Posted on 03/26/2008 1:22:31 PM PDT by Tennessee_Bob
The world is a far, far darker place for the loss of a little black cat
Pitch was a rescue cat. We went to a black cat rescue group 11 years ago to see about picking a cat, and we got picked instead. I sat down on the floor, and this little kitten with the crank in his tail came right up to me and climbed into my lap, and that was it.
Originally, Pitch was supposed to be “my” cat, as much as a cat can belong to anyone. However, when we got him home, he instantly adopted my then four year old daughter. She could do no wrong in his eyes. He followed her around the house like a puppy. If she were in her room with the door closed, he would sit there and knock at the door until she opened it. He slept with her, kept her warm on chilly nights, and in the morning, would make muffins on her stomach, and give her kisses on the cheek until she woke up.
When I got divorced, Pitch had to stay with my ex-wife. My daughter came with me, and would see him when she went to visit her mom, but until we had a house of our own, Pitch was over there. He became an outdoor cat for better or worse. When I bought my house, we went and picked up Pitch, and turned to the task of making him an indoor cat once again. When he discovered hot spots on the heated floors, it made our job much easier.
Pitch – Pitch Cat, the old man, Buddy, Partner – I called him all sorts of names – and he would answer to Pitch – he would come when you called him – was an unusual cat. My best friend stated, “I am not a cat person, but Pitch isn’t a cat.” He made friends with anyone that came over. He knew no strangers, only friends he had never met before. Scratch his chin once, and he’d be in your lap wanting more. My wife (I got married again) stated that she wasn’t a cat person, but she loved Pitch. You could hear the old man purring from across the room.
In December, we noticed that he was losing weight. A big cat – not a fat one, according to the vet, but a big cat – Pitch weighed in at eighteen pounds. When I got him to the vet, he was down to eleven. They ran a blood panel on him, and found that his kidneys were failing. They showed me how to run a hydration line on him, and gave me some Prescription Diet, along with some antibiotics for an infection he had. He perked up overnight, was his old self in a matter of 24 hours, and we were off and running. This lasted for a couple months, but we couldn’t get him to eat steadily, and in the end, we realized we were just watching him go slowly.
This morning, after everyone had left the house but me, he collapsed. I checked on him, and in typical cat fashion, he got up and was walking around the house. At lunch when I came home, he had collapsed again, and seemed to be having trouble breathing. I called the vet’s office, and they told me to bring him in, so I did.
I pride myself on being this rough, tough, ex-military kind of guy. I was a Staff Sergeant. I’m bad ass, but I was a huge baby when it came down to it. The vet came in and examined him, and I could hardly talk through the tears. She understood though, and was so very kind. They allowed me to stay in the room with him while they gave him the tranquilizer to quiet him down. He staggered around on the table, and finally laid down next to where I was standing. I wrapped him in the blanket that belonged to the Girl (Marissa – my daughter that he adopted), and sat down with him while the vet gave him the shot that sent him home. He was sicker than we realized, and he went very quickly – in less than a minute. There was one last breath – and I’m telling myself that it was a sigh of relief – and that great heart was stilled.
No more good morning kisses or making muffins in the middle of the night. No more listening to him talk to the birds on the feeder in the backyard. No more pain or suffering for the old man, my partner, my buddy. He’s gone home to the Rainbow Bridge.
Bob
Kitty Ping.
Bob. I am sorry for your loss.
I am so sorry for your loss. Here’s a big (((hug))). I am the owner of a black cat myself. Thought I was going to lose her recently but the good Lord gave me some more time and I thank Him for that.
Do you have a pic of your beloved?
Sucks, dude! Sounds like you found one of the really great ones. It never ceases to amaze me how much a part of the family some animal friends can become...
I’m sorry you lost your friend. I know how you feel. A cat can be such a part of the family that losing one is as painful as losing any other member of the family.
I don’t think anyone can read this and just dimiss it. And I’m not a cat person (of course Pitch was not a cat).
Altough I’m a dog guy, I understand your pain and loss. My sincere condolences.
Animals are a HUGE part of families and certainly a huge part of my life. I have a mutt dog that I would be lost without.
Prayers for Pitch! You gave him the best!
I’m sorry for your lose !
I’m working through a similar issue with my 18 year old cat Niki. She’s never been to a vet and never let anyone near her but me.
I keep her comfortable, she’s not in any distress, if she was I’d seek veterinary help.
It’s day to day, never sure what I’ll find when I return from work or wake in the morning.
I understand !
Your description sounds just like my tuxedo cat, whose name was Apache but of course I called him Patch.
Patch could count to three. He would eat exactly three french fries, no more, no less. An inveterate muffin maker, his way of waking me up was to lick my chin and meow with his mouth closed. The one time he scratched my eyelid to wake me up, I threw him, very hard, across the room. Never happened again.
When I sold my house I had to find a new home for him, and I did in an unusual way. A friend knew a gal who was a horse trainer at Hollywood Park (HUGH racetrack complex) in Los Angeles. They were looking for a half dozen cats (believe it or not) because cats and horses have this bargain, where the cats keep the mice down and rub against the horses legs. A $300K thoroughbred horse can easily break a limb bashing him/herself against the stall walls freaked out by a mouse.
So my cat got to live out the rest of his years in a heated stable, with other cats, hanging out on bales of hay, fed every day, with a staff vet. He was 16 when I “donated” him in 2002. I don’t know if he’s still alive. It would have torn me up to have him die on me.
You have my condolences. They can be great companions.
I’ve lost a few in my years and I’ve grieved every one.
So sorry, Bob. Keep the chin up....
.....Bob
I understand. Tears for you and your family, Bob.
Same thing happened with our Scottish Terrier - almost 15 yrs. old. It was one of the most difficult things we’ve ever had to do, but it came to the point that it was more difficult to see and hear her suffering than it was to end her pain.
We still miss her. She was an important part of our family, just as Pitch was a part of yours.
My heart goes out to you, and ya’ll are in my prayers as you mourn your loss.
Condolences - sounds like Pitch was a wonderful pet.
Kitty ping.....
Sorry to hear of your loss Bob....
8^(
My monitor is all blurry somehow....
Condolences from a fellow animal lover.
Good to see the reply button got fixed...once again, sorry for your loss.
I know...as do many, many people here...about losing a four-legged best friend. It may be far too soon to say this, but Bob, a visit to a rescue shelter sometime in the future may find you adopted yet again. These little guys give so much in return for a little kibble and some scritching.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.