This is Púca. - YouTube
He has a big, bold personality. He is wickedly smart. He loves people. He loves affection. He will enthusiastically headbutt you and demand pets.
I have known him since he was a few hours old – a little black cat ran up to us as we were walking down the street, a friend took her home, and six weeks later, kittens! I was invited to visit that afternoon. I visited several times, watching the kitties grow, until I took Púca home. It took barely a week for him and my older cat Merlyn to become fast friends. Both Púca and I took it hard when Merlyn passed five years ago.
Púca was 14 years old, when he became sick.
He started getting picky about his food a few weeks ago. We tried to entice him with new brands and flavors, and then a couple weeks ago emailed his vet for advice.
Later that same night he became critically ill, and we’ve been to the vet four times since then. Last Wednesday we learned he was dying. He had nodules in both kidneys, and the most likely causes are all incurable. By Thursday afternoon he’d lost all interest in food, and that evening we let him go.
His sudden critical illness coincided with my last week of my recent contract job. I lost a day of work taking him to the ER. I wouldn’t change that, but being a contractor means no PTO. After some technical difficulty I was able to apply for unemployment last week Tuesday; my expected benefit is $174 per week.
I lost my last FT Corporate America job in 2008 in the early stages of the Great Recession. I’ve been underemployed since then. While I am always working, looking for work, or trying to create alternate income streams for myself – usually all three at once – I still haven’t regained economic stability. Seven years ago I figured I’d have enough time to get back on my feet before I had to worry about senior cat vet bills, but the reality didn’t work out that way. I’m on food stamps. I’ve used almost all of my savings by covering rent and utilities in those months when my income just wasn’t enough.
I am so tired.
I don’t think I can even begin to explain how devastating it is to lose him. Things have often sucked over the years but he was always there for me. He was so effusive and unabashed with his love. It’s not easy for me to ask for help. But if you’re willing to give a couple bucks or even just to share this, I’d really appreciate it. Thank you.
(posted with permission)
