Posted on 09/08/2009 4:11:36 PM PDT by Zionist Conspirator
Dear Fellow FReepers:
You all know, and I freely admit, that I am not the nicest person in the world. However, I know someone who is. That someone is my mother.
Three to two years ago we experienced a spate of pet deaths. We had many pets, and they were all old, so it was just time for them to wear out and say good-bye (unfortunately, one of them was "helped along" by the adulterated pet food). Their ages were eleven, fourteen, seventeen, and fifteen.
One reason we were able to make it through those dark times was that a little stray cat came up to our house in Feb. of '07. While ordinarily my mother is a dog person (I'm the cat person), this little cat "adopted" her and she grew to love him in that way we all know about. I don't think we would have made it without him.
On 6/15 of this year we had to take him to the vet because he was having trouble urinating. Turns out he had sand and a few stones (as cats are wont to have). They cleaned him out and put him on some urinary health food, which he refused to eat. But he seemed to return to normal.
About a month and a half later, he stopped up again. The vets recommended a surgery that would "re-route" his plumbing, so his passage would be larger and he would be able to pass whatever sand or stones accumulated. The surgery was a success . . . so we thought.
He occasionally exhibited trouble urinating, but eventually he was able to get it out. Then about two to three weeks ago he blocked up again and we took him back. The vet didn't understand; usually this surgery takes care of the problem. They theorized that the scar tissue was simply trying to heal together and seal the passage. He cathaterized him and injected some fluid to try to insure that the tissue would not grow together again.
In the middle of last week he seemed to be straining again, but he got better and seemed to have a wonderful weekend. My mother even said she believed he had finally turned the corner in all this.
All was well when we retired last night. But according to my mother he jumped on her bed in the middle of the night and tried to urinate and simply could not. She said she'd never seen him try so long and so hard. This morning he was very sick indeed, simply lying on the floor. Of course she asked me to take him to the vet and of course I was happy to do so.
It seems that for whatever reason, this cat simply had bad metabolism. He simply could not break down the minerals in his food, and it had no alternative but to form a ball of sand in his bladder. They operated on him again. The doctor said he'd hardly ever seen so much sand in a cat's bladder. He had so much that the larger passage simply was of no use to him. It's not that the surgery wasn't a success; it's just that his metabolism was so poor that it wasn't going to help him.
They had cleaned out his bladder and were sewing him up to recover and return home when he simply stopped breathing. Both doctors are of course very upset. I am very upset. But the grief my mother is experiencing is indescribable.
This little cat got us through terrible times. He picked my mother to love and they absolutely doted on each other. She says she's never seen a cat like him before (I have). While she will recover, this is going to take a long, long time and there's no shortcut.
Blessed be G-d the True Judge. He loves us with a Father's love and thus gives us not what we want . . . but what we need. And sometimes what we need is very painful.
Whatever you all think of me, I ask you all to pray for my mother that G-d will help her to grieve and recover. It is one thing to lose an old animal that is on the way out anyway. But this was right out of nowhere, and he was only two years old (two and a half, more correctly).
My mother has had a hard and painful life. I wish I could bring her cat back. I would do it in a second if I could. But I cannot, and she is going to have to hurt, and I am going to have to hurt. While I am not a nice person, I assure you all that my mother is nothing like me at all. She is a wonderful, loving, gentle person who has suffered so much. Right now she is mourning a sweet little kitty whose only "crime" was to love her and wondering why she loses everything she loves.
I implore you all to please hold her up to Our Heavenly Father in prayer to help her get through this.
Thank you all so very much.
Please ping this to all appropriate parties. Thank you.
I pray for your mother and last year, this week, my friend who is now 99 and 3 months old lost her cat as well.
I can empathize with you and your mother are going through.
I think you’re a very nice and caring person and your mother is blessed to have you! It hurts so much to lose a pet — I’m sorry for your loss. You and your mom gave this little kitty a great life. Please find some comfort in that knowledge.
(Get her another kitten soon. Two, maybe. That’s always helped me.)
I will certainly keep you and your mother in my prayers.
I know far too well how difficult it is to lose a pet who is part of the family.
You can’t be so bad, your love for your mother proves it. God bless you and your mother and if it is His will there will soon be another little visitor to your/her home to make things easier. That’s just the way it works, God always seems to send another little (or not so little) creature for us to love.
Prayers for your intentions.
Your story made me cry, for I am a cat-lover and I feel your pain. If your mother would be happier with another cat, may I suggest a burmese for her? They are the most cuddly, interactive cats we ever had. We have two, and I have to stop myslef from getting more. They are simply the best.
Dear Friend,
You have my prayers. Please tell your mother to take comfort in the fact that she gave him life. Without her love and care he would not have lasted long on the outside.
When you think she is ready, go to your local shelter and save a life. There are so many beautiful cats just waiting for good homes.
You do have my prayers, and I know how a cat or dog can become part of the family, and a companion to someone.
We found out this spring my 82 year-old Mom has cancer. Her companion, a 17 year-old pomeranian (sp) was her life. While my Mom was going through chemo and radiation treatments, her little dog became sick and had to be euthanized to keep the dog from suffering any more.
It has been so depressing for Mom. And I miss “Honey” too. I have lost older pets, I loved very much, and know how hard it is.
You have my prayers for your Mom. If you have pets, share them with her right now. My Mom doesn’t need another dog (she could barely handle the dog walking, I was having to do it), but her next door neighbor has a beautiful little dog (a stray he took in) and we are spoiling her and loving her to help us wit our grief over losing Honey.
Thank you so much for those kind words. There is no easy way to lose a pet. If the pet is old, it's hard because they've been part of your life for so long. If they are young (and this one was only about 2 1/2 years old) it's hard because you had them for such a short time and didn't have a chance to cherish them as they grow old.
Only G-d A-mighty knows how much this hurts. But He does, Blessed Be His Name.
That is so wonderful what you and your mom did for this little lost cat. I’m sure the pain is great, as the story has a big lump in my throat and I didn’t know the little guy. I pray to God that all our pets are waiting for us in the end because I believe in Heaven and it wouldn’t be Heaven without them......
Our prayers are with you.
We lost a cat with a problem similiar to yours when I was a child.
My mother was inconsolable.
I don’t know how she drove home from the vet’s office, but she did, and I was too young to drive, or I would have.
My husband and I lost one only 8 months old a couple of years ago. I don’t remember much from that time, I was in so much pain from that loss.
And I agree with others on this thread, a kitten or two helps to ease the pain.
We will keep you in our prayers.
I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep.
I could see that you were crying, You found it hard to sleep.
I purred to you softly as you brushed away a tear,
“It’s me, I haven’t left you, I’m well, I’m fine, I’m here.”
I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea,
You were thinking of the many times, your hands reached down to me.
I was with you at the shops today, Your arms were getting sore.
I longed to take your parcels, I wish I could do more.
I was with you at my grave today, You tend it with such care.
I want to reassure you, that I’m not lying there.
I walked with you towards the house, as you fumbled for your key.
I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said “it’s me.”
You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair.
I tried so hard to let you know, that I was standing there.
It’s possible for me, to be so near you everyday.
To say to you with certainty, “I never went away.”
You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew...
in the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.
The day is over... I smile and watch you yawning
and say “goodnight, God bless, I’ll see you in the morning.”
And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,
I’ll rush across to greet you and we’ll stand, side by side.
I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see.
Be patient, live your journey out... then come home to be with me.
You and your mother have my deepest sympathy for the loss of your precious little lover-boy cat. May God bless both of you and bring much joy to your lives to make up for this time of mourning. You’re a good person, and your passion is not at all off-putting because you make sense.
Sorry to hear about the kitty. Our kitty Alfie had the same thing but several years on after surgery seems to be okay. Glad you are taking such good care of your mom and the kitty while he was alive. Some kitties are just really special. Sounds like your mom got a good one—in both you and the cat.
Bless your Mom’s heart, I know a bit about how she feels. We lost 3 kitties (including my beloved Selma Lee) over a 2 year period. It just hurts - so badly.
My suggestion would be to get a girl kitty from the shelter. Most decent shelters have lots of ‘older’ cats, and they usually have a pretty good idea about each kitty’s temperament.
I have read that poem before, back when we were losing our other pets. Thank you for posting it!
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.