A deer appears to comfort Sammy, who was critically ill with kidney failure.
Posted on 06/14/2006 9:15:30 PM PDT by Serb5150
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Margie Scott was devastated when her 9-year-old cat Sammy was diagnosed with kidney failure, but she never could have predicted what would give her comfort during her pet’s last days.
Scott, who lives in an apartment just south of Lake Whatcom, had adopted the long-haired white and gray cat when he was just six months old.
Last month, Sammy stopped eating his dry food and would sit in a corner for hours. Scott took him to the vet, who treated him for dehydration. But it wasn’t enough.
“He was better for awhile, but then he started going downhill,” she said. “He just had this haunted look in his eyes.”
Because Sammy was declawed, he was strictly an indoor cat. But he always wanted to go outside. So, in his dying days, Scott decided to let Sammy spend some time outside each day. Sammy enjoyed his time outside the apartment, which is surrounded by woods and wetlands.
A family of deer regularly visits the complex, and one day, Sammy was sitting outside in the grass when two young deer happened by.
Scott watched in astonishment at what occurred next.
“One walked up to Sammy and they touched noses,” she said. “The deer jumped back and made a sort of a snorting noise, like he was sneezing. It seemed like he was taken by surprise,” she said.
What she saw next was even more surprising.
”The deer started licking him all around the head and neck, and Sammy just sat there allowing the deer to do this,” said Scott.
For several minutes, the young deer licked the small cat. Scott grabbed her camera and got a picture of the tender scene.
“It was amazing,” she said. “I truly believe the deer was able to sense that there was something wrong with Sammy and that was why he started licking him, like he was trying to nurture him.”
Two days later, Sammy died.
Though Scott is still grieving the loss of her cherished pet, she takes comfort in the photo she has of Sammy and the deer.
“I have some amazing memories, including this one,” she said.
Blurry monitor kitty ping.
ping
Kidney failure probably meant that the cat couldn't excrete enough salt in its urine, so its sweat was saltier. Deer like "salt licks".
This doesn't mean the story is any less touching, because the animals must still have accepted each other in a very unusual way.
It reminds me of a similar story, of a man dying of cancer, who has gained a friend in a big goose, who is usually very wild and bad tempered. But he approaches him every day, and lets the sick man pat him. Because of this, the dying man enjoys going out for walks, and his family say the friendship of the wild bird has brightened up his life.
What a beautiful story. Animals are sometimes kinder than humans....
We lost a cat to neighbors with a BB gun several years ago. He was ours for 9 years. My son played Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" at the "funeral". Poor lady. I understand her pain. I still miss Angus :(
I had a cat named Angus too. He had to have a "hug" everyday!
A møøse bit my cat ønce.
No, reallii!
Ping.
There's one problem with your theory. Cats can't sweat.
We took in two declawed cats last spring. I started letting them out in my area, I have four acres with old woods. These two cats are always with the deer around here. In fact, yesterday afternoon when I was on this computer a deer came right up to the window, bumped her nose on the window. The cats were right out there with her.
By the way, for any people who think declawed cats can't get along outside..... they can! These two wander all over the yard, have become accomplished mousers, and are perfectly adapted. They even are running into the other cats of ours outside and everything is cool ......... thank God.
;-)
Well hey, if a declawed kitty can chase a bear up a tree.....
What a sweet story. We need more of them.
Blurry monitor indeed. I lost a cat to kidney failure a few years back--he was an older cat, so perhaps it was his time anyway. Didn't make it any easier. Great picture.
Cats rule!
I didn't know that cats could sweat... also, could the deer really get to the sweat through the fur?
Thank you for sharing that. I also have a declawed cat. I'm much too worried for her own safety to allow her outside without supervision, but she does have a very nice fenced-in backyard to play in with the other cats. I'm mostly worried about dogs coming around, finding her defenseless. Not to mention she's too fat to run very fast...
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