Hi Tracy I am so very sorry. Thanks for taking care of Sylvester. His time with you on earth were his best. Now he is free and healthy again.
Bless you Sally On 8/25/07, Tracy Weese <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > My giant (well, he used to be) ol' farm cat died this morning at home. > > Sylvester came off a farm where I take care of a dwindling (thanks to TNR) > cat colony. He got very sick about 2 years ago and I took him to the > vet...of course it was more than being sick, he had FeLV+. So he came home > with my other cats (I had few other positives then, after today down to two > now and soon to be one-CW is anemic and fading, too). > > He was big when I got him, about 16 pounds despite being so ill. After > many $$$$ at the vets' and then living at home, he was up to 22 lbs! He > stayed pretty healthy for about 1 year and 4 months (he was probably 7 when > I got him). He always had a little cough the vets thought was asthma (and > yes, we checked and re-checked this). But recently, he was not the same, > more coughing, high fever, not eating....turns out his blood counts were all > haywire. Low RBC, Low white count and low platelets....the antibiotics for > the fever made his tummy hurt, too. So at the vet yesterday I asked if it > was time to let him go (he lost 2 lbs in a week), the vet didn't think so > bec. of course, he perked up at the vets' and purred and pranced...He got a > vitamin B12 shot and his very first steroid shot (yes, we discussed that > steriods in a FeLV+ cat were a last resort). When we got home, he had a > good night. He ate some, and hung out with me and the others (he had been > staying under the bed except when I would drag him out for meds). He even > played some and tried to squeeze into a tiny box like he used to. > > This morning I awoke to a few sounds of slight distress....he was sleeping > under the bed again (actually, the cats tore the bottom fabric of the box > springs and he would sleep inside the box springs). I reached down and > touched him and told him I was there and then went to get a carrier to go to > the vet. In the seconds it took for me to run downstairs and get the > carrier and come back up, he was gone............. > > I had to cut the rest of the fabric to get him since he would lay > furtherst from the opening. I pulled him out and he was still, he looked > very peaceful--no signs of struggle on him or under the bed. > > This is the very first cat I have had that died at home (and I have a > cabinet full of cremated remains)...it was not terrible, but I did not plan > it. Last night was so good for him, I guess he had only one last good night > in him. > > He died with me nearby and in the place he felt safest, under the bed. I > took him to the vets' so he can be cremated. > I don't think he suffered but a few short seconds if that. I gave him > permission several days ago to leave if he needed to, I guess he needed to > go today. > > Although I will miss him, several of my other cats will not. He was a > gentle giant, but a few of my smaller cats terrorized him if they got the > chance. He never struck out first and usually retreated, but he was always > a sweetie to people. > > Please think good thoughts for Sylvester. > > -- Sally, Eric (not a cat),Junior, Speedy, Grey and White, Ittle Bitty, Little Black, Lily, Daisy, Silver, and Spike Visit my BB for some pictures post your as well. http://www.k6az.com/ki4spk/index.php?sid=c57c00cf5804ef13853ed6e77a68eed3
