Poisoning, death of my beloved cat Leonine Options

[corinnajane]

It is almost a year now since my boy cat died. He was poisoned. I am very, very upset about it.

The hospital tried to save him but it was no use. And the staff were amazed at how gentle and friendly he was. Even though he was in agony, and dying, he still kept trying to make friends and cuddle people.

I got a lovely lady vet to come and help put him down at home. And I know I did the right thing.

But it really hurts.

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[corinnajane]

You are so kind!

You are right, I would do anything for my little ones.


One night, Leo seemed off his food, which happens from time to time. He almost always slept with me, but not this night. It was very hot, so I didn't think much of it. In the morning, all he could do was lie on the floor and cry out. He seemed to be frothing at the mouth.

When I rushed him to the hospital and described the symptoms, they admitted him immediately. The vet felt his kidneys and he screamed and turned around, trying to hit her. It was completely out of character. The vet took a blood sample and then whisked him off to casualty.

I have gone a bit hazy on the exact details, because I was so upset at the time.

However, the vet informed me that the most likely scenario was that he had been exposed to something toxic. Nothing else explained the blood test results and the symptoms. They kept him there for days on a drip, trying to flush out his kidneys, but the damage was extensive. Nothing could be done. He was unable to eat or even go to the toilet.

This particular vet hospital only allows people to visit their pets for short periods of time - 15 minutes or so. You had to make appointments. Grrr... I visited about twice a day, trying to get him to eat. He always got up and gave me kisses. The IV hurt his arm, so it was hard for him to sit on my lap. The staff told me that they couldn't believe how sweet and gentle he was. Even though he was dying, he still kept trying to make friends and smooch everybody...

On the last day, the vet came and told me it was all no good. His kidneys were ruined. I offered one of mine, even though I knew that a cross-species transfer could never work. I asked about a kidney donor but the vet said that these sorts of things were ruinously expensive. She told me that it was time to put him to sleep.

That visit, Leo looked so distressed and heartbroken when I had to go home. He put his paw on me when I withdrew from the cage. I decided that it was just not right to hurt his feelings like that... And that he should come home, not get put to sleep in a strange place where everything smelt wrong.

I made arrangements for him to come home with me. The hospital gave him a massive amount of painkiller and a full IV, so that he was well hydrated. I took him home and he spent one last night and morning with me and his two young sisters. He slept with me, I cuddled him and patted him all night. In the morning, he actually got up and went to his bowl, just like everyday. He couldn't eat, but he sat there with his sisters and shared in the morning routine. Then I let them all out into the garden to play, just like always. He went out and did the rounds of the garden, chewed some grass, even managed to do his business. He enjoyed the sun for a while, then came in and sat with me. He actually ate a little snack!

Eventually the nice lady vet came and helped him die. Her name is Dr. Emma Whiston and she was an absolute angel. That's what she does for a living - goes to people's homes and helps put suffering animals out of their misery. You can't imagine a more caring and patient person. Leo adored her on sight.

I know Leonine was happy about it. Dr. Whiston said that she could tell when an animal was ready to go - and that he was completely accepting. He even kneaded his little paws when the first two injections were administered. I have had animals put to sleep before, and I have always found it traumatic, but this was done slowly and gracefully... Then the lovely doctor did an excellent job of consoling me and calming me down, as I went a bit off the deep end after that.


Some time later, I did an inventory of the shed, kitchen, laundry and garden, and couldn't find anything that would have killed him.

I hate to say it, but I am almost completely positive it was due to the council man spraying weedicide out of the front of our property. It rained almost immediately afterwards and you are not supposed to do that at all.

I am not blaming the council, because I cannot prove anything, but I know for a fact that they did not abide by their own regulations, on this and many other occasions in regard to spraying.

I have since had a conversation with the council staff and made arrangements for our property to be exempted from the spraying regime. So that is a relief.


I just wish it hadn't happened.

And one of his sisters is having a very hard time dealing with it, so I feel distressed on her behalf.