My Baby Is Gone, Cat passing Options

[shermor]

My 17 1/2 year old, beautiful cat, Sable, passed away today. She had been my companion all these years in that I have never married. The tears don't stop long before I see something that causes me to think of her.

She became sick suddenly on Friday. I took her to the vet and they diagnosed her with low potassium. She was stumbling, barely able to walk. They had given her an IV with potassium in it, gave me some powdered potassium to mix with water to give her and off we went home. By 10pm that night she absolutely couldn't walk at all and if I tried to stand her up she would fall in a heap and not be able to move herself. I was up with her all night and by morning she wouldn't swallow the meds.

Back to the vet we went, he had her all day Saturday and even told me later that she was up walking and he thought that she was on the way up, but then on Sunday she was back down and couldn't get up. He called me Sunday evening to tell me to prepare to make some decisions because with her being on the potassium meds for 48 hours and no improvement she was most likely not going to get better.

Needless to say I was devastated. But I prepared myself. Then this morning, Monday, January 22nd I called the vet to have him come on the phone and gently tell me she has passed away during the night.

I went to see her to say my goodbyes and saw her curled up in her regular sleeping position. She had obviously had a moment of strength to get herself into that position and went off to sleep. I'm so grateful she didn't struggle or wasn't in any pain.

AND of course, I know that she died as she had lived....on her own terms, loving me. I think she took the decision out of my hands and decided to show her love to me one last time by going out on her own. What a love!

I will miss her terribly. She has seen me through the loss of 2 brothers and my Mother. She was always here waiting for me when I came home, looked at me with eyes of love and would play at the drop of a hat. She was the best!

My heart is broken, but I have beautiful memories that will be with me forever.
I appreciate the support I've seen on this website and am thankful there's such a place to go share your heart!

Remember my beautiful Sable....I will cherish her forever!

[Schtoobing'sMom]

I'm so sorry for your loss! Your and Sable's story sounds so familiar to me, it breaks my heart. My Schtoobing was 17 too, and took sick very suddenly. Like Sable, my Schtoob was at the vet without me when he died. I'm still having trouble with the fact that I was not there with him when he died on November 13 (I had promised him that I would be with him).

I admire the way you have put Sable's passing into perspective- that she loved you and wanted to spare you as much pain as she could. She is now whole and healthy, and you guys will be reunited again.

I know how much you miss your furbaby. You guys have been through so much together, and are so much a part of each other. Sable will always be part of you. God bless you and give you peace...

Love, Diane