blue
I knew when I first started fostering kitties that there was always a chance – albeit slight – that something would happen. But it never did. Not in 37 cats did something ever go wrong. I could count myself lucky. Until today.
Today I lost my first kitty. We picked them up on Monday, needing some kitty love since Alice and Chewy and Winston and Matilda left. They didn’t have names yet. But as usual, they didn’t need names for us to love them.
When we got home yesterday, she was lethargic and slow. By night, she was near comatose, not even responding for tuna. And every cat responds to tuna. She would lay in your arms and just lay there, head flopped over, breathing, but doing nothing else. Her ears wouldn’t prick up. Her eyes wouldn’t follow you. We took her in to the humane society late, so she could get fluids, and more immediate care than she could at home.
Today, the diagnosis. Liver failure. Jaundice. In a 6 week old kitty. There was nothing they could do for her.
And it breaks my heart every time I replay it in my mind, wishing there was something I could have done to make her better. She is missed.
Oh, so sad. That would have broken my heart. You are such a good kitty mommy.
How sad, I’m sorry that happend to you.
As someone who has just gone through his share of kitten trouble — I had to give up a gift kitten due to just not being able to deal with it in the wake of a break-up — I send along my sincere condolences.
You probably are a good foster parent. You certainly have way more patience with kittens than I currently did.
There was nothing you could do but do what you did: provide a really good, caring home for it. At least she didn’t really die alone. I’m sure the unnamed one is up in kitty heaven going, “Gee, that last place sure was pretty posh, even though my liver was getting all jiggly. I even got tuna! What a good person/people!”
Or something like that.
Anyhow.
Sorry if that was too jokey.
I’m really sorry for your loss.
BTW, not to write a novel here, but has anyone ever told ya your photos are *stunning*? I usually don’t do photo blogs because, to me, a lot of them are so ‘been there and done that.’ But I scrolled back through the archives and found some of those winter pics, and despite it being summer-like outside, I swear I had my parka on for a moment looking at some of those.
You can capture the soul of a thing.
I’m really suprised you don’t seem to be doing it semi-professionally.
Anyhow.
I’m so sorry for your lost kitty. For all those kitties that die alone, take comfort in knowing that your little kitten had a warm home and someone to love her – if even for a short time.
So sorry for you. We love our critters, don’t we? A few weeks ago a fellow on Rochester St. called out to us for help when his 10 month old rotti pup collapsed – heart murmur apparently – on the sidewalk. Our plumber tried mouth to mouth to no avail. He has a new wee pup now but I won’t ever forget the anguish in his face trying to rouse his girl. Bless you Robyn for looking out for all the kitties – even tho’ my dog would love to chase ‘em up a tree. Or worse. My gal up the country drives slow and swerves often so as to avoid as many frogs as possible when the wee buggers are hopping, hopping, hopping all over the road.
And yet, when I read this, I rejoiced, because it is very seldom that the smallest and weakest creatures are afforded such a profound love for whatever brief moment they are allowed on this earth. You should feel proud of yourself. You have done her a great service in loving her.
thanks guys. it’s been a sad couple of days, but you’re right…at least she was loved, even if it was only for a little while…
*hugs* minty.
*hugs* It’s never fun to lose a small cuddly creature, especially when it’s so new to the world.
(P.S.: Did I see you walking on the sidewalk this morning as I bladed to work?)