I wish I had the strength that Quadgop the Mercotan showed when he wrote of the passing of both the Mercocat and Kim, the Mercodog, or the quiet dignity with which pinkfreud shared the passing of her 2 cats. I don’t, but if sharing this pays some tribute to my kitties, honoring the love and devotion they gave us for 7 and 6 years respectively, then the tears and renewed sadness are worth it.
Izabella, a beautiful kitty we adopted from the shelter seven years ago, loved to take walks with my husband and the dogs late at night. (It seems to be a siamese trait, I had a full blooded siamese when I was younger and she liked to go for walks also.) On Saturday night, March 27th my husband came in from walking the dogs and told me that she had gotten spooked by a loud car, tried to run across the road and was hit. I was, and am, crushed. She was my special cat, even though I love the other two just as much. (This is really hard to type out folks. Please don’t take brevity for lack of emotion. I am heartsick.) She is buried next to a huge spruce, and we put the tulip bulbs I forgot to plant last Autumn over her.
I have a passel of kids, and six years ago the oldest child moved in with her boyfriend. We had all chipped in to buy her the puppy of her heart, a miniature pinscher puppy. They look like tiny dobermans, but actually are a terrier. Zoey is a psycho little beast, but I love her, and she respects my alpha-ness.
Well then my daughter decides to bring into her home a 5 week old kitten. (I know, far too young, but the owner of the mother cat was going to take them to the shelter, and she felt that she was saving it’s life.) Cute kitten, long white fur, big, round blue eyes. They named her Angel.
With both my daughter and her boyfriend working, Angel was left at home alone with Zoey, who did what terriers have been bred to do; when my daughter came home from work one night Angel was completely paralyzed from the neck down. Zoey had injured Angel’s (cervical) spine. I went and picked them up and took them to the vet, who said that he would like to try steroid injections. They worked, and Angel regained 99% mobility.
Not long after that, my daughter called me in hysterics, Zoey had done it again. Angel was paralyzed, Zoey had gotten her by the pelvic area this time. We went to the vet, I was expecting to bring a dead cat home, but my vet said that the steroids worked once, did I want to try them again. After assuring me that she wasn’t in pain I said sure, and he taught me how to give the subcu injections. Angel eventually regained about 75-80% of her mobility.
Fast forward to this past year. My youngest daughter has made Angel her special pet. Sometimes she needed to be bathed, she became ineffective at grooming herself so youngest daughter kept her coat free of mats and burrs and the like. There were a few occasions when Angel would have some trouble with her hindquarters, but a week on prednisone cleared it up. However, she wasn’t doing very well for the past couple of months. Youngest daughter and I had several discussions regarding her condition, and what the right thing to do for her would be.
Well, the weekend that Izabella died Angel had a very swift decline. While walking her hindquarters would tip to one side or the other and she would be unable to get back up on her own again. Those big blue eyes looking at me to pick up her back end and get her going again were heart rending. Tuesday following Izabella’s death was the last day I could bear watching her, so I called the vet and requested the last appointment for the day. Youngest daughter came home from school, and we talked and cried, and then we fussed over Angel until it was time to go.
Youngest daughter is 14 years old, but wise beyond her age. She held Angel while I signed the paperwork, and then we went into the exam room. Angel was given a sedative which, thank God, took effect almost instantly. The vet laid her on the table and allowed my daughter to hold her while he got things ready. When it came time, my daughter took her ipod ear buds and put them next to Angel’s head and played some music (the two songs I keep remembering are “I Pray For You” by Big&Rich and “Rusty Cage” by Johnny Cash) and we cried as the vet began to inject Angel with the euthanasia medication.
However, as I had suspected for a while, Angel truly had been declining, and her veins kept collapsing. Finally the vet went for his wife (who is also a vet) and it took her several attempts before getting a vein. After she finally injected her, Angel took 3 or 4 breaths and was then still.
We brought her home and buried her next to Izabella, and we are going to plant some perennials over them. Youngest daughter went to the beach and found a couple chunks of shale, and with a hammer and screwdriver she carved little markers for their graves. (As if my heart wasn’t broken enough, this was an endeavor of the heart by her. This kid is gonna rock the world someday)
So goodbye to 2 wonderful, loving kitties who left far too soon. You are both sorely missed.
Izabella:
With remaining cat, Kazzpurr, last Spring:
Angel and Youngest Daughter:
Kazzpurr, our remaining kitty:
