No, no posting yesterday. The K-Man took a turn for the worse yesterday and I spent most of my spare time with him. Probably about as good an outcome as one could expect. He’d been slowing down a lot since the weekend and then yesterday morning he had a seizure-like episode where he was very agitated, disoriented, didn’t seem to know where he was, and kept meow-moaning. He was over it in a few minutes and calmed down and was pretty okay the rest of the day. But he had another episode at around 5 — I was planning on seeing how he passed the night — and it was clear he was in distress and we couldn’t do anything to help him.
So, off we went for his last ride in the hated automobile. Happily, the vets really knew what they were doing and it was fairly . . .painless? Whatever the right word is. They checked him over and said that otherwise he was in good shape (nice pink gums, not dehydrated, etc.) so I felt pretty good about that.
Sad, but I’m okay with the whole process, i.e., no regrets. I think he was as comfortable and happy as possible for as long as was possible, and he suffered little. I kind of wish I’d asked more about pain meds, but he never seemed in much pain and that would have been yet another thing we’d have to shove down his throat.
I’m finishing up the tiling today. Grout. Otherwise, everything is in its place and it looks pretty good. Might post some later today.
My condolence from heart. At the end, always so difficult being not too early nor too late. Recognise it in many ways from my first cat. Especially because you don’t want to loose your beloved, but don’t want to see him suffer either. For Klondike I’m “happy” to hear he didn’t had the second [as far as possible]. And thanks a lot for the picture!
Comment by Toos — August 28, 2009 @ 2:20 pm
Oh I am so sorry for your loss! My heart goes out to you.
Comment by Archaeogoddess — August 28, 2009 @ 3:58 pm
Oh that is so sad. I lost my cat a few months ago – had to take her to the vet to be put down. I know it was the best thing to do but it doesn’t ease the pain.
I hope you are feeling OK.
Comment by Vincent — August 28, 2009 @ 4:12 pm
I recently had to take one of my dogs to be put down: please accept my heartfelt condolences.
Comment by dogscratcher — August 28, 2009 @ 6:17 pm
I recently had to take one of my dogs to be put down: please accept my heartfelt condolences.
Comment by dogscratcher — August 28, 2009 @ 6:17 pm
Thanks much. We, errr, actually already got a new one. Jack has needed something younger and more energetic to play with to keep from getting bored, but we didn’t want to get a new one while Klondike was ill. The vet had a bunch for adoption so we grabbed one. Actually, the one we wanted had just been adopted out, darn it, so we got a little GIRL. Never had a girl cat before. Probably name her Dottie because she has a little white dot on her forehead.
Although I’m rather pushing for Pussy Galore, m’self. . . .
Comment by acagle — August 29, 2009 @ 2:42 pm
Very good to my experience, partly by the other sex. Won’t push your earlier cat away in your mind because of the difference, but softens the missing a lot. You have to invest in the contact, which can be difficult while missing the earlier, but it’s worth while. Anyway, here it was.
Hope you perhaps once want to tell about where you left Klondike’s remains [cemetary?]. But however, wish you good luck with Dottie Galore!
Comment by Toos — August 29, 2009 @ 6:03 pm
RIP Klondike. Glad you have a new kitty – little girl cats can be wild & crazy, but very people-loving.
Comment by juliet — August 30, 2009 @ 11:02 am
Thus far, she is reeeeally skittish. She is/was a feral and did not, apparently, have much human contact. She really wants to be friendly though. After an hour and a half of sitting in the room watching her play, she finally got up on the (long) ledge and kept getting closer and closer, until she started having a bath right behind me. A few minutes later she let me scritch her neck and then flopped down next to be, rubbing and purring and letting me scratch her all over. That lasted five minutes, and the second she hit the floor I was a terrible monster again. I think it’ll take a while before she’s really comfortable.
We’re gonna start introducing her to Jack this afternoon.
Comment by acagle — August 31, 2009 @ 11:14 am
I’m really sorry to hear about your loss!
Comment by Bix — August 31, 2009 @ 1:36 pm
Very sorry to hear of your loss – RIP Klondike. It sounds like you did everything possible to keep him going as long as he was meant to – all you can do is fight the good fight as long as you can and (try to!) accept that every story has an ending, at some point.
Good for you taking in a feral! God knows nothing/noone needs a loving home more than they do.
Comment by Scott — September 1, 2009 @ 8:10 am