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Post by Irish Stu on Jun 22, 2009 10:28:12 GMT -6
My daughter and I just got back from the vet's. My twenty year old cat Charlie had developed a large lump on his jaw so a week ago, hoping it was just an abscess, the vet gave him a huge dose of antibiotics to try to clear it up. But it just got worse and began to weep blood and pus where one of his teeth was digging into it when he ate. He had a massive stroke this time last year and I thought we'd lost him, but on the verge of letting the vet put him to sleep I decided to let him have a chance. He soldiered on, surviving two more strokes, and I had hoped that the next one might take him quickly and save us all the agony we have gone through today.
The vet was very kind and thoughtful, but all he could do was tell me what I already knew, that it was more than just an abscess and at Charlie's age if they did anything invasive it would probably kill him. I knew this was coming so had come home from work early with some smoked salmon for him, then he had some milk and we went out into the garden for him to have a last wander round. Thankfully my youngest Victoria is away this week camping with the school, so my eldest Jessica and I took him to the vet's. She's in pieces. As we left the vet said to me "He was extremely old, he must have been through an awful lot with you." All I could say was "More than you could ever possibly imagine."
Simon
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Post by Chicago Jake on Jun 22, 2009 10:30:23 GMT -6
Sorry to hear that, Simon. Charlie was blessed to spend so many wonderful years with a loving family.......Jake
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Jun 22, 2009 10:32:59 GMT -6
Sorry to hear this Simon. The passing of an old and trusted family member is never easy. Our best to Charlie, and to you and the girls.
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Post by Tex on Jun 22, 2009 10:34:31 GMT -6
Charlie had a twenty year run which is at least nine lives. Our animals are our friends and family and we hate to lose them. Sorry for your loss.
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Post by Merlot Joe on Jun 22, 2009 12:57:17 GMT -6
Sorry about the news Simon.
Joe
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Post by Christinko on Jun 22, 2009 15:04:58 GMT -6
I'm so sorry you lost your friend Charlie. I know first hand what you are going through (I had to euthanize two of my cats a year ago May and two before that). Please know that he was grateful to you for everything. I still have my 18-year-old Jezebel (a healthy Tortie) and I will give her even more rubs today in Charlie's honor. Kitties are worthy of tears and grieving. They are good friends.
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Post by IE on Jun 22, 2009 18:43:58 GMT -6
I'm so sorry you lost your friend Charlie. I know first hand what you are going through (I had to euthanize two of my cats a year ago May and two before that). Please know that he was grateful to you for everything. I still have my 18-year-old Jezebel (a healthy Tortie) and I will give her even more rubs today in Charlie's honor. Kitties are worthy of tears and grieving. They are good friends. I lost Fifi in April, an 18 year old Ginger. He was born feral, but I got him at about 10 weeks. He was wild already, we used to hold him and rock him and sing to him, try to teach him to love and accept love. He was the funniest cat - always the head bump. He'd walk up to you and lean his forehead against you, that was his kiss. When he wanted to go out, he leaned his forehead against the door. He grew to like being cradled, but never much liked being petted - one could pet his head between ears - for a short while. We used to count down 10-9-8 he always turned and hissed before we hit 5. He was very small for a male cat, and would go out cattin' in the neighborhood and come home with a booboo and hiss at us, so we called him Fifi, all hiss and no bite. It stuck. I was home in April, and after being away for a few months, and then seeing him, it was shocking. I'm like this cat is NOT well. He was OK technically, but very very old, and very uncomfortable. He sat on my printer (warm) for two days without eating or going to the bathroom. My son came up and we were agreeing that it might be time for Fifi to go, he could barely walk and the decline was marked. All of a sudden he starts purring - like Monty Python "not quite dead yet". But in the home, Fifi was MY cat (Beauty was Kevin's, now Mickey is. Melly belongs to NOBODY). So it was my job to put him down, and didn't want to leave him for another six months of decline. I went ahead anyway, and held him as he got the shot. I don't think it's cruel, frankly I think no-kill shelters are cruel. I hope that when my life is for all intents and purposes over, someone will hold me while I get the shot, rather than linger in a bed, much like the cages of unwanted animals. So sorry to hear of your loss Simon. What people who don't have pets don't understand is that while one's life goes through so many ch-ch-changes, the cat is always there. That cat has probably been the ONLY constant in your life for the past 20 years - before marriage, before kids, after marriage, while kids grow, HUGE life ch-ch-changes - but the cat is always there - No matter what, you could count on your cat being there. It is a HUGE loss, and I feel for you. |
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Post by innit Geezer on Jun 22, 2009 19:11:11 GMT -6
Hoping you and your young ladies have a speedy heal Si. We all know how tough it is.
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Post by edie2u on Jun 22, 2009 20:46:50 GMT -6
Hey Si...sorry to hear your news. Even though I know it is of little consolation to you...you did the right thing. You gave him love and it was returned, you ended his suffering and may you be blessed for that. As bad as it was to lose Charlie the really tough part is trying to deal with your girls broken hearts. My thoughts are with you.
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Post by Exildo Wonsetler Briggs III on Jun 22, 2009 22:23:14 GMT -6
As we left the vet said to me "He was extremely old, he must have been through an awful lot with you." All I could say was "More than you could ever possibly imagine." Simon Sorry to hear of your loss, Simon. Pets are very special because they love you without condition. A bit over a year ago I posted about the loss of my pet, a miniature Dachshund I had for 14 years. She stood by me during the worst years of my life and seeing her go was like seeing part of me die. In time, this will heal. We finally got another pet after almost a year and I'm teaching the new pet all those things my first pet taught me. I hope to do better this time . . . . ...........Bob |
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Post by Irish Stu on Jun 23, 2009 5:15:39 GMT -6
Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts. Losing Charlie has been horrible. I've known for the past few days that it was coming and thought I was prepared for it, but when the time came nothing prepared me for how upset I would be.
Charlie 'adopted' me a couple of weeks after a cat I'd had since I was a child died. I found him on my back doorstep one morning. It was pouring with rain and he was drenched... a tiny little black kitten small enough to sit on my hand. I asked all round the neighbourhood and put a notice up at the corner shop but nobody claimed him. They say a cat that adopts you is a distant relative of one you once loved, so I figured he'd been sent by my other cat who I'd been so devastated to lose. I 23 then, I'm 43 now and he was with me through the best of times, and the worst of times... losing him right now is all the harder though coming on the back of a three year run of bad luck. He saw a long term girlfriend come and go, a twelve year marriage (when Sam left he crapped under the stairs EVERY day for weeks in 'protest'... I don't know who was the most upset about her leaving... me, the girls or Charlie!!), he was there when we had the children (before we had them if a child or baby came to the house he would run hell for leather through the house and out the cat flap in back door to get away, but he never once fled when we brought our own home when they were born) and seen them become teenagers, and he's been there through all the ups and downs of my personal and professional life.
As you said IE, he's been a constant in my life, since I was a young man, and coming downstairs this morning and not having him buzzing round my feet trying to trick a second breakfast out of me... the girls always fed him in the morning but that never stopped him thinking he could fool me... was gut wrenching. A big part of me died yesterday.
Simon
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Jun 23, 2009 11:03:42 GMT -6
... when Sam left he crapped under the stairs EVERY day for weeks in 'protest'... I did the same thing at Hedo 2 when they instituted the Towel Exchange Program. -- BB (mourning the loss of Ed McMahon in my own special way) |
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Post by DT on Jun 26, 2009 21:02:27 GMT -6
Belated condolences Simon for your loss.
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Jun 26, 2009 21:19:13 GMT -6
He had a massive stroke this time last year and I thought we'd lost him, but on the verge of letting the vet put him to sleep I decided to let him have a chance. A faux pas to save his four paws. |
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