Lost My Leo Of 15 Years Options

[macgrl]

This just happened yesterday and my husband and I are just devastated, even though we knew his days were becoming numbered.

The past year he walked with a limp and we had him on cosquin for cats and that seemed to ease the arthritis in his hips. My daughter who was only six when he came home as a kitten noticed his decline when she last came to visit a week ago. He was much more frail, and not living with him day to day she noticed the difference between even Christmas and now.

Superbowl sunday he was his usual self, we ordered a family chicken dinner and was getting his usual expected share of chicken. Yesterday morning I gave him his usual can of soft food, then about a hour or two later he vomited it up, and by the looks of it the chicken from last night, undigested. He also had a dirrehea like drainage and was trying to pass a stool where he was laying but all he could do was just spasm in pain. Good god we tried to help, I got a warm washcloth to clean his hindquarters which clearly bothered him. I called the vet and made an appointment as soon as possible which would have been the next day. In the meanwhile Leo went to hide behind a desk and curl up, my daughter went to put him back by the towels in the bathroom and he had his mouth open for a moment in a pant. I had to call back and ask if I could bring him in immediately to put him down, so I got the car ready because it is frigid cold here in WI and my daughters brought him to the car. My husband could not bare to go with us because that was his baby.

I got half way and I was ready to turn the car around, but my daughter reminded me even though he was alert he was periodically spasming in pain. This was it. It hit us so fast we did not have time to brace ourselves. He calmly stayed still there for the vet when he got ready to get the shot and he went so peacefully. It was a mix of relief and grief for us, especially the girls I have at home who have grown up with him. After all was done the vet showed us his skin that had signs of liver failure. It is comforting to read the posts where everybody had their doubts and second guesses like I did. I am still going through the motions, I never had a pet for this long.

[Moose Mom]

Leo's daddy and mommy

It is amazing how much the little ones we have left understand. I have often thought we, as a society, really sell our little ones short. The know and remember and understand so much. They communicate well too, if we take the time to listen. We have a little girl kitty too, Autumn. She has been such a huge help since our Moose passed. She is sort of a 'stand offish' girl but she was a real 'lap cat' after Moose went. She is back to her old ways, but it was wonderful while it lasted. In general I think that girls are a little more independent, and boys a little more loving or cuddly.

I'm glad the birthday was at least a little happy, even in our sorrow we need to find the joy we can. I'm very glad if I helped, every time I help someone else, it also helps me. I believe we are all connected. I'm sorry you didn't find a boy this weekend but I'm sure one is on the way. Ask Leo to help. I also want to recommend petfinder.com. We didn't find our new guy through them, but they let me know there were little boys out there at a time of year I thought there would not be.

Love