Saying Goodbye and..Hello!!

I had a pretty awful year and a half when it comes to pets!! I lost all four of my beloved senior cats, that I had since birth!

Most recently, I said goodbye to my sweet Fozzie girl, after her battle with lymphoma! She really gave it a good fight! It may sound stupid for some, but once I told her to let me know when she was ready to say goodbye...she did. She no longer came around me. She didn't eat for 4 days, and wouldn't even lay next to me, she would turn her back on me. Cats know more than most people think they do!

Like I did for all of my pets..when the time came, we went to the hospital for our final goodbye. I petted her, and whispered into her ear how much I loved her, and what a good cat she is...until her little soul left her sick body.

I have a really hard time with euthanasia. I understand that it is humane...but in the back of my mind I still feel like it is should not be my decision.

She was the last of my kitty family. I had these cats when I was married...we met at a completely different time in my life, and they have been through so many moves, and break ups. They have heard all of my heartaches, and you can't just "get another cat" to replace such long term companions. I cried until I thought my eyes would explode!

That being said...it felt like cheating, but once I knew Fozzie's diagnosis, I began looking for two new cats. I wouldn't adopt until we had said goodbye, but I had a tricky wish list, and I wanted to get my feelers out.

The cats had to be bonded, and adults! I don't have the patience for kittens, as cut as they are!  I was accustomed to adult snuggley cats!

I prefer persians...but wanted long hair cats, because believe it or not...(having had both) long hair cats shed less than short hairs.

In short, after putting my feelers out with several rescues, I was lucky enough to adopt a bonded male and female from my favorite rescue!

I adopted Garret and Aurora. (named after Jack Nicholson and Shirley McClain's characters in Terms of Endearment) 

They were from a hoarding situation, so they were loved, but had to be given up.  I hope their former owner knows that these two hit the jackpot coming to live with me! 

Life goes on. 

When You Know, You Know...Losing Another Cat...

Nothing knocks the wind out of your sails quite like losing 3 of your 4 beloved cats in just a little over a years time. Of course I knew that they would all leave me one day, but having them leave so close in succession .........was a real ass kicker!

Pikachu..2000-2015

Pikachu was doing better.. until he wasn't. That's the best way I can sum up the decision to let him go.

He'd been tested for everything under the sun. Almost a grand in vet bills trying to find out what was wrong with this guy in the last two months, but nothing came to light. 

Last Saturday morning, he kept crying, and wanting held...he had been really needy for over a week..he hadn't left my side...when I was immobile, there he was. 

I could still feelt his bones thru his fluffy fur when I pet him, once a big stocky cat well over 10 lbs,  he was reduced to an under 5lb bag of bones and fur...and then,  he couldn't seem to get comfortable.

I put him on the electric blanket and I watched him sleep...his eyes not fully closed,  and his breathing slowed to a stop for longer than I felt comfortable with, a few times.

And then..something snapped in me. I had been through this before, and I didn't want him to suffer any longer. I felt like he was telling me he was ready to go. 

I reluctantly said goodbye to that handsome guy last weekend. While the decision to say goodbye never gets any easier, the decision to not let them suffer any more becomes a bit easier. 

Pikachu's Mom was my own cat. I watched him come out of the womb. I loved him from the moment he was born, and 15 years  later, I was still not ready to let him go!!

I have one remaining cat. I went from 4..to one. This girl lost her brother and her mom, and after a bout of sadness....seems to be ready to get on with her life...