she never moved, no food or fluids. Her strong little heart didn't know the rest of her body was done. By now, she had no "quality" left in her life, no matter how much quantity we stretched it into. All we were doing now was being selfish for ourselves not wanting to let her go. Had she just gone naturally, I would feel better. She was just too stubborn I guess.
We called the vet this morning but couldn't bring her in for a few hours, they were already booked up. That was a long wait. But Dr. Long finally was able to see us and talked to us. Let us have whatever time we needed with her. I held my pretty little black cat while she took her last breath. I had prepared her final resting spot days ago while we had a break in the weather with the ground thawing. No more pacing, no more walking into walls, no more falling over and flopping around.
Goodbye Bitsy, Daddy's little girl.
