Goodbye to my Kitty

Yesterday we had to say goodbye to my Kitty.

About a year ago, the kids were chasing Kitty and when he was trying to run away from them, he ran straight into my legs. That was really weird because cats are really agile and don't run into things usually. After that I noticed that he was running into walls too. We quickly realized that was blind. It must have happened pretty suddenly because even Kitty didn't seem to know what was happening. After that time, he started moving a lot more slowly. He wouldn't run. He would mostly walk along the walls so that he could tell where he was going. He stopped jumping up onto things. When he was younger he could jump so high! I would hold a string at my head level and he was able to jump and grab it with his teeth. He loved jumping up to the window sill in the bathroom so he could look out the window. He couldn't do that anymore. He would still jump onto my bed so that he could lay next to me. That was really important to him.

Since he had to move more slowly, he started losing a lot of his muscle mass. He got thinner. He was always a pretty big cat. He loved food and would eat a lot of it. I had put him on a diet a couple times and he lost weight, but he didn't like it. However, recently, he became really thin. Over the past couple of months he started moving really slowly. We kept him and all his stuff (food, litter box, bed) in our master bathroom so that we could keep him contained when we needed to. He used to wait by the door so he could run out anytime it was opened. Lately he would only come out a couple times a day and wouldn't stay out for long before going back to his bed. When he was out, he would act really scared anytime the kids were playing or being loud. Since he couldn't see, he was nervous that he would get stepped on or something.

He started biting his paw a few months ago and it was always bleeding. Last Monday I thought I should probably bring him to the vet to get checked out and possibly get something to help his paw heal. Monson came with me because he loves Kitty as much as I do. I knew Kitty was thin and getting fragile, but it wasn't until I saw how the vet looked at him that I started to realize how bad he was. They rated his body health a 1 on a scale of 1 to 5. He only weighed 6.8 lbs. When I brought him to the vet a few years ago he weighed 14 lbs. (He liked being fat.) They tested his blood and found out that he was in kidney failure. When they came back with the test results, they started talking about "quality of life" and saying I should start thinking about how much longer I wanted him to live this way. This was quite a shock to me because I went there thinking I was just getting a check up for him and suddenly I was faced with the option to put him down. I had them give him some fluids and some antibiotics for his paws and Monson and I took him home. Later that day was the first time he wasn't able to make it to his litter box when he should have.

On Tuesday I noticed that he laid in bed most of the day and had more bathroom accidents.

By Wednesday he wasn't eating and had a hard time walking. Just a few days before this I was trying to make a plan as to how we would transition him to our new house in a couple of months. Since he was blind, I knew it would be hard for him to move to a new place and not know how to get around. But I knew we would never have any pets again so I wanted to keep Kitty for as long as possible for my kids. Monson loves Kitty so much. He loves all animals. It was so hard to go from thinking everything was ok (not great) on Sunday to thinking that we only had a short time left by Wednesday. When I first brought him home from the vet I was thinking that we would keep him for about a month and when it was time to move into our new house, it would also be time to put him down. But only 2 days later, I was watching him waste away and all of his functions shut down. With tears streaming down my face I told Anthon to call the vet and schedule his final appointment for Saturday night. I couldn't make that phone call. I was thankful that Anthon could do it for me.

I had to tell the kids that Kitty was not going to get better. He was just getting worse everyday. The little kids all had a hard time with it. Sophie told me she wished I hadn't told her. Damon said he wanted to wait as long as we could. Monson would tell me he cried at school every day I picked him up last week.

Luckily I got pictures of us with Kitty before he got so bad that we couldn't even hold him.

This was a month ago.

This was Wednesday. Damon wanted to be in the picture, but doesn't like holding Kitty.

Monson loves holding Kitty so much.

Thursday he could only lick his wet food, not chew it. His feet dragged when he walked.

Friday he stopped eating and stopped walking.

Saturday his breathing was strained and I wondered if he would make it to the 5:30pm appointment. I knew it was the right thing to do. He was suffering. His body was shutting down. It was time.

Damon didn't want to go to the appointment and I didn't want Sophie to go so they said their goodbyes to Kitty and grandma watched them. Junior said goodbye to Kitty before he left for work and Avery said goodbye as Anthon, Monson and I left with him to go to the vet.

It was so hard. I love Kitty so much. He has been with me for over 17 years. He loved me so much, I know he did. He has been with me through some of the hardest parts of my life and also the best parts of my life. I didn't want him to go yet.

The vet said something that made a lot of sense. He said that animals aren't here to be tested or go through trials. They are here for their enjoyment and for our enjoyment. When they aren't able to have or give that enjoyment anymore, it is time for them to leave. I knew it was time for Kitty, I just wished that it wasn't.

The vet let us take things as slowly as we needed. Monson was so sweet and had his arms around me as I was trying to comfort Kitty. They had a hard time placing the IV before the injection because Kitty was so dehydrated. They finally got it placed in his leg and brought him back to us. I haven't cried that hard in a long time. Even thought I knew it was time and that it was the right thing, I just didn't want him to go.

The vet asked for permission to inject. I made sure Monson was ready and had said goodbye and then I said, "yes." It didn't take long....and then Kitty was gone.

I couldn't look at him after he was gone. The vet put him in a special box and left the room. I told Anthon to close the box and had him carry it out to the car. Anthon and Monson had already dug a hole in our yard next to where Baby was buried 6 1/2 years ago. Anthon put the box in the ground. I went into the house. Monson and Anthon filled in the hole.

I went to my bed and planned on staying there for the rest of the night. However, about an hour later, Monson, Avery and Anthon came in with flowers and chocolates for me. Monson announced, "we got you salad and ice cream." All my favorite things.

I had Anthon take out all of Kitty's things. It's weird going into our bathroom and it looking so empty. I still look over at where his bed used to be every time I walk in there.

Monson was really strong and brave on the day we said goodbye to Kitty. The next day he went out to look at Kitty's grave and Anthon saw him out there crying. He went out, picked up Monson and carried him into me so Monson and I could hug and cry together.

We loved our Kitty so much. We will miss him so much. He gets to be with Baby now and jump as high as he can again.

Kitty Got Lost

On Sunday, February 10, around 1pm, someone left our back door open and Kitty got out. Kitty has been out before. He usually would hang out in our yard and when we called him, he would come back in. He didn't go out often. After Baby (our other cat) was killed by a raccoon while outside about 5 years ago, I wouldn't let Kitty out very often and only for short periods of time.

About 3 months ago I noticed that Kitty started running into things like walls and our legs. I realized he was blind. It also seems he can't hear as well as he used to because loud noises like the vacuum, which he used to be terrified by, don't bother him anymore. Once I realized he was blind, I stopped letting him outside whatsoever. But no matter how many times a day I tell the kids to close the door, it always seems to be left open. I guess last Sunday it was open long enough for Kitty to find his way over there and wander out. Around 2pm Anthon left the house to go to church meetings and he closed the door. Monson mentioned around that time that he couldn't find Kitty, but I didn't know the door had been left open so I thought Kitty was just hiding somewhere and Monson couldn't find him. It wasn't until that night around 8pm that I realized he was gone. We always put Kitty in our bathroom at night because that is his area with his food, bed and litter box. I was getting ready for bed so I called Kitty to get him to go into the bathroom. He didn't come. I started looking for him in his usual hiding places like under our bed and in our closets, but he wasn't there. I told Anthon I couldn't find Kitty and that's when he told me that the back door had been left open. Anthon immediately went outside and started looking in the dark for Kitty and I kept searching the house. The kids, who were in their beds, but not asleep, joined in on the search. When we couldn't find him in the house or in the yard, Anthon got in the car and started driving around the neighborhood. The kids, especially Monson, were pretty worried at this point. So was I. It was about 15 degrees outside and had snowed that day. I walked around our block and looked in neighbors' yards, but there was no sign of him. It was so cold outside and there was snow everywhere. When Anthon and the kids came back empty handed, we put the kids back to bed and decided to check our security cameras to see if we could see which way he went. After rewinding back to that afternoon, sure enough, we saw our 16 1/2 year old blind cat zig zag across our driveway, out into the street and then wander north down the street. I started to freak out. I thought for sure there was no way he would be able to survive the night with how cold it was outside. And if he did survive, it would just be a matter of time before he would get hit by a car because he can't see where he's going. Now that we knew which direction he went, we went outside to search again, but couldn't find him.

All night long, Anthon and I had dreams that we found him. I kept waking up and had to re-realize that he was missing. Only people with pets, (and who don't hate cats) can understand that losing your pet is a hard and very sad thing. I have had Kitty since he was about 2 weeks old. In August 2002 I was at a grocery store and when I came out, I saw some college students with a box full of kittens. They had bought some wet food for these tiny creatures, but I could tell just by looking at them that they were too young to eat solid food and still needed to be nursed by their mom. The people said they found the litter close by and that there was no mom in sight. (I don't know how long they waited for a mom to show up.) So they took the whole litter and were giving them away. I was a single girl at the time and certainly didn't need to add "Cat Lady" to my title, but they were so tiny and cute and I thought if I didn't take one, that would be one more that would surely die because these people weren't going to take care of them. My family had recently lost one of their cats, so I figured I'd pick one out to give to them. I decided I would choose the first one that came to me. A really pretty black, with a white belly, paws and spike over his nose walked straight to me so he was mine. I had to go to a pet store and buy some milk and a bottle because this little thing could fit in the palm of my hand and was much too little to eat food. I drove straight to my family's house while my new little friend nestled himself across the back of my neck under my hair and fell asleep. My parents were out of town, but my younger brother and sister were home so they got to meet what I thought was going to be their cat. My family already had a litter box so I put that in the guest bedroom with me and this little kitten. I thought I was going to have to teach him how to use the box, but all I had to do with put him in there (because he was too small to climb into it himself) and he immediately used it properly. He did have a little issue of stepping in his wet spot instead of covering it when he was done, so I had to wash his little paws every time after he used it for quite a while. My siblings and I had a lot of fun playing with the new pet, but when the weekend was over, I realized I couldn't leave him there because he still needed constant care. He couldn't even get into the litter box by himself. So we decided I would keep him for a while until he was big enough to eat food and be alone. I took him to work with me, he slept in my bed with me, I bottle fed him every couple hours until he was about 6 weeks old. I named him Spike, but always called him Kitty. When he was old enough to leave me, there was no way I could let him go.

All these memories were weighing on my mind while the thought of never seeing him again became painfully apparent. Monday morning Anthon drove around the neighborhood before going to work. I went to the animal shelter in the afternoon, but no one had brought him there. As we entered Monday night with no sign of him and more frigid temperatures, I thought for sure he was gone. My family kept saying to me, "Sometimes pets leave their homes when they know they are going to die." I thought, "at least he gets to be with Baby again." But Tuesday afternoon I had the realization that Kitty wasn't on the verge of death. Sure he was old, blind and kinda deaf, but everything else about him was still functioning. I had a renewed sense of needing to find him. Tuesday night I brought my kids around the neighborhood to search. I went to the animal shelter again on Wednesday. Still no sign of him. I posted on Facebook lost pets groups and on my own page, asking my neighbors to keep an eye out for him. I got a lot of love, support and prayers from a lot of people. After a few days went by I felt like I was prepared to say goodbye if he was dead, but I just wanted to know. I felt like I couldn't move on unless I knew what had happened to him. Every day Monson was asking for a new cat. Next to me, Monson loves Kitty the most. He plays with him every day. In the morning, the first thing he does is go into our bathroom to see Kitty. He loves animals. Thursday night we were making a Valentine's box for Monson's class party the next day. I asked him what color he wanted his box to be. I thought he would choose yellow because it's his favorite color. He said he wanted his box black and white like Kitty. And he drew a picture of Kitty on the white part.

I knew we will never get another pet because Anthon doesn't like animals and is allergic to cats and dogs. So I kept telling Monson we weren't going to get another cat, but he just kept saying, "Mom, I just really want another cat."

Friday after bringing the kids to school, I went to work. As I was going into a meeting, my phone rang. It was my neighbor. I thought I'd better answer because she doesn't usually call me. When she started talking, she sounded like she was choked up or crying. The thought ran through my mind, "She ran over Kitty and she's calling to tell me he's dead." But then she cleared her throat and told me she has a cold and that's why she sounds like that. She then said she thinks she has my cat. I instantly started crying. She said that she was driving just a block from my house, on the same street, and she saw a black and white cat wander into the road and it looked like he couldn't see where he was going. She stopped her car, picked him up and saw the bald ring around his neck. (I told people that was a way to identify him. He used to always wear a collar, which left a ring around his neck that hair wouldn't grow on.) She said he's also declawed in the front and not in the back. IT WAS HIM!!! SHE FOUND MY PRECIOUS KITTY!!! She brought him into my house and I rushed home to verify it was really him. When I got there I was so excited to see him, but since he is a cat, he had no way of letting me know that he was happy to see me. He did purr. He seemed a little confused and still a little scared. He had been outside in the freezing cold, snow and rain for 5 days. It was a nice, warm, sunny day that day so I think maybe he had been hiding somewhere for a few days to get through the bad weather and since it was a nice day, he went out to wander and that is how he was found.

I was so excited to tell Monson. First I ran back to the office to let Anthon know it was for sure Kitty. Anthon was very happy that he was found. I know Kitty isn't his favorite thing in the world, but Anthon has always been very kind and supportive about Kitty and wanted to find him as much as I did. I finished up some work, and then it was time to pick up Monson and Sophie from school. When Monson got into the car, I told him, and he was so excited. He gave me a big hug and was so happy. We picked up Sophie, told her and then all they wanted to do was get home and see him. Monson said, "Mom, I think when I see him, he is going to be excited and jump to me." Monson was only a little disappointed when Kitty acted like a cat and did nothing when he saw him. But Monson gave him lots of hugs anyway. We could tell Kitty was still a little traumatized because if we put him down outside of his bathroom, he would just hold still. He wouldn't move a muscle for fear of getting lost again. It took about a day for him to realize that he was home and safe. He slept a lot and just wanted to cuddle with me and purred louder than I've ever heard him purr. We are so happy to have our Kitty back and so grateful for everyone that prayed for us.

A while ago I got a teddy bear for Kitty to have in his bed so he isn't lonely. I have no way of knowing whether he likes it or not.

A Boy and his Cat

I have had my cat Kitty since he was only a couple weeks old. I had to bottle feed him when I got him because he was too little to eat food. Monson is definitely the kid that loves Kitty the most. He loves all animals.

When he was 2 1/2

Kitty is 16 years old now. He is definitely acting his age recently. He is very slow, sometimes runs into things and sleeps even more. But Monson still loves him so much. The first thing he does in the morning is goes into our bathroom to say good morning to Kitty. He loves holding him and bringing him around the house. Kitty does not always enjoy these things, but he tolerates Monson the most out of all the kids. Monson is constantly saying, "Mom, take a picture!" whenever he is holding Kitty.

I've told the kids that Kitty may not live much longer. After our other cat, Baby, died 4 years ago I felt like Kitty was alone and a little neglected. I'm glad that Monson loves him so much and gives him a lot of attention.

Memory

Baby, my cat, died three months ago, but Damon still mentions her at least once a week.  He will say to me out of the blue, "Baby died."  I'm shocked that he still remembers her and thinks about her. 

Lonely Kitty

Kitty has been so sad since Baby died.  He just lays on his heating pad or looks out the window.  He won't go outside.  He just mopes around, so lonely and sad.





I've been trying to give him extra love, but I don't think I can replace his cat companion.  Kitty was a stray cat as well when I found him.  He was so tiny that I had to bottle feed him and lift him into his litter box because he was too little to get over the side of it by himself.  A year later Baby came to us and the three of us have been a family for the past 10 years.  Baby was just a few months old when we got her and Kitty was a year old and he was always so kind and gentle with her since she was smaller than him.  And Baby was always very loving towards Kitty.  She would lick him and groom him.  Every now and then they would get into fights, but that just made them seem more like an old married couple.

I've had my cats longer than I've had my kids.  I've had my cats longer than I've known my husband.  I knew they would die eventually and since Kitty is 11 years old and Baby was 10 years old, I figured I only had a few more years with them.  But I never thought that one of them would be taken from me in such a terrible way.  (We think that raccoons got her.)

Baby didn't have her collar on her when we found her and I searched for it for 3 days.  I was finally able to find it on the other side of our fence in our neighbor's yard.  I don't know how it got over there and I really don't want to know.  But I'm glad that I have it so that I could hang it on Baby's cherry tree.  I miss her.

Rest In Peace Baby

Today I mourn the loss of my cat, Baby.  She went missing Wednesday night and this afternoon we found her body in our yard.







Baby was always a feisty girl, but was also very loving.  She was a stray cat that one of my coworkers found outside her door.  Since I already had Kitty at the time, my coworker told me I needed a friend for him.  So 10 years ago she joined our family and Kitty has always loved having her around as a companion.





Baby loved to be spanked and was always very curious.









Baby we miss you and love you.  Kitty is so sad without you.





We planted a tree over her grave so that we can look at it and remember our fluffy, fancy feast cat, Baby.

Missing

Baby, the cat, is missing.

During the summer, we let the cats go outside, but they always come in for the night.  Last night, Baby didn't come in.  They ALWAYS come when they hear me put food in their food bowl.  Kitty is here, but Baby is not.  Today we looked all over the yard because they always stay in the yard, but we can't find her anywhere.

Here are a couple pictures of her.





She has a collar with a pink heart tag with her name and my phone number.

She has NEVER been gone like this before.  I'm getting really worried.

Kitty Update

I brought Kitty to the vet on Friday because he wasn't eating and wouldn't get out of bed.  The vet said he had a "fever of unknown origin" and gave me a bunch of expensive options.  Blood work, IV, disease tests, etc.  I asked if we could try just giving him an antibiotic to see if that helps.  She said that we could start there and if he doesn't improve by the next day, I should bring him in for the tests.

So she gave him a shot of antibiotics and I brought him home.  But on Saturday, he wasn't doing any better.  I was getting really worried about him because in the 10 years I've had him, he's never been like this.  So I brought him back to the vet.  After many tests (and a lot of $$) the vet said everything came back normal.  So she gave him an IV because he was dehydrated and to bring his fever down and gave me a prescription for some special kitty food and sent us home.

Sunday he pretty much laid around all day again, but I was able to get him to eat a little of the special cat food and he drank some water.

Today he is walking around a little bit and eating a little more food.  I'm so glad he is starting to feel better.  Hopefully he continues to improve.

Sick Kitty

My poor cat, Kitty, is not feeling very well. 

This morning when I brought food to the cats, Kitty just stayed in his little cat bed and would not eat.  He's been in the cat bed all day and won't budge.  This has never happened before.  Kitty is obsessed with food and is always begging for food so for him to not eat tells me something is seriously wrong.

Anyone ever had this happen to their cat before?

Christmas Baby

It's Christmas time, the tree is up, so we know where to find Baby....

Wordless Wednesday

Baby Who?

I think that Baby my cat is a little confused as to which "Baby" all this new stuff is for....

I found her in the crib, curled in a ball, sleeping like a baby.  I thought it was so cute....don't tell Anthon.

Shave and a Hair Cut

It was that time again.  I shaved the kitties! 

Baby gets so fluffy during the winter so it is such a big change when I shave her because she is so tiny under all her hair.

But she likes it and I love it!  She still looks a little scruffy because she only tolerates the shaving for a short period of time so it's hard to make her look nice, but she's soft as velvet again and there's much less hair in the house.

Kitty doesn't look cool shaved like baby does so I won't include a photo of him.  Plus he hates being shaved so he is even more scruffy and blotchy than Baby.

I love my kitties!

Wordless Wednesday