Hello, this is my first post. I am so upset about the death of my sweet Opie.
Opie was a sweet flame point siamese cat. I got him 3 years ago as a kitten.
I had seen an ad on the internet to purchase this adorable little flame point kitten. I already had a one year old seal point and I thought the kitten would make for a good companion for her. The breeder was from out of town and she agreed to drop him off. When she arrived she quickly put the kitten in my cage out front of my building. I didn't get to see him until I got inside. When I opened the cage I was horrified to see a little kitten near death! He was skin and bones and couldn't breath! We rushed him to the vet and he spent 3 days in Intensive Care. Then we brought him home and syringe fed him every hour. He recovered! It was a miracle! Everyone at the vet office couldn't believe it, they really didn't think he would make it. He then grew strong and became the strongest cat I ever saw. Solid muscle. And the SMARTEST and MOST LOVING cat I ever met. He wanted to be held all the time. He was ALWAYS purring. He would lick your face like a dog. He was really like a dog in many ways. He waited by the door when I went out. He was still there waiting when I got home. He slept in my arms every night. IN MY ARMS. With our chests touching and his arms around my neck. I would wake up to him still there every morning. He knew a bunch of words. So very smart. He loved to play games. But most of all he loved me so much. I bought him to keep my other cat company, but he quickly out shined her and became the main focus of attention.
I did everything in my power to make sure he didn't get sick. I had already dealt with a cat who had diabetes. I had to give her insulin every 12 hours and then after 3 years of diabetes she passed away at age 10. I didn't want the same for Opie. I waited on him hand and foot. He would get me up at 6 for breakfast. I made sure nothing bad would ever happen to him. My boyfriend loved him so much too. He worried about Opie dying. I would reassure him that he would live to be 18 or so. Opie was so strong and healthy.
Then, out of nowhere this last December Opie started acting strangely. He would have these 'episodes" where he would hallucinate and become aggressive. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. I took him to the vet and he thought it was a behavior problem. I knew that wasn't it. He was having the episodes more and more frequently. I did some research on the net and thought they sounded like some sort of partial seizure. I looked up treatment and found that the medicine was very damaging for the liver. I decided that I would just live with him having these episodes every week. They got worse and I noticed his third eyelid was showing during and after them. I noticed he felt hot. Then a week and a half ago, I was woken up at 4 am to Opie having a grand mal seizure next to my bed!
It was surreal! I couldn't believe this was happening! It was my biggest fear. I worried that these episodes would turn into this, and they did! He carried on for the next four hours running around in circles and acting like something was hurting his head by flattening his ears and squinting his eyes and backing up. It was horrifying to see! I couldn't bare it. It was like he was going mad. He was also acting like he was in pain. I wanted to help him, but there was nothing I could do.
We rushed him to the vet right away in the morning. The vet said all they could do was try him on the meds, but it would be every 12 hours and that the meds would damage his liver. He also said that Opie would probably continue to have seizures since they were very aggressive happening every week. It would be a life long condition. Also, the meds would change his personality and make him sluggish and over weight. Liver problems were guarranteed
The thought of him going through all this, with the meds and still having seizures was too much. I read that they can die during a grand mal seizure because of many things like suffocating, heart attack, core body tempurature going up too high. I couldn't bare it, so we chose to have him put to sleep. I was in shock. Seriously in shock.
I had just seen this grand mal seizure and now he is being put to sleep.
I have been beside myself with grief ever since. I felt at the time it was the right decision because I didn't want him to suffer anymore...but of course you second guess yourself. I miss him so much I can't stand it.
Now the first cat is confused as to where he is. She keeps looking for him and this upsets me more.
I don't think I will ever be the same. I am so upset that a healthy beautiful special cat could be taken away from me at only 3 years old.

Dear Missy

Firts of all let me say how sad I am for you with the loss of your darling Opie. He truly sounds such a little character who has had an extraordinary life with his dear Mummy, dad and kitty sister. How amazing that he recovered from his terrible problems as a baby and grew to be such a strong and wonderful companion for you all. Your relationship has been the best by the sounds of it and you will be feeling his loss so badly. Please know that I am thinking of you and sending love and prayers for you and your family. Opie is now free from all the horrible suffering that would have been his life living with these awful seizures and future liver problems. I know from experience as our black lab, Sooty suffered with Epilepsy and was on Phenobarbitone which eventually did cause his Liver to fail. His last day with us he had 7 massive seizures before we could get him seen by the vet, he left us on the journey there. I think if we'd known how his life would be living with this debilitating illness we would have been stronger and like you made the decision to end his suffering.I know you will feel so sad that you had to make the decision, but you did what was right for your sweet Opie, believe me. Just so sad that these things happen to our fur babies when they are so young, but just remember what a wonderful, and cherished life he had , he most probably had 20 years worth of love and companionship in his dear precious few years.
If you feel able it would be lovely to see a photo of your Opie and also your little girl kitty who will be feeling lost without her buddy. You will be a great comfort to each other.

Love Jan and My Angels and Pixie x

Thank you so much for your kind words. It really helps me a lot.

Here is a picture when Opie was young with Lily his sister.
(Opie is the flame point, and Lily is the seal point)



Opie recently

Oh Missy, thanks for posting the beautiful photos. What adorable darlings.
Hugs Jan xx

Missy,

I am so sorry about your beautiful Opie. He sounds so much like my Mr. Jingles who sleeps just like Opie with his head on my pillow back feet against my tummy & arms around my neck. I always say he is so much like a dog too. Must be a Siamese trait.

Those seizures are terrifying to watch. The first one my poodle Flossie had just sent me into a panic...... She only had them every 3-4 weeks near the end but I hated watching them. Then she would take about an hour to get over it. So I know the fear you had and I think you did absolutely the right thing for Opie.

3 years is such a short time for such a loving kitty like him but just think what would have been his life without you? Much shorter I am sure considering the condition he was in when you got him. You provided care and a loving home that he never would have known and that was worth so much seeing what he was faced with before he came into your life.

I love your pictures. Thinking of you and Lily who is grieving also. Ginger

Thank you so much for your kind words.
I wanted to share this photo of Lily up on top of the dresser with Opie's ashes. I had just brought Opie's ashes home and she got right up to them and wanted to sit near them.

It was 2 weeks ago that Opie passed. I feel I am not getting any better dealing with it. I may even be getting worse.
I work from home so Opie was with me every second of the day. When I would have to go out to run errands, he would panic about me leaving him. He would be waiting by the door when I got home. Now when I open the door, he is not there. Everything I do reminds me of him. When I get out of the shower he would run into the bathroom and lick the water off my legs. He knew to stay away from the stove when it was on. He would do a funny meow as I told him not to get close. When I would put their food down he would follow me to the dish and then run back past Lily and she would tackle him. Lily still waits for him to come running out when I put her food down. She waits on her haunches looking for him, I have to tell her every time that he is gone. It upsets me so much. When my printer would print Opie would come running to watch it go back and forth. The list goes on and on. Everything I do reminds me of him and it hurts everytime I have to do those things because he's not here.
I am trying to focus on Lily and keep her happy. She has such a different personality than Opie. She is withdrawn and nervous. He was outgoing and loving. She is such a sweet kitty and I know she deserves lots of love in these trying times.
I just can't believe he is gone.

Hi Missy
I am so very sorry about the death of your kitten Opie -- I don't understand why some pets die so young -- and 3 is extremely young for a cat. I lost my first ever dog on Dec 7th -- she was just a couple of months over 11 - which I think is too young as well. I don't really know what to say to make you feel better -- I do know that with time the pain isn't as awful. Please come back here whenever you need to -- there are so many awesome people who are so helpful - and for me it helps just knowing that I'm not alone in my grief. take care of yourself and hug your other kitten for me.
Sharon

Hi there Missy, so sorry to hear about your cat, and oh what a cat! He sounded so special and extraordinary, and I am so sad for you. It's much much harder than we expect when our pets get ill. My 14 year old Labrador died in February and it was devastating, so I can completely understand how sad you are, it is a horrible thing to go through. It does not matter how old they are, it's still hard.

Just wanted to say hello and the beginning of your story was amazing, it's wonderful that you could nurse Opie back to health from pretty much death's door. I think that it was great all the silly things he did, especially how he slept with his paws around you! Too cute!!

Anyway, hope you are doing okay despite your sweet and very smart Opie's passing. Thinking of you.

Moira

Thank you so much for your replies.
I still am so very upset. I just can't believe this has happened.
I am so happy to have this forum to come talk to because friends and family are starting to tire of me going on and on about this.
(((hugs)))

I am so very sorry for your loss, what beautiful cats, both of them. They look so loved and well looked after and it's thanks to you Opie had those three wonderful years filled with love. Of course you made the right choice, we all second guess our decisions when much loved animals pass, no matter how they go. We want them back so badly that we want to go back and change things and save them somehow, even though we have already done the very best humanly possible first time 'round. I lost my darling boy at three as well, I have much sympathy for you. Hugs xx

madi xx

I'm having a hard time today. It's been six weeks (I think, I'm lost in time) since Opie passed. I am still so sad.
It took a while for the fancy urn I ordered to arrive. Opie's ashes was put in a standard urn from the vets. I wanted to get a handmade pottery urn to put him in. Finally it arrived. I had to break the original urn to get the ashes out (I knew they were in a bag inside the urn) they had glued the lid on. So I went out on the balcony and broke the lid off and pulled the bag of ashes out. I held the bag of ashes in my hands and started to cry. I just couldn't believe this was Opie. It brought back a lot of hurt.
I put the ashes into the nice handmade urn and added the mouse toy he loved. I went to the mall and got a little brass name place with his birth date and death date engraved on it to glue to the urn.
The grief is just so strong. I didn't think I would at this level of grief still. I am starting to wonder if I ever will be okay with his passing. I'm thinking maybe I should see a psychiatrist about it. Opie was like my child and to be taken away so young....it's so hard to deal with. I just can't seem to be at peace with it all.

Hi Missy,

I think it would be a great idea to talk to a professional about Opie. When my dog Callaway died 7 months ago I went right away to talk to a therapist and it helped me to deal with my loss. I still go and see her every week to sometimes talk about Callaway and other issues in my life.

I am so sorry that you are having such a hard time but I can so relate. After Callaway died I seriously didn't think I would survive but I am doing better. His death affected me like no other and I still miss him so much! But I promise you that it does get better with time. I do think you should see a therapist and keep coming on here to talk, we will help you thru your grief.

Take care,
Rhapsedy

missy, I'm so sorry about Opie. Your story brought tears to my eyes.

I hope you find peace soon.

Thank you so much Sasha. Hey, I'm in Toronto too
I'm still having such a hard time. I can't believe Opie is gone.
I miss him so much.

I get that way sometimes too. I know Sasha is gone, but I still can't believe it.
Opie was a beautiful cat.

Still struggling to come to terms with Opie dying. I really feel like I have been in a haze ever since.
Here is a picture of Opie and Lily with some catgrass. Lily loves catgrass and Opie would do whatever she did. He didn't like the taste of it, but would chew on it because lily was.

It was 2 months ago today Opie left to fly with the angels.
I miss him terribly.

Hi there Missy,

Just wanted to say hello - your posts are so sad and you are still missing your sweetie so much, it's so hard isnt' it? I still miss my Stormy so much some days too, every time I see black Labrador my heart lstill skips a beat.....These animals are so devoted, sweet and innocent, it's not surprising we miss them so much when they are gone, is it?

Anyway, just wanted to say hello and hope you are doing okay despite missing your Opie so much, we all understand.

Moira

Hang in there Missy, my thoughts and prayers are with you. xx


madi xx