Goodbye old friend
I've been unable to write about cool things I've done or do anything productive because my kitty Half'n'Half was sick. We finally had to put her to sleep today.
For the last few months she's been limping progressively more, but it seemed that one of her feet had just become lame. She was really old (17) and that kind of thing just happens. A few weeks ago it got a lot worse, though. Her litter box was in the basement and she was no longer easily able to make it down the stairs, so she started having accidents. We tried putting a box upstairs, but by then she couldn't even make it over the 3-4inch edge of the box. We put newspapers around and made a makeshift, even lower box. She mostly lay around all day, and had to be carried to her food and water bowl, but I would see her walk sometimes. She was still having accidents.
While I was gone she completely lost the ability to use her back legs. Before she had been able to walk a few steps at a time, sometimes as much as 10-15 feet, now no one saw her move at all. My parents took her to the vet and they said there was nothing to be done. She was staying at the vet because my parents didn't have time to take care of her, seeing as she needed help to eat and drink and she wasn't able to get to her box.
When I got home we went to the vet to pick her up, even though I knew she wasn't going to get better. I wanted one last day. I spent the day petting her and taking care of her and giving her attention, to say goodbye. She was really in a bad way, I couldn't even put her to bed for an hour or so so I could sleep, she needed attention or help all the time. I almost didn't sleep at all for 24 hours, until finally I realized that, after she was fed and watered and had gone to the bathroom I could wrap her in towels and sleep with her on the couch. I did that for a couple hours before it was finally almost time to go to the vet. Then I petted and cuddled her for a bit and held her on the car ride.
I've had her since middle school, even if I was away from her for a while I'm glad I got to spend a last year with her and that I got to say goodbye when she was still coherent enough to recognize me and purr when I petted her. Still I will miss her very badly. I keep thinking I'm ok and then bursting into tears.
I will miss you, Halfie. I love you. <3
For the last few months she's been limping progressively more, but it seemed that one of her feet had just become lame. She was really old (17) and that kind of thing just happens. A few weeks ago it got a lot worse, though. Her litter box was in the basement and she was no longer easily able to make it down the stairs, so she started having accidents. We tried putting a box upstairs, but by then she couldn't even make it over the 3-4inch edge of the box. We put newspapers around and made a makeshift, even lower box. She mostly lay around all day, and had to be carried to her food and water bowl, but I would see her walk sometimes. She was still having accidents.
While I was gone she completely lost the ability to use her back legs. Before she had been able to walk a few steps at a time, sometimes as much as 10-15 feet, now no one saw her move at all. My parents took her to the vet and they said there was nothing to be done. She was staying at the vet because my parents didn't have time to take care of her, seeing as she needed help to eat and drink and she wasn't able to get to her box.
When I got home we went to the vet to pick her up, even though I knew she wasn't going to get better. I wanted one last day. I spent the day petting her and taking care of her and giving her attention, to say goodbye. She was really in a bad way, I couldn't even put her to bed for an hour or so so I could sleep, she needed attention or help all the time. I almost didn't sleep at all for 24 hours, until finally I realized that, after she was fed and watered and had gone to the bathroom I could wrap her in towels and sleep with her on the couch. I did that for a couple hours before it was finally almost time to go to the vet. Then I petted and cuddled her for a bit and held her on the car ride.
I've had her since middle school, even if I was away from her for a while I'm glad I got to spend a last year with her and that I got to say goodbye when she was still coherent enough to recognize me and purr when I petted her. Still I will miss her very badly. I keep thinking I'm ok and then bursting into tears.
I will miss you, Halfie. I love you. <3