At 06:11 AM 8/25/2007, you wrote:
I am so very sorry.....It hurts, but it is good to know he was well
happy and very loved until her crossed
Kelly
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 stng
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.
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