Dear Tracy:
I was so sad to read your story of your wonderful Sylvester and his
peaceful passing up in your box spring. And also, how he showed the
doctor that he was just fine--I think he was thanking his vet, in a
way, for all the help he had been given there. And thanking you and
the other kitties for all the happy life he had with you--even if
some of them terrorized him! He clearly wanted to pass away with
you--and he did!
My very BEST thoughts for Sylvester and for you and the other
kitties, too.
xxx, Tee 'n' the Wildlife
"Consciousness is Causal
and Physicality is its
Manifestation."
On Aug 25, 2007, at 8:11 AM, Tracy Weese wrote:
My giant (well, he used to be) ol' farm cat died this morning at home.
Sylvester came off a farm where I take care of a dwindling (thanks
to TNR) cat colony. He got very sick about 2 years ago and I took
him to the vet...of course it was more than being sick, he had FeLV
+. So he came home with my other cats (I had few other positives
then, after today down to two now and soon to be one-CW is anemic
and fading, too).
He was big when I got him, about 16 pounds despite being so ill.
After many $$$$ at the vets' and then living at home, he was up to
22 lbs! He stayed pretty healthy for about 1 year and 4 months
(he was probably 7 when I got him). He always had a little cough
the vets thought was asthma (and yes, we checked and re-checked
this). But recently, he was not the same, more coughing, high
fever, not eating....turns out his blood counts were all haywire.
Low RBC, Low white count and low platelets....the antibiotics for
the fever made his tummy hurt, too. So at the vet yesterday I
asked if it was time to let him go (he lost 2 lbs in a week), the
vet didn't think so bec. of course, he perked up at the vets' and
purred and pranced...He got a vitamin B12 shot and his very first
steroid shot (yes, we discussed that steriods in a FeLV+ cat were a
last resort). When we got home, he had a good night. He ate some,
and hung out with me and the others (he had been staying under the
bed except when I would drag him out for meds). He even played
some and tried to squeeze into a tiny box like he used to.
This morning I awoke to a few sounds of slight distress....he was
sleeping under the bed again (actually, the cats tore the bottom
fabric of the box springs and he would sleep inside the box
springs). I reached down and touched him and told him I was there
and then went to get a carrier to go to the vet. In the seconds it
took for me to run downstairs and get the carrier and come back up,
he was gone.............
I had to cut the rest of the fabric to get him since he would lay
furtherst from the opening. I pulled him out and he was still, he
looked very peaceful--no signs of struggle on him or under the bed.
This is the very first cat I have had that died at home (and I have
a cabinet full of cremated remains)...it was not terrible, but I
did not plan it. Last night was so good for him, I guess he had
only one last good night in him.
He died with me nearby and in the place he felt safest, under the
bed. I took him to the vets' so he can be cremated.
I don't think he suffered but a few short seconds if that. I gave
him permission several days ago to leave if he needed to, I guess
he needed to go today.
Although I will miss him, several of my other cats will not. He
was a gentle giant, but a few of my smaller cats terrorized him if
they got the chance. He never struck out first and usually
retreated, but he was always a sweetie to people.
Please think good thoughts for Sylvester.
