We had our beautiful little cat put to sleep today, she was born in our garden and until she went missing for 8 months earlier this year was always around even when we weren’t.
The vets did offer further treatment but their suggestion of removing all her teeth followed by monthly injections was impossible. We leave for our drive back to Yorkshire tomorrow. We have no one to care for her, to give her daily medication, tempt her to eat, take her to the vets, even from a really good friend that’s just too much to ask. Besides they said there was no guarantee this treatment would work and so far after 6 weeks on medication she hadn’t improved.
At the weekend she wasn’t so good but she picked up from Monday and was eating well again. Despite all her problems she never stopped purring and she was out in the garden most days enjoying the sun. But I knew we had to let her go and I thought it might be something of a relief that her suffering was over, sadly it doesn’t feel that way now it just feels incredibly sad.
She was the worst of patients, fought with us when we tried to get her to the vets, twice making us late for appointments, then she fought with the vets refusing to cooperate in any way. She could tell every time I intended to apply her mouth gel, even when I approached her with it in my pocket she’d immediately run for cover. She was stubborn and stoic and absolutely wonderful, we loved her very much. Our time together was short and leaving her for months to the automatic feeder and outside shelter was horrible but I know she had a better and longer life than the majority of cats round here.
She is buried in the orchard beside her favourite olive tree, the one that she could climb the highest, bless her heart. We miss you our darling Grigio.
What a touching epitaph. She sounds like a very special cat.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry that you lost your dear cat. Animals become like family sometimes.
ReplyDeleteHave a good trip to Yorkshire, that beautiful land.
I'm glad hes in a spot he loved, it's such a sad moment for you.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your loss. I feel like you did the right thing. You cared enough to make sure Grigio did not suffer for days, weeks before she would’ve died. Instead, she died painlessly, having lived in comfort with love under your ministrations.
ReplyDeleteIt's a horrible feeling, knowing you have done the right thing yet it feels all wrong. You spared her from what was likely to be a miserable end and that was the kindest thing.
ReplyDelete