« Previous | Main | Next »
The Best Cat
August 29, 2005
Today was a bad day. Mrs. Watson, my bestest furriest friend of 15 years, was put to sleep this afternoon. The vet said she was very jaundiced and apart from hospitalizing her and doing a liver biopsy, there was nothing to do, and her condition was terminal. It's difficult to know when the right time is to put a pet down, but considering she was terribly nauseous, and stumbling a bit when walking the last 24 hours, I thought it was best to let her go before it got any worse.
I feel numb. I've cried a river of tears today. Mrs. W's daughter, Olympus is eerily missing this evening, hiding in a closet and won't even come out for canned cat food. Somehow, I think she knows. I've lost cats in the past, and the remaining furry-footed of the household have an uncanny sense for these things.
I called my friend Andrea around 6pm, and although she had just walked in the door from work, she immediately said she'd take the bus over to see me. Even though she lives only about 8 miles from here, the ride will take 90 minutes. I said, "That's ridiculous! I'll be fine!" through my tears, and all she said was, "Well, like 90 minutes means anything right now... I'll be there as soon as I can."
I'm lucky to have a friend like her. Seriously... how many people would sit on a bus for 90 minutes to console someone over the loss of their kitten? Andrea would, and that makes me love her even more than I already did.
Ah.. Olympus just showed up and is rubbing against my legs. She's the most skiddish cat I've ever known ~ not at all like her love-sponge mother. She's meowing incessantly as if to say, "You took her away, and you didn't bring her back! Please, bring her back... meeeeoooow!"
"Meeeoooow" is right. There's a whole lot of ME, feeling a whole lot of OW right now, and I guess that's just the way it's supposed to be. ME-OW.
For some much-needed comic relief :: Go to STUFF ON MY CAT ~ I regret not having had the time to participate in this online feline fun fest wtih The W Girl.
Posted by susan at August 29, 2005 11:59 AM
Comments
Our condolences, Susan.
Posted by: dan at August 30, 2005 1:18 AM
Aaaaawww! My heart goes out to you Susan. What a good and dear friend you have in Andrea! You and your cats are in my thoughts.
Sincerely, Terry
Posted by: Terry Murphy at August 30, 2005 2:42 AM
I'm so sorry.:(
Posted by: Diana at August 30, 2005 3:35 AM
I'm very sorry to hear about Mrs. Watson, too. Losing a pet is very painful. Andrea sounds astounding.
Posted by: candy at August 30, 2005 8:04 AM
I too am very sorry Susan. Mrs. Watson was a wonderful cat. I will miss her too.
Posted by: robert White at August 30, 2005 8:11 AM
Rob,
Thanks to you for hanging on the phone with me so many times yesterday during my Mary Tyler Moore impressions. You made a rotten day much less rotteny.
Posted by: Susan at August 30, 2005 8:24 AM
Aww... I'm so sorry. :-( She was a sweet looking little kitty.
Posted by: lovedesign at August 30, 2005 12:22 PM
Susan, I am so sorry to hear about Mrs. Watson. I am reminded of when I lost my cat, Cornelious a while back, and I remember oh too well how horrible it felt when he died in my arms from diabetes...
And yes, Andrea IS amazing. She's got a real knack for coming through when people need her the most. I'm glad she's my roomate.
Posted by: Lauren at August 30, 2005 12:28 PM
It's such a deep sorrow, when you've spent 15 years together. That's a huge long time together. The sorrow won't go away any time soon, but just know that there are lots of us out there who can relate. If you wish for company in your grief, go to my blog and click on the story "Losing a Beloved Pet". There are wonderful comments from a bunch of people who love their furry buddies.
These are the times when you can really see who your best friends are! I can just hear you saying "Ohhh Robbb" like MTM/Laura Petrie did whenever she cried. (not that I think that's funny or anything)
Posted by: Wandering Willow at August 30, 2005 1:37 PM
I'm so sad to hear about Mrs. Watson. So very sad for you. (I'm actually crying as I type. I know too well what you're going through.) I'm glad you had the time to share that you did and that you gave each other a wonderful life.
It's also good that you gave her the opportunity to die with the grace with which she lived. When the time comes, it's best to go softly before the pain takes over completely.
Love,
Joy
Posted by: joy at August 30, 2005 3:53 PM
Oh, Susan... I am so sorry to hear about Mrs. Watson. May the memories of the happiness she brought to your life comfort you in the days ahead.
Posted by: Jayne at August 30, 2005 4:14 PM
My deepest sympathies on the loss of a beloved member of your family.
"Me - Ow" for you, too.!
Posted by: Arthur at August 30, 2005 4:21 PM
Dear Susan, I am so sorry to hear about Mrs. Watson. It's never easy to lose someone you love, even a furry someone!
My deepest condolences...
Jen
Posted by: jen at August 31, 2005 12:33 AM
Susan,
So sorry to hear of your loss. That Andrea....She is a very special girl!
We have adopted Bernadette's dog as she is just not around enough and I have already bonded big time with her. I can't imagine losing a beloved pet after that many years. I loved you me ow comment.
You are such a gifted writer and photographer.
beth
Posted by: Beth Lemieux at August 31, 2005 7:14 AM
mmme-ow, too, my friend.
mmmeow.
Posted by: MMM at August 31, 2005 3:56 PM
Condolences from a stranger: We've never met, but I check in frequently. Can't recall how I found your blog, but I always enjoy your posts and your photos. (I've just started taking pictures, and your work is really inspiring.)
Anyway, I lost my cat in January, and though it was a while in coming, it nearly broke my heart. I feel for you today. http://www.livejournal.com/~funkyfatgirl/2005/01/02/
Posted by: betsy at August 31, 2005 8:10 PM
sad with you - 'ow' ideed.
Posted by: bobbie at September 1, 2005 7:25 PM
my deepest sympathies - i had two litter sisters when i was a kid, and one of them up and disappeared one day. she was the kind of cat that would escape if anyone had picked her up, but i knew something bad had happened when her sister changed from being a completely independent cat who hated being held to totally needy and cuddly. it's amazing to me how much animals can feel, even grief.
give olympus a hug for me.
and sometime when i have cash, the top photo of her on your 8-9-05 post would be a nice memory to have.
Posted by: heather at September 2, 2005 11:28 AM
Mrs. Watson was beloved by everyone who ever met her and I miss her from a distance. It will be very strange to visit you and not have her greet me and snuggle in my lap. I hope Olympus will warm up and purr for you as time goes on. She will need to cuddle up as much as you. Give Andrea a great big hug for me. She has over and over again proven herself to be a bonified best friend. Not many of those around. My sympathies to you.
Posted by: janet at September 2, 2005 4:33 PM
Thank you to everyone who expressed their sympathies or even just thought happy sympathetic thoughts for me. The comments really did help me to feel better... hugs to everyone.
Posted by: Susan at September 3, 2005 7:48 PM
Sorry about your gata. In México cats dont meow, they miau... so miau miau to her.
Posted by: César at September 8, 2005 5:13 PM
