Less than a month ago we euthanized Tallulah. She was a healthy cat with an unhealthy litter box problem that just couldn't be resolved. Today karma scratched back and we had to euthanize Silver. Over the past 3 or 4 weeks Silver lost a lot of weight (down to 6lbs from 11) and started wheezing when she was excited/purring. She lost interest in food and stopped coming upstairs to our bedroom.
When we returned from Australia Josh and I agreed something was definitely very wrong. Josh made an appointment with the vet, and at noon today we got the diagnosis: advanced lung cancer.
A huge tumor was filling up Silver's chest cavity, squeezing out her lungs and heart and making organ failure imminent. She didn't respond to oxygen treatments.
The vet advised Josh against bringing her home. I wanted to be there for Silver's last breaths, but I didn't want her last hours to be in a cage at the vet's office, a place she'd always despised, so I agreed to let Josh escort her to evermore.
I'm so sad. Silver was our first baby. It was 1997 and Josh and I had just moved in together. We drove his white Toyota Corolla from Hyde Park to the Anti-Cruelty Society downtown. She was a 6 month old adolescent in a cage labeled "unwanted." I stroked her pretty tabby coat and, gave said, stupidly, "Isn't she sweet. We could call her Silver." Not a proud moment for an aspiring copywriter, but the name stuck.
For years, we spoiled her with cat treats, catnip and toys. Her favorite was the wire and cardboard cat dancer. She tolerated Z's arrival 5 years ago, but became suspicious of the baby when she went mobile. Since then, she's been a gentle evening caller--spending her days on our bed and her evenings on our laps, appearing as soon as the kids are tucked into bed. Until very recently she slept on Josh and my bed, hopping up as soon as we'd turned in for the night.
Silver, you'll be missed.
10 comments:
You made me cry! I remember our Toby and I pray that both of our pets knew how much we loved them
I am so sorry for all of you.
Oh...this post breaks my heart. I never was a cat person until I adopted my own. I'm sorry for your loss. Silver was a beautiful kitty.
My sympathies to you and Josh. But Silver had a very long and fine life. And there is a bright side: I won't get ill every time I visit!
Love,
Mom
Two years ago my brother-in-law had to put down his dog. It was after a $1,200 hip surgery. I said to my husband, "Twelve Hundred Dollars!" Where I grew up that is more money than some people make in a month working in the egg factory! But then we got a puppy. Oliver. I was at a business meeting when my husband called to say that the puppy, whom we had for a total of ten days at that time, was dropped and that his left rear leg was broken in two parts, literally. The surgery was nearly $2,000 and we never blinked. Sometimes I am embarrassed how much I love our dog and how much money we spent. But we all get to decide to whom we give our hearts how we spend our money. Today I can't imagine our house without that damn dog, as I often refer to him when no one else seems to be watering, walking or feeding him. I love your mom's post, also. Our family went through a series of allergy tests recently and we were all so stressed over the prospects of being allergic to Oliver, our Sheltie. Thank goodness the dog scratch was negative! I had personally resoved that I would have to live a sinus clogged, sneezing and wheezing existence had the test been positive. But if one of the kids had been allergic to him, I don't know what I would have done. I love my kids, but ....
Warmest Suburban Regards,
Denise Burks
www.successinthesuburbs.com
www.successinthesuburbs.blogspot.com
www.stepmotherinthesuburbs.blogspot.com
Denise, how beautiful was your post! Our Toby was 13 last summer when we had to put him down and it was extremely traumatic for the entire family (grandkids included). We would have done anything to have made him "younger and healthier". I really think that our pets give more to us than we give to them!
Hi, Alma. I'm sorry for your loss. As owners of a The Animal Store, a family pet shop, we hear all the time about the big part pets play in family life. As you noted, they are often a young couple's first "baby" — a chance to see how you will parent together and build a family. Silver was lucky to be a part of yours.
Best,
Susan
Chicago Moms Blog
So sorry about Silver. Your cats were both very well loved and lucky kitties, and they'll be missed.
You know that saying, "Walk a mile in another man's shoes ... ?" I turn 50 next year and I think I'm finally understanding what that means and I think that my dog taught me it. I just couldn't understand spending thousands of dollars on a pet. I still think it is kind of crazy. The two thousand dollars we spent on surgery for our little puppy could turn around the life of a family in my small Nebraska hometown. Heck, it could probably feed an entire small town in Somalia. But I could apply that standard to every single thing that I do. Should I buy Ugh brand boots or Walmart brand? The difference is $80. I could give that $80 to Sally Struthers and feed one of her starving children for a decade! I guess you understand my point. One thing that we do at our house to make sense of this is to make regular donations to our local animal shelter. Instead of birthday gifts, our children ask for dog and cat food for the animal shelter.
http://successinthesuburbs.blogspot.com/
Wow, great article. Very interesting to look at sites of the past!
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