And Now...

[porphyry]

...just to add the icing to this illness-brother hospitalization-illness-ice storm-illness-snowstorm-disrupted classes due to cancellations-icestorm-illness-car wreck-injured child-injured mother-snowstorm-four plagiarist students this term cake--

... my cat died.

I suppose I should take the long, philosophical view. He was sixteen-years-old, almost seventeen, so he'd had a long, happy life. Three or four days ago, I noticed he'd stopped eating and drinking, never good in a cat (or dog, either). He would be tempted by nothing, and nothing is more pitiful than to watch an animal try to take a drink--want to take a drink, badly--and be unable to. He didn't appear to be in pain, but I couldn't take watching him like this anymore. Today he went to the veterinarian and we learned his kidneys were shutting down. We let him go.

He was a sweet cat--more like a dog than a cat, actually; friendly, affectionate, faithful even. We will miss him very much.

Comments

[norda.livejournal.com]

I can see why that would be the "icing" on a horrid "cake" of events. I'm sorry you're going through this.

And yes, unfortunately, it's very common for male cats to just "shut down" with kidney disease, like your Billy. Our Phinneas went the same way, four years ago.

Your heartbreak is very understandable.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I am heartbroken because my pets are like my own babies. And Billy was an especially affectionate cat--he was part Maine Coon which gave him that sweet temperament the breed is known for... now I'm tearing up again.

Phinneas--what a cute name for a cat!

[norda.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry for your tears. They'll be with you a while.

I've been trying to lay my hands on a quote I'd read, which touched on our choice to spend our lives with fellow creatures whose lifespans are far shorter than our own, but the richness of experience with which they gift us makes it worthwhile.

Michael and I are only just feeling "up to" looking around for another cat, or preferably two sibling cats, to take in and care for, after so long.

[And thanks for friending me back. I've been reading this journal since the days when the malkhos account and the empousa account were separate.]

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

Well thank you! Who would have imagined that anyone would remember the empousa account?

I suppose we never friended you because in our distraction we never noticed your posting here; its usually completely beyond either of us to actually check our profile or anything. perhaps we should to see who else is reading.