We've had many cats and a few dogs - most seem to have long lives and become sooks as time goes by.
First the was Sue's cat Ella that adopted me when I first moved in with Sue. I said if a man settles down, then a man needs a dog so I brought Che', a Shepherd/Labrador cross home with me. Both had long lives.
Then there was our beagle Mac. He passed away at Sue's feet at a ripe old age in his teens.
Then there was Murphy, our adorable wolfhound - big dogs have short lives and he survived to almost nine. While we had Murphy, Sue needed a cat and so Rosie came along, just a plain old, garden variety Moggy.
Rosie wasn't like the orientals that Sue had previously had - she didn't have much of a personality or a connection with us as a kitten. A bit of a reject really.
So Sue went out and bought a blue Burmese, which she named Gem.
One night, Rosie didn't come home - she was missing for days and we thought that we'd lost her forever until we heard this meek meow coming from the front door.
She'd been hit by a car and found a resting spot somewhere for almost a week. We took her to the Vet and our suspicions were confirmed. Anyway after we nursed her back to health, she started to warm to us and started sitting on our lap and sleeping at the end of the bed. She even started to tolerate Gem and occasionally would accept the occasional grooming that Gem would offer.
Rosie started to become a glutton with her food in recent times and as much as she ate, she started losing weight. She seemed fine before we went on our trip to France but on our return, she'd lost further weight and was frail.
We discovered that she had a hyper thyroid and that was the reason for her appetite.
There wasn't much the Vet could do other than prolong her life a matter of weeks and she was very uncomfortable - so we made the very sad decision to put her to sleep last week.
She had a good life into her mid-teens.
One of my favorite songs by the Kinks is "Rosie won't you please come home".
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How sad for you to loose Rosie like that. Luckily it didn't happen when you were away and that you had time to say goodbye to her. I hope it didn't put a damper on your trip. Martine
ReplyDeleteWe lose our pets eventually but they give us joy and we return it.
DeleteGlad that Rosie had a happy life but sad for you to loose her. Cats have a way of wrapping their paws round your heart.
ReplyDeleteOur first 2 cats, Clio and Echo lived to 18 and 16 but it was still very hard to say goodbye when the time came.
N and A - really nice to hear from you on this occasion. Our pets connect with us and sometimes they help us to connect with others as well.
DeleteHow sad to read this.
ReplyDeleteIn some ways it's good to think we can end a life when it's no fun any more, but knowing you have done the right thing just doesn't help when, the moment they're gone, you just want them back again, so badly, but as they were before, not as poorly things who are no longer enjoying life.
Have you read this poem?:
http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/lastbatt.htm
Sad yes, but not so sad that we enjoyed her life for as long as we did.
DeleteThat poem was very mean of you - have seen an old bloke shed a tear?
Poor Rosie,but I am sure she had a happy life as part of your family.
ReplyDeleteAll of our pets have good lives because we (read that as Sue) spoil them. Rosie did well to live as long as she did being a bit of a dare devil.
DeleteWhat a sad happening on your return. As long as she had a good life and you enjoyed her company while she was there then you have now chosen the right thing to do. Hope that you are both well Diane
ReplyDeleteCan't bare to see an animal in pain. Always a hard decision but one you don't want to leave too late Diane.
DeleteOh, so sad. There's something so beautiful about Rosie's face, isn't there?
ReplyDeleteIn our 11+ years together, Dick and I have both had to take our old cats to the vet one last time. Mine was a beautiful, big, white long-hair with the personality of a grizzly, and Dick's was a moggy like your Rosie: he could have been her twin. His name was Igor and he was a darling.
It was a few years before we felt up to adopting a new pet, and we chose a rescued Golden Labrador rather than a cat, but I feel sure she'd like to have a cat for company.
K
Kay,
Deletewith just one cat, our blue burmese Gem, I think we'll delay any further pets until we outgrow our travel bug to France.
Labs are great family dogs and are very loyal to their owners. I think getting a pet from the rescue centre is a great thing to do. I'm sure he's gone to great owners.
Aw, poor kitty. Sounds like you made her life happy.
ReplyDeleteWalt - she made our life happy as well. They do that, don't they?
ReplyDeleteThanks to everyone with your kind thoughts - its very much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteThat's what happens ... They come into our lives , wind their little fingers around our lives and then leave us heartbroken. But then we do it all again!
ReplyDelete