Another cat post

[Lling]

Darius turned 17-years-old this month. I got him when he was 5-weeks-old, a black and tan tabby with golden rings around his eyes which I heard was the sign of a good disposition.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime cat, my vet told me - and he is right.

Small children, upon seeing the long, sleek, stuffed animal that walks, run up to him and try to pick him up by the neck. I save him from the small clutching hands as fast as I can, but he has never raised a paw or uttered a growl or a hiss. He takes it. He seems to understand they they are just playing.

He's been around for almost as long as I can remember. As a kitten he tried to steal my coffee and was so obsessed with food than he snuck into and got lost inside the depths of the refrigerator.

He loved to do tricks, especially for an audience. I would take his favorite toy and toss it in the air. He would leap, snatch it between his paws, pop it in his mouth, do a flip and land gracefully, running to me with the toy so we could do it again - and again - and again - and he never missed.

At 17 he does no more leaps. It is an effort some days to get down off the bed, but he still manages to follow me around, often chosing to sit on the cat tree behind my chair with one paw on my shoulder or to curl up underneath me feet. He stares at me a lot lately and does not stray too far from my side. He's had thyroid issues and kidney problems, but he keeps hanging in there.

My vet and I made the decision to go with conservative treatment for his problems. He is 17 - I don't want him in isolation in a hospital for a week to treat the thyroid problem - he would be lonely and would not understand. While he does not care for the pill crammed down his throat twice a day, since it is followed up with some roasted chicken, he has learned to live with the momentary discomfort.

He is 17 and I think we both know we don't have a lot of time left. We are quietly making the most of it.

[Nimphe Wildwood]

*huggles Lling*

Let me tell you, I have Tiger who will be turning 14 in four months. What you have just described is something I'm always thinking of in the back of my mind.

To have a pet for that amount of time; it's like having a child.

Reading this post makes me teary eyed.

Again...*hugs hugs hugs* to both you and Darius.

[Aoladari Raveynfyre]

*Hugs to you both*

I know the day will come when my 2 year old cat decides that playing is now too much effort, but until that time comes I will be with her as much as I am able.

We have little time on this planet and sharing it, even with a cat/dog/*insert your pet here* makes it more worthwhile.

[scarbrowed]

Hugs to you both as well.

My parents just found out their oldest cat, Pandora, has terminal cancer. She is mostly fine right now, except she's losing weight. They are hoping she can be happy until the end, and just pass away quietly at home. They went through this about a year ago with their oldest. My parents already have adopted 2 kittens, so no animals will be lonely, but I will be sorry to see Pandora go. But I'm glad she can spend her last days with a family who loves her.

[Serenya]

*hugs*

Tis hard I know.

We finally lost my first cat to old age at 20. She had lived through being struck by a car, food poisoning, and melonoma. Her last few years she really slowed down, content to stay on a screened in porch and watch the birds. Instead of batting at my parent's dog, Scrapy just looked bemused when Tia insisted on washing her face and ears for her. She went suddenly, over the course of just a few days, so at least we knew she never suffered.

I lost my dog a year and a half ago. at 15 years. Until her last year she had been healthy and active; when she developed bladder cancer I knew it was just a matter of months. Like you, we opted for non aggressive treatment, pills and keeping her comfortable. It was traumatic when she finally reached the point of no return, I had adopted her when in college, and she had been my companion throughout my entire adult life.

When Sherry didn't come home with us, our cat somehow knew, and she moped around for ages. Eventually Tess even adapted to the over enthusiastic puppy we adopted a few months later, they even play together after a fashion.


My extended family has seen the passing of several dogs and cats over the years, three in the last two years alone. Each one breaks your heart all over again, and yet the love of a companion animal is so all encompassing that I cannot imagine not having one or more around.

Love them while you can, and cherish their memories

*hugs*

[Tinile]

*hugs*

My cats are 11 and 12 now and I dread the day in the next few years when they become too sick to remain with me. They are a constant source of joy and I enjoy every moment with them. Not having them around will be a severe loss to me.

[Telaeth Everdark]

Cats...Dogs

My first cat was really my mother's, she died when she was 21 years old, had to be put down for breast cancer when we finally couldn't do anything for her anymore. I remember she had some sort of pain medication that smelled very strongly of grapes that she'd drink right from an eyedropper, she loved it. o_O I was only 12 or 13 at the time...

I'm 22 now. I've got a dog who's only about 6 years old and has been diagnosed with hip dysplacia (sp?). He limps every morning when he wakes up, and doesn't want to move around much anymore. There's nothing we can do - he's young enough for surgery, but it's both hips, we just can't afford it. In the next couple of years we are probably going to have to make the choice whether or not to put him to sleep.. with some dogs it never gets too bad, but he is getting steadily worse.

Pets love us, and we love them. They remind us of what's important to life, and stay with us through the tough times as well as the good. Why is it that their lives are so short?

[ClaweScalestorm]

Loved ones

*hugs*

We are blessed with such a short time to spend with them. The ones I grew up with have passed on - one to cancer and one to a neighbor's cruelty. To this day I don't know who from, but it's a good thing since I could not guarantee their safety.

My oldest cat is 7 and slowing down. Yet we will do for him whatever is in our power, even if I have to get a second job. MY sister's dog was just diagnosed with diabetes but is responding well. She's 13 I think, and time is running short.

Hang in there,
-Clawe

Proud servant to 3 cats

[Itek]

As every cat owner knows... no one owns a cat.

I've had a few special kittens over a lifetime. And seen them go in just about every manner possible.

Our kittens are 2 1/2 now. Their personalities continue to come out. They aren't children or teenagers anymore, but now becoming full adults. We look forward to the next decade plus.

But we have realized that we will, almost certainly, outlive them. Which is sad for us.

There is another side however... pets of the elderly and broken homes.

We took them to the vet a short while ago for their annual...

In the waiting room there was a book on cats. One of the surprising things it said was...

"Getting a cat is a lifetime commitment. The average cat lives longer than the average marriage now lasts."

My mom was the president of the humane society of our little rural Iowa county for a few years. The saddest thing was trying to find new homes for adult cats of elderly people who passed away.

Treasure your moments with your animals. They increase both your lifespan and the joy in it.