Where is Josy? Is she on the couch...
in the bedroom?
In her box?
Or actually hanging out outside?
Sadly, Josy is gone. She is no more. Over the weekend she suddenly began to fail. She seemed fine on Friday. I had noticed that she was drinking a lot of water lately, but I didn't ask Dr. Google until she took a sudden turn for the worse. By Monday morning when we took her to the vet, she was, as the Doctor said, "a very sick kitty". We left her at the clinic for tests, and got the call back an hour or so later. Josy had feline diabetes, was seriously dehydrated, had a kidney infection and her test numbers were very bad.
Treatment would have required a long hospitalization, intravenous fluids, antibiotics and insulin, and then if that brought her back she would have to have two shots a day for the rest of her life. Not only would Josy have to endure that, so would we, and the price tag would run $4000 to $6000.
We have a choice with our pets. Kitties don't have to live that way. We chose to let her go, as the doctor suggested we might.
We called our son Jake, who first adopted Josy from a shelter as an adult cat and had her for about three years, until he had to change living arrangements and couldn't keep her. We welcomed Josy into our home, and came to love her deeply.
Jake was in agreement with our choice. And so on Monday afternoon, as I held her in my arms, she slipped peacefully away.
This morning, for the first time in five years, I did not get up, put on my fleecy, cat hair infused robe, go downstairs, pick up my kitty, give her a hug, and then fill her food and water dish.
I din't quite know how to start my day.
We will be looking for her for a while yet, but she is gone. We are missing her. We are sad.
So sorry. I know you'll miss your Josie. You'll expect to see her at various spots in the house until you've fully come to realize that she is gone. I suspect Josie had a pretty cushy life with you and was grateful for it,...if it's possible for a cat to feel gratitude!
ReplyDeleteIt is so hard to lose a pet. I still really miss my scotty, Gus, and Maxwell, the wonder cowdog.
ReplyDeleteBig empty space in you home now. I can understand. Even the air seems more quiet and waiting. So sorry for you loss of what must have been a very special friend.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry. She was lucky to have you. Glad you have such good photos of her.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry. Dogs and cats leave many paw prints on our hearts! She was important to you, therefore you will miss her for a long time :(
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry. Our furry friends simply don't live long enough. Sending positive energy your way as you work through the hurt of losing Josie.
ReplyDeleteJosy is almost identical to a cat we had for years. Every time I see her picture I think of our 'Little Bit.' We would have made exactly the choice you made. I won't put a pet through anything I would not want done to me. I'm sorry Josy is gone. I will miss seeing her photos. She was quite the little hunter.
ReplyDeleteThis breaks my heart. She was a very much loved kitty and she gave a lot back. I too will miss her, Linda. :-(
ReplyDeleteOh, Linda, I'm so, so sorry! I have two grand kitties; one developed feline diabetes and the other also passed away ( of old age) all in the same month this past spring. It's heart wrenching to lose a pet. That's why I can't have anymore of my own. When my last cat child died, I took it too, too hard. Josy had a loving family and a good life for many years and you were so fortunate to be able to share all that with her. I will be thinking of you! XO
ReplyDeleteSuch a sad time. I remember. Thinking of you today.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you lost Josy. You did the right thing. Very well said about a beautiful cat.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry your sweet kitty died. She'll certainly be missed every day.
ReplyDeleteI am so very sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteSincere condolences, our pets are such precious company.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your loss! We lost our dear Maggie a few years ago.....to feline leukemia.
ReplyDeleteYou have such beautiful memories with your Josy! Loved seeing all the photos of happier times.
I am so sorry. Losing a loved pet is always so painful. Fortunately you have so many wonderful pictures of her and also that she did not suffer long. One of the harder decisions we ever make.
ReplyDeleteIt's always hard to part with a lovable pet. I felt the same way when I left my dog behind in New York back in 1975.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this and all the photos. You have touched all of us "pet servants" who willingly give our hearts away to these loving creatures. You have lots of company with grieving hearts.
ReplyDeleteOh Linda, I am so sorry. I can't help but cry. Josy had such a good home with you and your sweet family. I enjoyed seeing all the pictures and smiled at how she looked so proper on the sofa in the living room, with her little feet crossed. Two shots a day would be very hard for a kitty to endure. I will be thinking of you today. Love, Henny
ReplyDeleteSo hard, Linda. I'm sorry.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for your loss. You may recall I lost my kitty this time last year to feline diabetes, and had to face the same decision as you and Tom. For weeks, I looked for her every time I came into the house.
ReplyDeleteI am still looking for and missing my beloved cat Simon who also failed suddenly in August and was laid to rest. After Christmas I look froward to finding a new cat friend.
ReplyDeleteSo sad for you. I had to put my cat down after cancerous tumors got the best of her. I still get shocked by memories of her that pop up out of the blue. We love them. We take care of them. We miss them.
ReplyDelete