Saturday, August 25, 2007

Saying goodbye to an old friend


little thing
Originally uploaded by m.Lee
Before saying a hello to blee it appears that we will be saying goodbye to the sweetest cat in the world. She's older but not super old, but she has been sick with kidney disease for awhile now. We've done treatment for it, even had her hospitalized early last year and that has bought her time. But last night it hit home that she just isn't getting better anymore, she isn't bouncing back but getting worse, much worse and quickly. She still purrs from pets and attention because she loves us so much but it is very obvious that most touching physically hurts her. This cat that was once described as a "beautiful voluptuous girl" has now wasted away to under six pounds. Neither of us have ever had to do this before and it has been a heartbreaking decision to make but we know it is the right one.

Things I will always remember about her;

- How wild she was when Jon first adopted her from the shelter. She was an older cat already and had been abused for much of her life. He used to come over to visit me with his arms covered in scratches and bite marks. But this stopped happening as she got to trusting him and now even when vets poke her and hurt her she will never try to bite or scratch. She went from nearly feral to docile as can be.

- Her obsession with fitting herself on discarded pieces of paper. He had some menu to a restaurant near his apartment that he never even went to in his room that she liked to sit on and tuck every part of her body onto.

- Jon used to have two low to the ground Ikea chairs that she was obsessed with jumping back and forth from unable to decide which was better. They were identical.

- How he used to wake up every morning with her face right up against his waiting for him to open up his eyes. Then she would let out her meow that sounds like a quack.

- She stopped doing this when we moved in together and started sharing a bed. The first morning I was woken up to her staring at me, hitting me rapidly in the face and then running off. Sorry, I stole your man little Burrito. But we were good friends too despite this.

- Making the move from Ohio to Boston by car with two drugged cats. Mine took the meds the vet gave us and slept the whole trip but she refused to go down, but instead wandered around the car the whole time trying to get comfortable. Even climbing on Jon's lap as he drove a couple of time. Her balance wasn't so hot and she had droopy lids but she just wouldn't sleep.

- She likes licking plastic bags.

- Her constant yapping. Always done sweetly but it never stops.

There are so many more memories that we will treasure, but these are some of the big ones for me.

We love our Burrito. Also known as bear. The back of the sofa just isn't going to be the same without you. Nothing will be really. I'm sorry we can't give you a longer life but we have tried our best to give you a good life. This is not how I expected to spend my Saturday.

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, Marissa, I'm so sorry. It's a terrible decision to have to make, but it sounds like your making the best one. My thoughts are with you and Burrito.

Bee said...

I am so sorry Marissa.

Shell Mitchell said...

I am sorry to hear you are losing a family member. My heart goes out to you. Pets are treasured little creatures that come and bring joy like fuzzy little angles.Burrito sounds like a fantastic cat who will be fondly remembered always.

LaPellaPottery said...

Oh, Marissa, I'm so sorry. Hugs to you and Jon. She will be grateful to you when she is no longer in pain.

Sweet Olive Press | Helen said...

Marissa I'm so sorry. She has been rescued, loved, adored – you made her life a happy place. I know you'll miss her so much, my heart goes out to you both.

rania said...

I'm so sorry. :(

jen said...

never a good time for goodbyes...but you are making the best decisions for her however painful they may be.

you are a good friend to her, and will be missed!

{huggggggs}

Maggie said...

I'm sure she had a wonderful life with you guys. Don't feel bad. This is one last opportunity to show her you love her by doing the right thing. Hugs to you both, and we'll be thinking of you.

Anonymous said...

awww... so sorry... hugs to you both.

Marissa L. Swinghammer said...

Thank you so much.

We are currently trying to find a good photo of her to print out and hang in the babies room. Our organization leaves much to be desired.

And I have too many pictures of my stupid jerk cat that bit me. :/ (I love him but he DID send me to the doctor with an infection!)

Anonymous said...

It's always so hard to say goodbye. It's a huge amount of responsibility to have over another life.

I'm sure she knows how much you love her.

So sorry that you have to say goodbye.


love,
Kate

pomomama said...

hugs!
save some nice memory things of hers and good luck with that pic

Beth Lemon said...

We had to go through kidney failure with our dear calico a couple of years ago. It was a tough decision but the best one to make. She, too, was in pain when we would touch her and unable to eat or drink.

I'm really sorry you're going through this.

Laura Bartlett said...

I'm so sorry. I'm glad you'll have good memories though.

Andy Mathis said...

Awww, that makes me cry.
I am so sorry that you have to make that decision but it is most caring and kind. Remember the happy times.

Renee said...

Hugs to you and Jon. So sorry to hear about your sweet kitty.

Marissa L. Swinghammer said...

Thank you everybody. Today has been rough for both of us as we wait for tomorrow. We found a picture of her from before she got sick when she was our fat and happy little girl. This is how we want to remember her.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/m_lee/1232395949/

And Andy it means even more coming from a kind and caring vet like yourself. Thank you! She's been sick for a long time.

katherine said...

Marissa-

Hugs to you, jon, and your burrito :) This is the hardest part of having them, means having to say goodbye at some point.

love, kat

tworabbitshow said...

Marissa, so sorry to hear about your sweet kitty. I know it is hard but you are doing the right thing. Remember all the wonderful things about her, and remember them with a smile.

Hugs, quirke.

Desirai said...

Marissa,
I'm so sorry. With 4 cats I've often thought about what I would do in such a situation. I know the decision is very hard. But have faith knowing she will eventually be in peace and out of pain.

-Desirai

Anonymous said...

it is sad when ever we lose a friend either human or animal, today one of my best friends is being put to rest one i will miss deeply. I was already in i very blue so this made me cry.

Annie B said...

Godspeed to Burrito.

Anonymous said...

Cherish your memories of your dear friend. We've been there and it was the hardest thing we ever did, together. I am sad for you and know you are doing the right thing. Hope little Blee arrives soon.

Sandra Eileen said...

She thanks you for the love and attention you have bestowed upon her since rescuing her - and that you bestow upon her now as you release her.

Anonymous said...

Hi Marissa,
The day I took my 20 year old cat for that final vet visit I did a photo shoot of her and she seemed to understand and posed. She was all black so the photos were blurry but I ended up making a photo etchingout of one of the photographs. She was all fur and bones but she had her dignity somehow.

We also had to have our beloved dog "put to sleep" when I was at the very end of my pregnancy with my son. It was heartbreaking. A month or so later I had one of those dreams that is so, so real and in the dream I heard Cabbage (yep that was her name) scratching at the back door and when I opened the door she was young and dancing in circles in her come out and play behavior--no more painful peeing and aching body and depression. I believe she sent me that message to forgive me and a weight was lifted off my mind. It's really a hard decision to make and extra hard when you're pregnant.
Lynn

Kim said...

Big hugs to you.