Dying cat finds an unlikely friend

KING5.com ^ | June 14, 2006 | SUSAN WYATT

[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.

[Lady Jag]

Cats came to us. They chose to be with us, historically and for me. Mine are all strays, over the decades they usually have been either from the ASPCA or, more significantly, from the woods out back.

When they come to be here and I let them in, it's not long before they don't want to go outside anymore.

[Lady Jag]

Oh!   Since you were responding to my post, I athought you were shedding a tear of the spoiled, uppity fancy cat there.

[The Westerner]

I'm sitting by the window watching my declawed cat living the life he has dreamed of: outside with the birds and bees. He had a screeching fight one night with another cat, but came home without a scratch. So no more night time play, but while I'm home, I'm taking this chance because this cat would probably choose death to being indoors the rest of his life. Still, I am nearby as any good mom would be. My young cat has claws but wouldn't leave his side or mine. A real follower.

[beyond the sea]

You really don't know cats.

Right. (sarcasm off)

As we say in Pittsburgh....... "younz must be jaggin' me."

But, I'm glad your cats are living like kings.

[beyond the sea]

We had a thinner cat years ago with a very thin coat. I guess it was just the cat's gene's. But we made cheese omelets cooked in bacon grease a couple of mornings a week, added some bacon (I had a hard time not eating it first) and the cat gained some decent weight. However, I really feel wrong to tell you what to do with your particular cat. It's something you should do yourself. But if she will eat crushed ripe cantaloupe, that would be great.

[beyond the sea]

And we grow kitty grass in the house for them to eat.

That's great to have the grass. But let me ask you this. After they eat a meal, then chomp on some of that grass, do they sometimes throw up their food?

[kanawa]

Cats can't sweat.

Not that sweating has anything to do with this behavior
but cats do sweat according to this web site.

"The truth is that cats do sweat. They sweat through their paws. A frightened cat may even leave a trail of wet footprints on the ground."

[Serb5150]

I wish my cat had that problem.

But good luck getting some weight on your kitty, have you tried giving her cheese as a snack? Also, cream might do the trick if your cat will drink it.

I've seen bald patches twice on my cats. One time it was caused by poor circulation that we cured by brushing her once a day. We used a boar bristle-type brush for human hair, and her fur grew back even nicer than it was before.

The second cat had a bald patch that was caused by fleas. She never scratched when I was around, but when I was gone she would rub the base of her tail on the bookshelf to scratch where the fleas were biting. Fleas normally bite me as well, but since she didn't scratch and I wasn't bitten I had no clue she was infested with them. A trip to the vet, quick flea bath, and monthly application of Advantage was all she needed to return to normal.

[beyond the sea]

Living in Florida, I've seen what happens to house pets who tussle with raccoons and opossums. It's not worth it, and the ones who live au naturel have remarkably short lives. Anyone who's watched a cat waste away from FIV can attest to that.

I am not disagreeing with you at all, but what you say is phenomenal to me. We have four acres at the end of a private road, lots of woods, raccoons, and all the rest here in Pennsylvania. All our cats (probably around 15 over the past 33 years) have never fought with any animals (the blue jays can be aggressive ;-) ), the cats actually used to hang around with some raccoons at night, and all of them have lived to at least 18, a few up to 24.

So these stories on this thread of short lives for outdoor cats is a real mystery to me. Just telling the truth. These cats here are outside most of the days of the year. I have no idea why all these outdoor cats I'm hearing about on this thread die so young. Very odd.

[Serb5150]

Are your cats indoor/outdoor or outdoor only?

[beyond the sea]

this cat would probably choose death to being indoors the rest of his life

Mine too.

I understand that cats can adapt to mostly anything and be very happy inside (to all you others with indoor cats). But mine know the outdoors, and once you do, you never want to be confined.

We have one very small orange female. She's about 13 and was the runt of a litter. She was born at a fruit stand. She's still very small, about 7 pounds of brilliant efficiency! ;-)

She goes out in late March here in PA, and comes in the house about a dozen times until around the end of November. She sleeps in warm places set up for her in the garages. She hates being inside. She is a funny little thing. She never goes very far from the house, she always comes when I have her tuna or whatever, but she loves to be outside.

In the winter I watch her walk down to a pond down behind our house with about five deer. There they are................ all these deer prints and her little paw prints right with them.

Pretty funny!

[Lady Jag]

My neighbor has lost 3 cats to predators, a dog and a cat to heartworm. The dog needed surgery after being hit by the car, and the parasite medicine is expensive.

Not only is letting our pets out heartbreakingly dangerous, it is also expensive.

[My Favorite Headache]

Someone always knows the most likely reason for the story and it only took 4 posts to get to it...this is why it is good to hang out on FR at least 2-3 times a week...it makes you smarter.

[Lady Jag]

Now she's afraid to go outside...

My stray cats all lost interest in going outside soon after realizing they had it made! LOL!

[beyond the sea]

We only have four now. They all go outside during the day. Three generally come in at night....... but not always. One plump male cat sleeps by me nearly every night. I really love that guy.

[Ditter]

If you had coyotes, roaming dogs, diseased feral cats or lots of traffic you would understand why some of us must keep our cats inside or lose them.

[dixie sass]

When you see pictures like this, then you know deep in your soul there is hope.

[beyond the sea]

I hear you. We live in a cat paradise here. You don't, apparently. I understand you need to avoid those troubles out there.

Here's to your animals' happiness and long life.

:-)

[Jet Jaguar]

Cool Pic!

[pookie18]

My cats live a lavish, happy life thinking they're humans, some have lived over 20 years. My nextdoor neighbor lets her cats out. They live 2 to 3 years. You really don't know cats.

I know cats & I agree with you...from personal experience. Pookie, who lived to be 18, was my 1 outdoor exception.