Lost a very special friend
Discussion
This is to mark the passing of my adoptive cat. Gwendolyn AKA Potty Cat.
This fine feline arrived as one of a pair, a Siamese, (Perpetua AKA Spindle Cat) and Potty was a half feral Himalayan, both
of whom were born and brought up in the US. Both were indoor cats - an anti-coyote measure.
The nicknames came quickly, I called the Siamese Spindle because she was thin. Potty, on the other hand, was a big puss
and the cooler of the two. However, traitslike chasing non-existent moths, licking furniture for no reason and random meowing
were enough for me to consider her as being certifiably insane.
Even before she bacame accustomed to the name, she'd adopted me. Always by me, always on my lap and sleeping on my legs (or head) every night.
When my divorce came, my ex and ex-stepdaughter wanted both cats - they simply took them when I was out. But Potty had other ideas...a week's pining and not settling were enought to see her brought back to me. Spindle settled well enough and so, Potty became Top Cat in my house.
Spindle succumbed to hpyerthyroidism last September, four years after being taken. It was a nasty thing that ultimately
sent her blind a few times. I did my best, as did the vet, but it fell to me to say goodbye as Spindle Cat was euthanised. It was
swift and peaceful.
In the time we spent together, I taught Potty how to not fear the 'fizz' of a pop bottle being opened and the roar of a passing
jet aircraft. After a while, shewas letting me groom her, clip the nails and. of course, feed her twice daily. For the last year or so, I came up with the concept of the McD's 'catburger'. I'd buy the standard kid's Happy Meal Burger (without sauce) and she'd have the beef patty while I had the bun. I'll bet that not too many mogs get their very own burger once a week. On a good night, she'd get through the beef in seven seconds!
A couple of weeks ago, something went wrong. Potty wasn't making the litter tray and clearly having discomfort at toilet time.
A uirnary tract infection was suspected so she was given a 7-day antibiotic shot. 20 minutes later, after the cat soliloquoy on the way home, she was up to her ears in the food dish...result! Over another 5 days of my administering doses of an analgesic to her food, she came back up to speed.
Come Wednedsay, she could only manage a teaspoonful of food and a little water and meowing suggested something had returned. So last Monday, I took her back to the vet, who found that the weight loss had been minimal but she wanted to do a blood test. I was left in the surgery while vet and nurse took Potty away and all I heard was some meowing but nothing too harrowing.
Five minutes later the vet was back to take me through to the recovery room, to find poor Potty struggling to breathe
and fading fast. The vet said the bloods attempt had put Potty into Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). It was suggested that something underlying had been revealed and I was told that the circulation was really poor.
I'm no vet but I could see I had to make 'that' decision and I did so, for Potty's sake.
So as I left catless, I could at least take comfort in knowing Potty was at peace after only a short period of illness.
I was told that my feisty puss had bitten the nurse, and the I had 'made the right decision'. "Errr, I know", I thought.
But the bottom line is that while I was 'Dad' for sixteen years, I'd given Potty the best life I could. I'm sorry to go on about this tale but it's just something I had to do. After all, Potty passed at the great age of 21 years.
Here are the terrible twain in the early days...
And a recent, pre-illness pic of Her Imperial Majesty at rest.
This fine feline arrived as one of a pair, a Siamese, (Perpetua AKA Spindle Cat) and Potty was a half feral Himalayan, both
of whom were born and brought up in the US. Both were indoor cats - an anti-coyote measure.
The nicknames came quickly, I called the Siamese Spindle because she was thin. Potty, on the other hand, was a big puss
and the cooler of the two. However, traitslike chasing non-existent moths, licking furniture for no reason and random meowing
were enough for me to consider her as being certifiably insane.
Even before she bacame accustomed to the name, she'd adopted me. Always by me, always on my lap and sleeping on my legs (or head) every night.
When my divorce came, my ex and ex-stepdaughter wanted both cats - they simply took them when I was out. But Potty had other ideas...a week's pining and not settling were enought to see her brought back to me. Spindle settled well enough and so, Potty became Top Cat in my house.
Spindle succumbed to hpyerthyroidism last September, four years after being taken. It was a nasty thing that ultimately
sent her blind a few times. I did my best, as did the vet, but it fell to me to say goodbye as Spindle Cat was euthanised. It was
swift and peaceful.
In the time we spent together, I taught Potty how to not fear the 'fizz' of a pop bottle being opened and the roar of a passing
jet aircraft. After a while, shewas letting me groom her, clip the nails and. of course, feed her twice daily. For the last year or so, I came up with the concept of the McD's 'catburger'. I'd buy the standard kid's Happy Meal Burger (without sauce) and she'd have the beef patty while I had the bun. I'll bet that not too many mogs get their very own burger once a week. On a good night, she'd get through the beef in seven seconds!
A couple of weeks ago, something went wrong. Potty wasn't making the litter tray and clearly having discomfort at toilet time.
A uirnary tract infection was suspected so she was given a 7-day antibiotic shot. 20 minutes later, after the cat soliloquoy on the way home, she was up to her ears in the food dish...result! Over another 5 days of my administering doses of an analgesic to her food, she came back up to speed.
Come Wednedsay, she could only manage a teaspoonful of food and a little water and meowing suggested something had returned. So last Monday, I took her back to the vet, who found that the weight loss had been minimal but she wanted to do a blood test. I was left in the surgery while vet and nurse took Potty away and all I heard was some meowing but nothing too harrowing.
Five minutes later the vet was back to take me through to the recovery room, to find poor Potty struggling to breathe
and fading fast. The vet said the bloods attempt had put Potty into Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). It was suggested that something underlying had been revealed and I was told that the circulation was really poor.
I'm no vet but I could see I had to make 'that' decision and I did so, for Potty's sake.
So as I left catless, I could at least take comfort in knowing Potty was at peace after only a short period of illness.
I was told that my feisty puss had bitten the nurse, and the I had 'made the right decision'. "Errr, I know", I thought.
But the bottom line is that while I was 'Dad' for sixteen years, I'd given Potty the best life I could. I'm sorry to go on about this tale but it's just something I had to do. After all, Potty passed at the great age of 21 years.
Here are the terrible twain in the early days...
And a recent, pre-illness pic of Her Imperial Majesty at rest.
Sorry for your loss.
As an asides , I had to take one of our cats on a one way trip to the vets at the weekend. She was old, had chronic kidney failure, wasn't eating, was collapsing and it was her time.
I was, and am, still very sad about her passing.
However, for those of you wondering about having a cat put to sleep, it was actually very beautiful and peaceful. Her head gently went to one side, within a few seconds of the drug going in, and that was that. Very peaceful and very controlled.
I was worried about watching the process, and I wanted to be next to her when she went as a final act of kindness and reassurance to her, and I am very glad I did.
As an asides , I had to take one of our cats on a one way trip to the vets at the weekend. She was old, had chronic kidney failure, wasn't eating, was collapsing and it was her time.
I was, and am, still very sad about her passing.
However, for those of you wondering about having a cat put to sleep, it was actually very beautiful and peaceful. Her head gently went to one side, within a few seconds of the drug going in, and that was that. Very peaceful and very controlled.
I was worried about watching the process, and I wanted to be next to her when she went as a final act of kindness and reassurance to her, and I am very glad I did.
IMO, a pet that's given you it's all for all its life has given you a moral obligation. Generally, you're the one who takes it on so it is you who owes it, so to speak.
Having had to make the decision a good few times, I think of the consequence as...
Taking away pain, fear and misery.
Letting the pet off the hook of suffering for its sake, not yours.
Performing an essential service.
When the time comes, I'm there to give the pet a scratch behind the ear, words of comfort and the knowledge that I'm present.
It isn't an easy thing but slipping quietly away is fully deserved.
Having had to make the decision a good few times, I think of the consequence as...
Taking away pain, fear and misery.
Letting the pet off the hook of suffering for its sake, not yours.
Performing an essential service.
When the time comes, I'm there to give the pet a scratch behind the ear, words of comfort and the knowledge that I'm present.
It isn't an easy thing but slipping quietly away is fully deserved.
Gretchen said:
RIP Potty. She truly was a mejestic beautiful lady. She thanked you every day in her ways. Your post has me in tears. I’m so sorry you’ve lost your dear friend x
Thank you Gretchen. Now it's been a week, I'm coming to terms with losing Potty. As you and others have realised, I can take comfort in knowing I did everything humanly possible for my cat. Moreover, in town, I remain 'Treat man' because I habitually carry dog chews. Teeko the Husky, Milly the Jack Russell and Lola the lab all know it and the list keeps growing! So I'm never short of wagging tails and it's 'free paw with every dog' .
Will Potty's privileged position ever be filled? I'm thinking about it.
davhill said:
Gretchen said:
RIP Potty. She truly was a mejestic beautiful lady. She thanked you every day in her ways. Your post has me in tears. I’m so sorry you’ve lost your dear friend x
Thank you Gretchen. Now it's been a week, I'm coming to terms with losing Potty. As you and others have realised, I can take comfort in knowing I did everything humanly possible for my cat. Moreover, in town, I remain 'Treat man' because I habitually carry dog chews. Teeko the Husky, Milly the Jack Russell and Lola the lab all know it and the list keeps growing! So I'm never short of wagging tails and it's 'free paw with every dog' .
Will Potty's privileged position ever be filled? I'm thinking about it.
Don’t rush anything. Know there’s a cat or there searching to find your heart when the time is right
parakitaMol. said:
I'm so sorry for your loss, it must be so difficult and painful right now. What a stunning looking and lovely sounding cat. They do impact our lives don't they, I'm very sad for you 
Well thank you but please don't be too sad. I've learned over the years that for animals and people alike,the time comes at some point. Often it's a loss, sometimes it's a relief but it's a fact with which we have to come to terms.
I'm thankful for having been able to be part of Potty Cat's life and she gave me a lot in return.
But the same goes for Spot Dog (flat-coated retriever/newfoundland cross), Kinder (Maremma sheepdog), Candy (Pomerainian) and Cindy, ,Tessa, Buster and Arthur (every one a mutt). Not to forget the moggies:- Spindle Cat, Smut, Ginger, Jenny and Janus...and the parental hounds Arnold (Chuahua/Pug cross), Tina (Manchester Terrier), Trixie (Border Collie), Peggy (Black lab) and Trixie the 2nd (Heinz 57 varieties).
They all live in the memory and each had his or her own personality. It's very unusual for me to be petless
but I'm not pining, life goes on.
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