Hindy
Posted : 8/2/2010 6:43:15 AM
Many, many years ago I started out with one 3 week old kitten that I found in a garbage bag on my way home from work. She was a mess but evntually got her well. Although she was tiny and so young, she was feral. Over the next few years I added a few more cats until I had a (relatively cohesive) group of 5. When I moved, they came with me. I even took them all to live with me in England. They lived together for about 9 or 10 years until the first one died. She was the kitten I started with and she was my favourite. She was terrified of everybody but she would love to curl up on my lap. She slept on my pillow with me for 17 years until she died, on my birthday. Her kidneys were failing and there was nothing they could do. I couldn't get out of bed for 2 days. That was Calypso and she died at 17.
That was almost 4 years ago. The next 2 died last year, within 6 weeks of each other. One died of liver failure, but it was really her kidneys that were failing. Mimi died at 17 as well. TT was 12 and should have had a few more years, but he developed a form of cancer usually only seen in dogs. There was a huge tumour on his carotid artery so surgery was impossible. He underwent chemo for about 7 months, but eventually it stopped working. One day when I called him to eat he couldn't find his way to the kitchen. When he did he stood over his bowl with his head hanging down. I rushed him to the hospital and luckily his oncologist was there. There was nothing to do and he, too, had to be put down.
I have 2 cats left from my original group. One of my cats, Tyler, had cancer (discovered a month before Calypso died) but she has survived. She's 16-18 so who knows... TT's brother is still with me.
I still miss them but I know I gave them a great life. I rescued them from an unknown fate and the thought always makes me happy.
http://www.examiner.com/x-55189-Fort-Lauderdale-Pet-Rescue-Examiner