My Own Little "FReepathon" In Memory Of Kitty

1/5/11 | Me

[NoGrayZone]

I decided to have my own little "FReepathon" in memory of my beloved furry family member Kitty. She died on Thursday, December 16, 2010, just after 9:30 am.

Some of you probably saw my thread when I self diagnosed her with CRF (I was vetless at the time). Turned out my little 19 year old Kitty had a urinary tract, as well as a kidney infection, which she apparently was too old and too tired to fight.

This is my proposal, in which I came up with because of you, my fellow FReepers. I asked for help and info. So many of you had great info (which I am now applying to my 2 others).....as well as your own sad stories regarding your beloved furry family members.

I will donate $5.00 for every FReeper, up to $200.00 (wish I could afford more), who posts a pic of their passed beloved furry family member, a little blurb about them, etc.

If you have more than one you would like to remember, post each one separate. Each post of a lost beloved is $5.00, up to $200. My post does not count towards the goal.

Here is my Kitty less than 4 months before she died (she had gigantic ears in which I used to fold back and tell her she is now a Scottish Fold and she would allow me to amuse myself for just about 1 minute)....

[NoGrayZone]

You just gave me my first sigh of relief, thank you!!! You’re still counted on my list. =)

[etabeta]

We lost many cats over the years, at one time we had nine. I could write a book on each one of them, so many different personalities and levels of expression.
A Russian Blue (stray) who would roar through the house like a lion ending with a long jump on top of an armoir.

A siamese (another stray) who liked to silently tip-toe behind another cat and then jump her giving her a 10-claw sonata and delight in her screaming.

Who can forget my adorable black persian Emily? She was so small and understood better than the others when I was sad. She would ask to be picked up and then with her little paw would touch my cheek.

I am tearing in remembering them all.

I am left with a precious tabby now, Angie. She has helped me through the trauma of losing my husband. She is my shadow, my comforter, my baby. She and I are inseparable and she sleeps with me, attached to my heart.

Many do not understand how we can become so attached to these little creatures but they are the ones missing on a beautiful and rewarding relationship.

You will never forget you beloved pet and even though time will heal some of the hurt, it will resurface over and over.

[jasmine47]

Our sweet girl - 3 years old. Got out one night & got hit by a car. We still miss her - she was the feisty one of our 3 cats - the instigator of many fun activities. Sorry for your loss.

[Ditter]

I certainly know what is like to love and lose an animal. You and kitty were lucky to have each other.

My brother is a vet so I am never without care for my animals. I do get a bill and pay him but then he does house calls sometimes.

He has told me that more animals die from kidney failure that any other ailment. It is because of toxins from the tarter build up on their teeth.

So as a warning to pet owners out there, keep your pets teeth clean. Chew bones, cleaning at the vets or do it yourself.

[NoGrayZone]

8 1/2 is way too young!! My gosh, I'm sitting here crying about Kitty, whom I was fortunate enough to have until 19, and still didn't think it was long enough.

I must say this to all....if your kitty is STRICTLY an indoor cat, without a dog who is in and out, do you get him/her vaccinated?

Thanks for bringing us to $115. =)

[NoGrayZone]

I’m so sorry. I know it is no comfort but I am sharing a broken heart along side you.

[goat granny]

So sorry for your loss...I love cats but the street I live on I know if I had one and it got out of the house even once, it would get hit by a car...Wish I could have one. Kitty’s make great companions. You had 3 great years with your kitty, thats good. :O(

[NoGrayZone]

Your little sweet girl is 21. Thank you for sharing.(((hug)))

[devane617]

This question is a debate that will continue until we don’t. In my case the answer is, yes. However, if you can say for a fact that the cat(s) do not have contact with any other animal that goes outside, then I say it is OK to eliminate the yearly vaccine. When we spend time with a pet we begin to know when we see problems. I always say don’t wait when the get sick to take them to a vet. Do it quickly and in the long run you will save much suffering and money.

[boatbums]

Just about one month ago, we had a stray kitty show up on our deck. I had put out my own kitties' dry food from the day before, that they didn't eat, to maybe give the squirrels a reason to keep off the bird feeder. Little did I know that for the first time in over four years here a stray kitty would show up to take advantage of the free vittles. I have continued to put food and fresh water out for it every day in addition to making a comfy bed with a sturdy cardboard box, sheet of wood over the top and clean, warm blankets inside under the deck in hopes he/she would find it and be safe and warm during the winter.

I cannot get close to it yet, as it runs away whenever I try, though it stays close by as it shows up within minutes of me putting food out. I am not sure what I should do next. I want to somehow be able to take it in for rabies shots, neutering and maybe a forever home but I do not know the best way to gain its trust. Should I just continue doing what I am doing and wait? I don't know. Any suggestions? It's a pretty cat, young, well-fed (now), charcoal gray, with a small white patch on the chest, black nose and light green/yellow eyes.

[Fred Nerks]

So sorry to hear of your loss, and thanks for the opportunity to make a little memorial to my darling Bessie, a Russian Blue who died almost two years ago. I still miss her terribly and think of her every day.

[NoGrayZone]

And also the vaccines they give cats once a year. I truly DO NOT believe a strictly indoor cat (without another pet who is in and out) should be vaccinated once a year.

Their little bodies cannot, extremely the kidneys, cannot tolerate it.

I am on the “extreme side”....if you have kitties who are STRICTLY indoors, with no other pets who go in and out, I would recommend you DO NOT get them vaccinated.

If you do have pets who go in and out, get a blood sample fist to determine how much vaccine is in their system.

I do believe they are vaccinating our cats WAY too much, which causes the high rate of kidney disease.

[jackv]

Thanks, NoGrayZone! I understand the saddness you are feeling.

“If there is a heaven, it’s certain our animals are to be there. Their lives become so interwoven with our own, it would take more than an archangel to detangle them.” (Pam Brown)

http://www.dogquotations.com/grieving-and-loss.html

[devane617]

Contact these folks via email and ask their advise. I work with them on occasions and they are pros at trapping feral cats. They can give you tips on trapping your friend. Barncats

[DJ MacWoW]

I have 3 dumped cats that I feed. Smoky is the lover. She cries for me to pet her. Boots took awhile to get close enough to offer fingers to sniff. Now he is very affectionate and suffers from separation anxiety. Unfortunately he’s an older, unneutered male. And I’d NEVER be able to get him in a carrier. But Sooty, Smoky’s friend, is never going to get close to me. Sometimes it just takes time and continuous food. Other times, the cat will never trust anyone.

[NoGrayZone]

Thank you for sharing. I was just sitting here (FR went down on me)holding Kitty’s ashes, crying like a little girl.

[combat_boots]

I am so sorry for your loss.

[NewCenturions]

Ok,I confess: I am the local ‘cat lady’! I have 5. Only the ancient one (18 yrs old) was a gift. The other 4 moved in. I couldn’t say no. I de-flea, de-tick, de-worm, and clean litter boxes twice a day! Not something I’d have planned but life is good!

[TASMANIANRED]

Next time you put food out...sit down on the deck and just wait.

Do it every day...and then put the food closer to you each time.

[Clara Lou]

My 17 year-old kitty boy, Ding Fod, left us in August. I let him out for an evening stroll, and he just never came home. Lordie, I miss him. He was a good old boy. ~sigh~