Posted on 08/17/2013 3:13:33 PM PDT by servo1969
RUSH: I've got people e-mailing me about Punkin, my cat, and I would not have been able to describe this or tell you about this any earlier than today literally without losing it, but we had to put Punkin to sleep a week ago. She was 16 years old, and the first cat that I'd ever had, and ended up being the best pet that I've ever had. I'd always thought that cats were these aloof creatures that couldn't care less if you were around or not.
And to strangers and so forth, they might be. But when a cat attaches to you, some might say when a cat loves you, it's entirely different. This cat attached to me years ago and was everywhere I was. This cat followed me around and just had just a robust personality with me, but she had kidney failure. She's actually had it for 10 years, and she had built up an immunity to every antibiotic. It had stopped working. (sigh)
I guess two weeks ago, whatever you call it, dramatic acute kidney failure set in and she stopped eating. Because when the kidneys fail, somehow the vet said the body tells them that food is poison because it can't be dealt with by the kidney. They stop eating, and she was literally withering away before my eyes. But she was... I mean, these animals, you know, they never give up. Suicide is not in their makeup.
It was one of the hardest things that I've had to do. Last weekend was really sad and lonely, and I wouldn't have been able to tell you about this on Monday without breaking up. But a lot of people have been asking because I had mentioned that she was not well, so I wanted to mention it to you and thank all of you for asking. I appreciate it. You all know. Those of you who have animals and lose them, you know what it's like.
I was incredibly lucky to find another kitten who looked so much like Jess that I went into a sort of convulsion upon seeing her picture on the internet. I thought someone had somehow stolen Jester's kitten pics and posted one. I tracked down the person with that kitten, who turned out to be a woman I exchanged posts with the night before in a cat chatroom. It seems a kindly person had found a litter of week old kittens trying to suckle moisture out of the muddy lawn. Apparently their mom had been hit by a car or something. This person brought them to a woman with 5 teenage kids, who was a foster mom for orphan kittens for the local animal rescue league. I flew up to Rochester to go get that kitten, and Kefira has proved in the last few years to be a worthy successor to Jester!
Jester
Kefira
I was recently hospitalized with a severe diagnosis that involved a few difficulties, enough that family was quite worried about the chances. Had more than one family member get irritated at the possibility that I might be leaving soon and did not seem overly concerned about it, but really; My best friend who trusted Me completely despite his furry, raspy-licked statements of affection, and a woman most wonderful are on the other side, so I have no fears left to fret about.
And please ignore the occasional mis-spelling or mis-type in this posting. Hard to type when the bloody screen keeps getting all blurred up...
Rush,
Had a kitty Tyson for 21 years, one morning did not eat, to the vet
immediately had to put him down kidney failure. I do not have children
he was my baby!! I immediately sought out another kitty, adopted a
shelter kitten within 48 hours. New kitten needed so much attention it
truly took the grief from my heart. Piccasso is such a good boy and I
love him dearly, GET another kitty in need of a wonderful home that you
can give. Rush, DO THIS NOW!!!
So, sorry to hear this. Punkin had a good, long life and I doubt she ever wanted for anything. I hope Rush takes comfort in knowing that he meant as much to her as she did to him.
My best friend was four months pregnant. It has never gotten easier for me or her parents. It has been almost 18 years.
I am truly sorry for your losses.
Sleep softly, little one. You and Rush will be together again.....
...
I will send down to you for awhile, a kitty-cat, God said.
For you to love her while she lives, and mourn her when she’s dead.
Maybe for twelve or fourteen years, or maybe two or three.
But will you, ‘till I call her back, take care of her for me?
She’ll bring her charms to gladden you and, should her stay be brief
You’ll always have her memories as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise she will stay, since all from earth return.
But there are lessons taught below I want this kitten to learn.
I’ve looked the whole world over, in search of teachers true.
And from the folk that crowd earth’s land, I have chosen you.
Now will you give her all your love, nor think the labor vain?
Nor scourn me when I come to take my kitten home again?
I fancied that I heard them say ‘Dear Lord Thy Will Be Done’
For all the joys this kitten brings the risk of grief we’ll run.
We’ll shelter her with tenderness, we’ll love her while we may.
And for the happiness we’ve known, forever grateful stay.
But should you call her back again much sooner than we planned,
We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes, and try to understand.
If, by our love we’ve managed your wishes to achieve,
Then in memory of whom we loved, please help us while we grieve.
When our cherished kitty departs this world of strife,
Please send yet another needing soul for us to love for all his life.
(Unknown author)
It is hard to lose a pet. We lost our two collies last year, brothers, and I’m still getting through it.
RIP Punkin Limbaugh Lady Cat from the lady that posts the Rush Limbaugh Show Thread, Biggirl. :(=^..^=
Rush, my condolences to you. You had always said good things about her. I have had cats and dogs in the past and grieved over their lost. The most recent was a beautiful dark tortie brown female by the name of Strawberries, who was 12 years old from cancer. RIP Strawberries. :(=^..^=
I doubt Rush will ever get another cat. He only had them cuz of Marta. But, now with 3 large dogs and traveling all the time, he just wouldn’t do it in my opinion. Wish he would tho...
Yeah, I had a few kitties with cancer too, G.W. (2001-2011) and Cricket (1984-1994) both at the age of 10. I still had another, Pansy (1987-2006) had lymphoma at the age of 19. If Pansy did not have cancer, I think there is a 50-50 chance she would still be here, she would be 26, she was a tough little girl, a diluted calico. BTW, I had an online friend who had lymphoma himself at the same time, he was undergoing chemo at that time and was bum tired but still got on the keyboard to comfort my loss of Pansy. He passed a few months later. Now Mom is fighting breast cancer, she had a mastectomy and the tissues in the surrounding areas test negative but still will go back on chemo and/or radiation to make sure we get any stragglers, if any. I know she is doing much better now, she is yelling at the Steelers when they screw up. B-)
Well, I should’ve looked at the pics posted at the beginning of this thread. I just love the head to head pic of Punkin and Rush.
RIP Punkin Limbaugh, will miss you. :(=^..^=
Same here. Had lost one of my cats a couple of weeks back.
What a beautiful Aby. She got rush through a lot of changes, good and bad. Rush, my condolences. It is heartbreaking to lose a loved one, of any species.
If I could be any animal I wished, there are two I would choose between. A falcon or hawk, just for the way they fly, including fly for fun, which they do. Or, a cat with wonderful owners. So Punkin got one of the best lives anyone could have.
Gd bless.
Wen the time is right, make yourself get another. And if y want to try another breed, rush, you would LOVE the Tonkinese. Very doglike and beautiful. They will hold their own with the pooches and make you laugh every day.
Crooktail is adorable! Sorry you lost him.
Ok, seriously. Shouldn’t that poem come with a “don’t wear mascara while reading” warning???
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