In case you wanted to know a bit more about Ted, the cat...

I wrote this to my friend the other day, as she wanted to know more....it's clumsy, messy, poorly written, but it's what I was thinking about my recently departed eldest fur kid.

Warning: I cried when I wrote it. If you don't want to cry, you might not want to keep reading....

Ted had a great life! Not all cats live to the ripe age of 16. He actually outlived 3 feline and 1 canine companion. He lived with us in every house we've owned. He was king of the neighbourhood on 11th Ave. He used to come for walks with us and the dogs. If it was late at night, he played stealth cat and snuck through people's shrubs and such to avoid being seen! With him here, this house actually became home pretty quickly. I'm not sure that would have happened without him.

He had a few extra years because of vet care, drugs, and our special attention. I think he appreciated that. He got away with a lot in the last couple of years, just demanding whatever he wanted, and usually getting it. He had a special bond with each of our tenants in the basement suite (in our previous house), because he figured it was his territory too.

For the first few years, he would come when I called him, sit when I told him to, and often give me a kiss when I asked for one; but he would not pay any attention to or do anything for anybody else. A true mama's boy. Over time, I think he figured out he'd get more attention if he wasn't so aloof, and it worked. <smile>

Last week, he stopped eating. He'd done that many many times before in his life, so at first we were cautious but not alarmed. On day 3 of not eating, he saw the vet. The blood tests were not really conclusive, but it was obvious that he was wasting pretty quickly. There was still a chance that this was an infection or something minor, and we sure didn't want to give up on him without knowing. We tried an appetite enhancer along with an antacid and an antibiotic, but he didn't keep any of it down. The next day, he had an antiiotic shot, started on anti-nauseant shots, and we started feeding him liquid food through a syringe, gradally increasing the frequency and amount as he kept it down. That was Saturday. The vet was impressed that he had nearly 90ml on Sat. On Sunday, he drank some water, but then threw up, then we got back on the feeding program, and he had almost 50 ml before he threw up again around 11:30. Back to the vet. The vet decided to admit him to get him on IV, both fluid and nutrients. Many cats bounce back amazingly well from this treatment. The sad part is that we had to leave him there, knowing that the vet would go home soon and not be back for a few hours.

We went home, sad. I kept busy - went outside and weeded and moved some plants, and this little butterfly kept coming back to visit me. It had been a stormy, cloudy, awful day, and it had turned into quite a nice sunny day....I took some pictures of the butterfly. We did normal Sunday stuff, sort of. When the vet called back he had to tell us that Ted had already passed away when he got back to check on him! It's horrible to think that he died alone, but I keep reminding myself that that's what cats do, usually. They go hide somewhere when they know that they're going to die.

He had a good life. His death was not entirely peaceful, but could have been so much worse. I think he only had a few actual bad days. I sure hope so, anyway.

Life is and will be different now. Things like this happen and I want to spend time with it - honour the process, feel the emotions, think deeply; but life goes on.

Yesterday we had to send the final offer to purchase the house from John's sister. I've been asked to teach an Excel course to a private company. I've got pictures to print and sell. There are flowers to plant, pictures to take. There are two dogs who need walks and attention and love. I still have laundry to do, my taxes to do (!), too much work at my job for one person. I discovered a place in town that will make spelt pizza and they have neat flavours like wild mushroom with pesto and roasted garlic. I am so going to order a pizza on Friday night! And DH just got a raise.

So there are things to celebrate, things to ponder, things to work at, things to marvel at, just like any other day. Only now Ted isn't beside me through it all, he's just in my heart.

I think he sent the butterfly.

(just like so many of you did)

Thank you for all of your support and kindness and butterflies. Hugs to all of you,
~T~

Yesterday was one of our cat's birthday..she's 12. I dread the thought of her being gone :(

How nice to have spent so long with a little friend! I wish you well...and thank you for sharing your story!

Sounds like Ted lucked out in the mom category finding you. Thanks for sharing a bit of his life with us.

Reading it did make me cry.
But Ted was so lucky to have such a long happy life and to be so loved.

{{{{{LBTC}}}}} Thanks so much for sharing a little of Ted with us. My heart goes out to you.

~Sherry and the cats.

=^..^=

LTBC, That was very well written and very beautiful.

Thank you,
From Nina and our two little rescued sisters.

Ted was very lucky to have a great mom like you. It sounds like he had a great long and loving life and that you two enjoyed it together. I'm sorry for your loss and I'm sending healing energy your way. He was a lucky feline friend to have a you and your family for his family.

{{{{{LBTC}}}}} How beautifly you eulogized Ted. I have tears in my eyes. My darling Kallie Kat has had a set back and I think about what would be best for her. I can't give up just yet and hope that when her time comes, it too will be without much pain, but knowing that her life was full. All we can do is give our pets love and love is what they give back to us. {{{{{LBTC}}}}}

{{{{{{{{{sbctwin}}}}}}}} {{{{{{{{{{{{{{Kallie Kat}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

I'm sending you loving, peaceful, healing butterflies in blues and greens and yellows. I hope Kallie is just having a bit of a poor spell and is quickly back to herself again. Keep us posted on how she's doing.

Hugs,
~T~

(((((((hugs)))))))

Thankyou for sharing Ted with us. He sounded a lovely cat who had a wonderful human Mum. My very special cat, Lucy is very old too - somewhere between 16 and 20. We don't know her true age. Twice we've nearly lost her but with a lot of TLC and good vet care we still have her. We know she's on borrowed time so I'm thankful for every day we've got with her. I dread the day we have to say "goodbye".

One day you'll find you'll think of Ted and instead of being sad, you'll smile as you remember his antics and his sweet ways.

Thanks for sharing. I hope you find room in your heart for another kitty soon, but there will never be another like Ted.

LBTC,
Thank you for sharing such a touching post. Ted was very lucky to have you as family. *hugs*

I totally love all my feline buddies - some were great and some not so great but all had a big place in my heart. I totally understand your loss and feel for you but know that he had a good life with you. I can't even think about not being with my current little buddy. When his time comes, I will be heart broken.

Take care, the pain and hurt from your loss will pass and someday another little buddy will come along (thankfully they always do).

Thank you and butterflies to all of you and all of your furry kids too.

Last weekend was plenty enough emotion for me for awhile. The rest of the week I think I was kind of numb, but today I feel a lot lighter. Ted isn't in any pain now, and he's definitely not alone at RB.

Now don't you worry about our family at all. This house is quite full even with Ted's amazing prescence taken away. Between 'Cuda and Diva the border collies, and Otto the cat, there's a lot of fur kid energy filling the place up.

Otto is an odd fellow. He's taken years to warm up to us, and is still skittish during the day, but he does get cuddly at night. Today I saw him sitting in Ted's favourite chair out in the gazebo. It seemed fitting, somebody has to sit there.

I've attached a picture of Ted, hanging out in the old honeysuckle from our old house. He used to try to get as close to the camera lens as he could. :) The other pic is Otto, performing. He can make some pretty entertaining photos.

Thank you again for all of your support, encouraging, and reassurance. This would have been so much harder without all of you.

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Fabulous women of TE Forum and all their fur kids}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

~T~

LBTC..so sorry for your loss, just reading your past after being off for a few days. tears came to my eyes reading your post. your pics of Ted and Otto are great. my dh just made the comment last night as to what we were going to do when we lose our little "boy" and how hard it will be. sending hugs your way..