# We Will be Losing Lotta **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 23, 2015, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-will-be-losing-lotta/725944 "2015-07-23T12:58:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-will-be-losing-lotta/725944/1 "2015-07-23T12:58:11Z")
We’ve had this black cat for about 15 years now. When MilliCal was still very little, just getting over the death due to cancer of our black cat Maggie\*, she insisted that we had to go to the Cat Shelter “to get Lotta” She hadn’t seen any of the cats there, so “Lotta” was just a name, attached, I guess, to an idealized cat. We went, an d looked through the roomful of felines until MilliCal found Lotta. Lotta turned out to be a six month old black cat (like Maggie) that already bore the name “Girl Teeny” Her mother was there, too. We briefly considered getting the mother, but decided that two hefty queens like her and our cat Midnight would probably tear each other up. We took Girl Teeny home and rechristened her. One of MilliCal’s subsequent stuffed toy cats got named “Girl Teeny”. Midnight easily accepted Lotta into the household. I get the feeling she thought of her as The New Maggie – looks the same, but not as bossy. Midnight would now be Top Cat. Lotta was always quiet and shy, flitting rapidly from place to place. The only time she asserted herself was when Pepper Mill tried to adopt another boy cat, Jake, and Lotta followed him around, keeping a suspicious eye on him. Jake didn’t fit in with our group, so Lotta’s suspicions were correct. When the other cats came in – one-eyed Clarence, then later Hestia, she had no problems with them. There were some issues with Hermes, but everyone had issues with Hermes. I still thought of her as The Young One, Little Lotta, even though after the passing of our two Maine Coon cats, Midnight and Clarence, she succeeded as Oldest Cat. But she was getting older, and getting around was a little harder. Nevertheless, she climbed up my den chair to get to the window and lie on the cabinet, looking out. Or climbing atop the old sewing machine to look out the bedroom window. But no more. She’s been sick, and the vet diagnosed it as kidney failure. She was still game until very recently. Now she no longer climbs to her former favorite haunts. She demands food, but only eats a mouthful or so, then vomits later. She pees outside the litter boxes, even though we moved one into her den. Now she does very little, and has retreated to the basement loveseat most of the day. She doesn’t respond very well to petting, and th other day she peed three times on the floor. ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-will-be-losing-lotta/725944/2 "2015-07-23T13:12:54Z")
Sorry to hear this. My oldest is a sarcoma survivor with renal issues. She has done well with subcutaneous hydration (subQ), might be worth discussing with vet. Also, there may be appetite / anti-emetic drugs worth trying. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-will-be-losing-lotta/725944/3 "2015-07-23T13:27:16Z")
I’m sorry to hear it. I did manage a cat with CRF for about 6 months with IV fluids I gave to her, and which she tolerated very well. But with renal failure you’re just trying to hold back the tide. My sympathies. StG ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-will-be-losing-lotta/725944/4 "2015-07-23T15:27:30Z")
I also tried to hold on longer to a cat with kidney failure, but I never will again. I’m glad you were able to give Lotta such a great life. ---
**Author:** ![Wednesday\_Evening](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Wednesday\_Evening](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wednesday_Evening)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-will-be-losing-lotta/725944/5 "2015-07-23T17:16:38Z")
So sorry. We had to put our beloved 17-year-old cat down a few weeks ago. I know it was the right thing to do but it still really really sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-will-be-losing-lotta/725944/6 "2015-07-23T17:54:59Z")
I’m so very sorry for your loss. Cats that have needs we almost seem to love MORE. ---
**Author:** ![lalaith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@lalaith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalaith)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-will-be-losing-lotta/725944/7 "2015-07-23T19:22:52Z")
I’m so very sorry. You gave her a good life. I think we all wish they could just be running around happy in their old age and then die peacefully in their sleep. The end of life situations — ☹ ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-will-be-losing-lotta/725944/8 "2015-07-23T21:02:42Z")
Sorry to hear about this. Pets provide a bittersweet experience because we are so likely to outlive them. But just as with people our memories of them will remain. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-will-be-losing-lotta/725944/9 "2015-07-24T12:15:44Z")
Pepper Mill was going to take her in to the vet’s today, and told me to say goodbye to her this morning. But when I got downstairs to where she’s been sleeping, she was gone. I started looking for her, and was surprised when she _meowed_ at me, and wanted to be petted, nuzzling my hand. It was such a dramatic turnaround from the past few days of her sinking into complete listlessness. I brought her upstairs and gave her some sliced turkey\*, which she devoured, and asked for seconds. I told Pepper about it, and I don’t think she’ll be going to the vet today. But I also suspect that this turnaround is only temporary. \*One of the few things she’s been eating. I made a special trip to get more at the store yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![lalaith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@lalaith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalaith)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-will-be-losing-lotta/725944/10 "2015-07-24T16:30:49Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I started looking for her, and was surprised when she _meowed_ at me, and wanted to be petted, nuzzling my hand. It was such a dramatic turnaround from the past few days of her sinking into complete listlessness. I brought her upstairs and gave her some sliced turkey\*, which she devoured, and asked for seconds. > I told Pepper about it, and I don’t think she’ll be going to the vet today. But I also suspect that this turnaround is only temporary. Enjoy it. I’ve heard of this happening. One last good period. So treasure it and make every moment count of it for you and her. ---
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-will-be-losing-lotta/725944/11 "2015-07-24T16:39:07Z")
Lotta could surprise you. My Minette went through a sickly period when she was 16, but recovered and lived to age 21. Still lalaith is right, enjoy every day with her. Cats live in the present, so treasure these good days. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-will-be-losing-lotta/725944/12 "2015-07-24T16:55:16Z")
Maybe you’ll meet up with her at the [Rainbow Bridge](https://rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm). ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-will-be-losing-lotta/725944/13 "2015-07-24T17:30:40Z")
And now you have another memory, and another story to tell. Do you remember the cat in I Remember Mama? ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-will-be-losing-lotta/725944/14 "2015-07-24T18:01:35Z")
I’m so very sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-will-be-losing-lotta/725944/15 "2015-07-24T23:16:23Z")
Losing a pet is so hard. I’m sorry to hear your baby is not doing well. I imagine, along with the turkey, you are giving her anything she’ll take. Keep in touch about her, and vent here as needed. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2015, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-will-be-losing-lotta/725944/16 "2015-07-26T05:04:16Z")
My best wishes as well. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2015, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-will-be-losing-lotta/725944/17 "2015-07-26T21:33:59Z")
My thoughts are with you. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-will-be-losing-lotta/725944/18 "2015-07-28T12:24:22Z")
I am amazed. I was absolutely certain that we would be taking that last trip to the vet last week, but Lotta’s rally is continuing. She hasn’t thrown up in days, or peed anywhere inappropriate. She rouses herself from her resting spot and her voice is strong again, and she’s demanding meat. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-will-be-losing-lotta/725944/19 "2015-07-28T14:56:08Z")
She must have seen this thread and decided to straighten up and fly right. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-will-be-losing-lotta/725944/20 "2015-07-28T15:17:21Z")
Lotta has seen the Dope and found her audience? I hope her rally continues and you get to spend more precious time with her. They are all very special little souls to be treasured. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-will-be-losing-lotta/725944.md?page=2)