I just got home from the boy’s basketball game and there was an email from Mom in my inbox. I found out that she had Bessie put to sleep this afternoon. Keep Mom in prayer. I feel so awful because this is a cat she loved more than a child. I’m sad too; but nothing compared to Mom.
I talked to my dad this evening and Mom went to the vet today with Bessie to learn how to inject fluids under her skin to keep her hydrated. The vet was ready to put her down today but Mom couldn’t do it. They’re going to try to make Bessie as comfortable as they can and God willing, she’ll die on her own and not make Mom have to euthanize her. I don’t think Mom can make the decision to euthanize her — this cat has been her baby for the last 16 1/2 years and it’s like killing a child for her.
I really pray that when the time comes, Mom can make the decision or my dad and brother can intervene and make the decision themselves. If nothing else, euthanizing Bessie would give Mom a chance to pick when she says good-bye and it would be a relatively painless death for Bessie instead of having her linger and possibly be in pain from her kidneys malfunctioning.
Pray for my mom… she needs some pretty amazing strength right now…
I called Mom today to ask her about something and casually asked how the vet appointment went yesterday for Bessie and Mousie, the cats they’ve had since I was 7. Mousie is doing fine. Bessie, however, has some serious kidney disease happening and Mom was waiting to hear back from the vet on how long she would survive. I could tell Mom was crying and I started getting teary. As crabby as the Bess is, she’s been Mom’s cat since we got her — almost 17 years ago. This is on par with losing a child for Mom, so I feel really bad for her. Apparently, they’re not sure if the brat has 6 months or 5 years. Depending on how the quality of life might be, Mom might be learning how to administer injections for her.
Not the news I wanted to get on a Saturday, but such is life.
On a nicer note, Edda’s doctor called to see how she was doing. I think we’re sticking with this vet.
I was sitting at the laptop and I started hearing strains of “Jesus, Lover of My Soul” being played on a tin whistle. Jon came up a few minutes later and announced that he was cultivating the art of gremlin charming. I went down to see and the gremlin was sitting on the filing cabinet looking very confused. She didn’t want to pose for a photograph and went to hide in her litterbox. After a thorough wipedown with some baby wipes, we put her back on the cabinet and got these pictures…
My most beautiful black cat Edda has been having bloody noses lately so we took her to the vet on Monday. She was the example of sweetness to the vet, only complaining when they took her temperature. (Wouldn’t you complain if they shoved a thermometer up — never mind.) She was patient on the way home as the trip was prolonged by us sitting in a few ditches while we waited for AAA to arrive to tow us out (or, in the last case, a good samaritan offered to give “the kitty and its mommy” a lift back to town while “Daddy” waited for the tow truck.) She takes her antibiotics joyfully and is repentant when she sneezes blood all over me.
Well… I got home from church today and she was acting strangely. She was very playful this morning (as is her normal custom) and right now, she’s nuzzling everything in sight, chirping, and sitting with her butt in the air. I called my mother-in-law who explained to me that she’s in heat. Oh joy. Too bad my stallions were decajoned last year! They’re giving her a wide berth and I think they’re a little afraid of her right now. I think they’re secretly glad that she and Freya are going to be spayed on March 8th.
Anyone want to tell me how long she’s going to be this way?
**Update: She’s doing somersaults and various acrobatic moves that I didn’t even know were possible for a cat. My boys are very confused. Cullen tackled her on the bed and bathed her earlier (which always seems to calm Freya) and that actually calmed her enough for her to nap. (Then again, she’s a cat — they sleep 14/7.) Her cooing isn’t all that annoying — in fact, it’s almost comical to watch her.**
Freya caught her first mouse… in the house about 20 minutes ago. Like I’m going back to sleep now!
**UPDATE**
I tried going back to bed after I posted but I couldn’t sleep. I’m proud of Freya for catching the mouse (and VERY unnerved that it was in the house) but I wish it hadn’t been at 6:15 when I had only been able to get to sleep 3 hours earlier.
The story: I had been woken up by some loud growling and mewing. I figured that Freya was being obnoxious and attacking her siblings, so I yelled to Jon to break up the cat fight. He came in holding Freya who had something dangling from her mouth and told me that she had a mouse. My response was “So?” as I thought it was a catnip mouse. Jon then informed me that it was a real mouse, which made me flatten myself against the wall and start screaming. Jon extracated it from Freya’s mouth and tossed it in the garage. We then sprayed the carpet where he had dropped it and washed hands and arms with lots of soap and hot water. It was a pretty good sized mouse too — it would be the equivalent of me trying to swallow a pheasant whole.
God willing, it’s the only mouse we have in the house…
Finian instructing Edda in the faith as they curl up in one of the windows of the Confirmation room in our basement.