CATS!!!!

[Morris]

@Smallfry you gave him the best life you could and a peaceful end. No one else bothered. Be proud of what you did.

 

[dobbslc]

I have been putting this off.

With regard to my previous post about Tarzan, phoned the vet first thing Monday, and got an appt. for late that afternoon.

His little world had shrunk to the area immediately around the van. He was still struggling for breath and was quite weak and wobbly, when he got out of his bed and came out from under the van to greet me. Again offered him food, and could see he wanted to eat, but couldn't. He did drink though, and had several goes at it. His eyes were still clear though, and did not show any pain.

What really broke me though, was watching him struggle off to his toilet spot for a wee, despite everything he was still clean, despite living out for many years. He had never disgraced himself indoors either. He came back and leaned against my arm (I was sitting on the drive) and wrapped his tail round and head butted. I sat with him for about 15 minutes while he enjoyed the sunshine.

I had put one of those interlocking foam squares half under the van for him to lay on, which he did, and went indoors for a while. I sat with him half a dozen times during the day, also spending most of the day fiddling around in the garden so he could feel safe.

When the time came, we thought it was going to be a fight to get him into the transport box, but he offered no resistance and made no attempt to scratch or bite. He was quite vocal though, until he became even more breathless. On arrival at the vets, SWMBO went in, and I stayed with him in the parking area, so as not to subject him to the stress of the waiting area, as there were customers with several big dogs waiting. He was still looking about at the surroundings though, and he put his paw through the cage door to me. Eventually we were called in.

We explained the circumstances of his life as far as we knew it, and the vet scanned him for a microchip (more on that shortly). After an examination the vet confirmed he was in a bad way and unlikely to recover, and that his coat was in amazing condition for his lifestyle and age. Asked if he was insured (which always makes me angry) and that they could do tests if we wished, but thought it best if he has put to sleep. We knew this anyway, as he couldn't breath or eat, and was slowly starving to death in any case. A cold snap had also been forecast, and we didn't want him suffering in the cold either.

In his final moments, he was still slow blinking us. Then he was gone.

Paying the bill was a trial. We brought him home to bury him in the garden. I know it was the right thing to do, but I am not feeling it at the moment. The place now seems empty.


The microchip scan revealed that he had, in fact, been chipped in December 2008, and that the vet was obliged to contact the registered owner before they could do anything (more waiting) We knew he had been a pet at some point, as he had been cut, so not truly feral. He had been around locally sleeping in sheds and vehicles for as long as we could remember, but conversations with a near neighbour, and a look at some photos taken years ago with her little dog, revealed he had been around for 16 years. He used to play with her dog, and she also fed him. He never went indoors there, and wouldn't be touched either, as was our experience up to January last year, when he decided that he wanted to come indoors here. When the neighbour lost the little dog in 2013, he did not go there again, but spent most of the time at BiLs yard down the lane, where he was fed, but always at arms length as he hissed and swiped if anyone tried to touch him.
Anyway, vet phoned official owner who lives about three miles from here, and was told that they "rehomed him back to the breeder about five years ago" which makes no sense, as he has been here way longer than that. There had been no amendments to ownership. Would not say why he was "rehomed".
Breeder makes no sense either, because he was a moggy, not a pedigree, especially after the claimed ten years or so. If he had been rehomed, he obviously didn't like it there ! Or was he just dumped ? No reason for that as far as we could see. Since he came indoors, we didn't pee or scratch furniture, and seemed to have a sweet temperament.

The secret life of cats.

You did a good job there mate.
The bit about his paw coming through the cage door gets me every time.
I'm blaming hay fever for the tears in my eyes right now, but I'm lying to myself

 

[Porkypine]

Sounds like he had a great cat's life, at his choice, doing what he wanted, and found a proper genuine human friend in you, all at his own pace.
16 is a very good old age especially for an outdoor cat ( we lost one also 16 last year), as the others say, you did absolutely the right thing by him there.
RIP old moggy...

 

[premmington]

I have been putting this off.

With regard to my previous post about Tarzan, phoned the vet first thing Monday, and got an appt. for late that afternoon.

His little world had shrunk to the area immediately around the van. He was still struggling for breath and was quite weak and wobbly, when he got out of his bed and came out from under the van to greet me. Again offered him food, and could see he wanted to eat, but couldn't. He did drink though, and had several goes at it. His eyes were still clear though, and did not show any pain.

What really broke me though, was watching him struggle off to his toilet spot for a wee, despite everything he was still clean, despite living out for many years. He had never disgraced himself indoors either. He came back and leaned against my arm (I was sitting on the drive) and wrapped his tail round and head butted. I sat with him for about 15 minutes while he enjoyed the sunshine.

I had put one of those interlocking foam squares half under the van for him to lay on, which he did, and went indoors for a while. I sat with him half a dozen times during the day, also spending most of the day fiddling around in the garden so he could feel safe.

When the time came, we thought it was going to be a fight to get him into the transport box, but he offered no resistance and made no attempt to scratch or bite. He was quite vocal though, until he became even more breathless. On arrival at the vets, SWMBO went in, and I stayed with him in the parking area, so as not to subject him to the stress of the waiting area, as there were customers with several big dogs waiting. He was still looking about at the surroundings though, and he put his paw through the cage door to me. Eventually we were called in.

We explained the circumstances of his life as far as we knew it, and the vet scanned him for a microchip (more on that shortly). After an examination the vet confirmed he was in a bad way and unlikely to recover, and that his coat was in amazing condition for his lifestyle and age. Asked if he was insured (which always makes me angry) and that they could do tests if we wished, but thought it best if he has put to sleep. We knew this anyway, as he couldn't breath or eat, and was slowly starving to death in any case. A cold snap had also been forecast, and we didn't want him suffering in the cold either.

In his final moments, he was still slow blinking us. Then he was gone.

Paying the bill was a trial. We brought him home to bury him in the garden. I know it was the right thing to do, but I am not feeling it at the moment. The place now seems empty.


The microchip scan revealed that he had, in fact, been chipped in December 2008, and that the vet was obliged to contact the registered owner before they could do anything (more waiting) We knew he had been a pet at some point, as he had been cut, so not truly feral. He had been around locally sleeping in sheds and vehicles for as long as we could remember, but conversations with a near neighbour, and a look at some photos taken years ago with her little dog, revealed he had been around for 16 years. He used to play with her dog, and she also fed him. He never went indoors there, and wouldn't be touched either, as was our experience up to January last year, when he decided that he wanted to come indoors here. When the neighbour lost the little dog in 2013, he did not go there again, but spent most of the time at BiLs yard down the lane, where he was fed, but always at arms length as he hissed and swiped if anyone tried to touch him.
Anyway, vet phoned official owner who lives about three miles from here, and was told that they "rehomed him back to the breeder about five years ago" which makes no sense, as he has been here way longer than that. There had been no amendments to ownership. Would not say why he was "rehomed".
Breeder makes no sense either, because he was a moggy, not a pedigree, especially after the claimed ten years or so. If he had been rehomed, he obviously didn't like it there ! Or was he just dumped ? No reason for that as far as we could see. Since he came indoors, we didn't pee or scratch furniture, and seemed to have a sweet temperament.

The secret life of cats.

Chipped Dec 2008 - that mate is good long life for a semi stray cat.

Clever cat lived off his wits with the help of some kind strangers...

Makes him just short of 18... That is a very good age for a stray...

 

[Smallfry]

You did a good job there mate.
The bit about his paw coming through the cage door gets me every time.
I'm blaming hay fever for the tears in my eyes right now, but I'm lying to myself

I had the same at the time. Must have been the dust in the car park.

 

[Porkypine]

Chipped Dec 2008 - that mate is good long life for a semi stray cat.

Clever cat lived off his wits with the help of some kind strangers...

Makes him just short of 18... That is a very good age for a stray...

I didn't do the maths, of course you're right, that's an even more impressive longevity for a wild 'un, bless him.

I had the same at the time. Must have been the dust in the car park.

Seems to be oddly dusty in our front room at the moment too...

 

[500e]

It's not ours honestly, beloved told me

 

[premmington]

I didn't do the maths, of course you're right, that's an even more impressive longevity for a wild 'un, bless him.

Seems to be oddly dusty in our front room at the moment too...

The sad reality is - unless you have a Tortise or a large Parrot that can live to 100yrs old.

If you are lucky enough to live a long human term life - you gonna feel the sadness of cat and dog loss a few times thru you lifetime.

Edit: My missus reckons a Tortise can live 150yrs...?

 

[Smallfry]

The sad reality is - unless you have a Tortise or a large Parrot that can live to100yrs old.

If you are lucky enough to live a long human term life - you gonna feel the sadness of cat and dog loss a few times thru you lifetime.

And every time I say we are not having another one because of it ....................... but we do.

All of our pets just seem to, turn up. Either of their own volition, or have been given away.

Our friends who have a farm across the valley, were watching TV one rainy winters evening around 30 years ago, when she heard scratching at the back door. On opening the door, there was an ancient, as he looked, bedraggled and wet wire haired Jack Russell. They let him in and towelled him off, and he parked himself in front of the Rayburn. He was obviously an outdoor dog, but they let him stay.

There were never any issues with their existing two Springers. He was an excellent ratter, and the vet reckoned he was about 12 years old. He stayed for 12 years ! Was never ill, and didn't appear to get any older. One night he disappeared as mysteriously as he arrived. Never found any trace of him.

 

[OJCar]

The sad reality is - unless you have a Tortise or a large Parrot that can live to 100yrs old.

If you are lucky enough to live a long human term life - you gonna feel the sadness of cat and dog loss a few times thru you lifetime.

Edit: My missus reckons a Tortise can live 150yrs...?

Mules can live to 70~80 years old but never ever fit through cat flaps...

 

[OJCar]

 

[premmington]

And every time I say we are not having another one because of it ....................... but we do.

All of our pets just seem to, turn up. Either of their own volition, or have been given away.

Our friends who have a farm across the valley, were watching TV one rainy winters evening around 30 years ago, when she heard scratching at the back door. On opening the door, there was an ancient, as he looked, bedraggled and wet wire haired Jack Russell. They let him in and towelled him off, and he parked himself in front of the Rayburn. He was obviously an outdoor dog, but they let him stay.

There were never any issues with their existing two Springers. He was an excellent ratter, and the vet reckoned he was about 12 years old. He stayed for 12 years ! Was never ill, and didn't appear to get any older. One night he disappeared as mysteriously as he arrived. Never found any trace of him.

When my last dog died - Molly the little terrier aged 18.5yrs..

I declared "no more dogs ever"...

After a grieving period of 8months - we got another little terrier - the following year we got a big dog (our first big dog in all these years of married life).

Now we have two dogs...

-------

Plus I am walking in the evenings a black Labrador - belonging to chap who lives in a bungalow round the corner. I know his son - but he lives away in Canterbury - old man not well at all - but black Lab (shiney dog) is as good as gold. We have already had the black Lab stay at ours for a few weeks at a time - when the old man has had falls and goes into hospital.

Not sure how old the "shiney" black lab is...? But it got the most black healthy looking coat I have ever seen on a dog. It OK with me - I take it for a run with my dogs...

 

[Porkypine]

The sad reality is - unless you have a Tortise or a large Parrot that can live to 100yrs old.

If you are lucky enough to live a long human term life - you gonna feel the sadness of cat and dog loss a few times thru you lifetime.

Edit: My missus reckons a Tortise can live 150yrs...?

When l was a kid I went to London Zoo where I remember a massive tortoise, kind of 'large coffee table' size as I recall, that was estimated to have been born in the 1860s

 

[Smallfry]

When l was a kid I went to London Zoo where I remember a massive tortoise, kind of 'large coffee table' size as I recall, that was estimated to have been born in the 1860s

I remember seeing that too ! Were you the obnoxious kid in the royal blue jumper that knocked the ice cream out of my hand I wonder ?

 

[Porkypine]

I remember seeing that too ! Were you the obnoxious kid in the royal blue jumper that knocked the ice cream out of my hand I wonder ?

Nah, I was the cool one with jeans and baseball boots.. a sort of embryo Kirk St Moritz...

 

[qwakers]

Mules can live to 70~80 years old but never ever fit through cat flaps...

50 years max.

 

[OJCar]

50 years max.

Depends on how often you wear them.