Yesterday we had a death in the family. One of our beloved cats, Harry, died of advanced kidney disease.
Harry was a special fellow. A rescue, he was happy with just about anything you did with him. He didn’t demand attention, until his last days. He was no trouble with the other cats, and seemed fine whether they wanted to nestle with him or not. He would bite, but not hard. We thought of them as ‘love bites,’ and I believe with all my heart that’s what they were.
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A little over a week ago I took a closer look at him, his eyes were very goopy. That wasn’t that unusual for him, usually some lysine would clear him up. It looked worse than usual, however, so he got subjected to greater scrutiny than usual. He was clearly congested, his weight seemed lower than it usually did. Kathy and I decided he needed to go to the vet right then.
We had them do a full blood panel, and they determined he had an advanced stage of kidney disease. It is not unusual in older male cats. My sister (NOT a vet, a pediatrician) says it is because in the wild cats eat meat, which is usually more than 70% water. When domestic male cats are fed a diet of dry chow, there is no way their bodies can compensate for the moisture discrepancy. I have not researched this, and have no competence in the area, myself, but it sounds plausible to me, and Harry is not the first cat we have lost to this, though we are usually very good about feeding canned food. And providing plenty of fresh water for them.
It wasn’t clear to us a week ago that the situation was as dire as it became. Kathy moved him into a position with her all day every day. He was warm, and in her loving presence 24 hours a day, almost always in her lap, if she didn’t have something else she had to do (like EAT or deal with personal issues). He fussed when she left, which of course he would have never done before.
His eyes cleared up with the medicine we were given for them, but his respiratory difficulties did not respond to antibiotics, and by last weekend any attempt he made at eating would result in sneezing fits that would immediately stop him from eating any more. Kathy was administering Lactated Ringers Solution for subcutaneous injection. It probably didn’t extend his life much, but he seemed more comfortable with that, being hydrated.
Yesterday Kathy realized he was leaving, so she kept him as comfortable as she could, showering him with love.
Later in the day she told me this:
He lifted his head so I can rub behind his left ear too
Still holding it up for me.
Now resting from the exertion.
I love him so much.
Sweet, sweet boy...
And then he was gone.
It’s heartbreaking, of course. Yes, he was a cat, but the thing is, our hearts don’t know anything about species. They only know the love we feel for them, that they’re family, and they’re leaving. The pain is never any easier.
So I was thinking about that last sharing Harry had with Kathy. And it struck me.
He understood the fullness of her love for him. In lifting his head, he acknowledged that understanding, he acknowledged his acceptance of it, and his appreciation of it. It’s the greatest gift he could have given.
We miss you, brilliant boy. And we love you with all our hearts.
Did it just get really dusty in here?
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5) Ugly truth about U.S. neoliberalism is found.. by bobswern — 104
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12) They play with the rules as they see fit. by elwior — 86
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14) Um we lost already, but we couldn't even muster by LaFeminista — 84
15) Taibbi is the best!!!! by dkmich — 81
16) "Legal" thievery by marina — 79
17) Democrats: The Party Who Cried Wolf and Then by Superskepticalman — 77
18) Democratic Party mascot by LaFeminista — 77
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25) Did you notice obama blamed #Cromnibus on voters? by CitizenOfEarth — 64
26) How dare you insult weasels by quince — 64
27) There is one upside to the passage of this by praenomen — 64
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