Our Cat, Indy
For those interested -- and for our own historical record -- here's the update on Indy...
Indy seemed ill, as I've discussed previously, for some while. Yes, he's an older cat, but he's been somewhat sickly his entire life, really...
Marilyn left last Thursday for Pendleton, and I did try to get Indy to spend time with me. But he's seemed quite depressed since April's death.
In fact, because of that, it was hard to tell that he was seriously ill. It became clear on Saturday that something was wrong. Marilyn got home Saturday night and we been to doctor him with some left over medications we had here in the house.
We were very reluctant to take him to our local emergency animal clinic. (Bad past experience where they almost killed him years ago. Anyway...)
This morning we got an appointment and the neighbor took me in with him, as Marilyn couldn't get away from work.
The doctor had me leave him for tests, but was clearly not hopeful.
I spent half the day with Marilyn. (First our manicure appointments, then at the office.) The doctor didn't call with results until around 6:00 p.m. (We were still at work.)
Indy has diabetes. He's in a critical stage. They might be able to help him, using 'extraordinary' measures. Might.
As our vet knows, Indy would probably be very difficult and unhappy being medicated on a daily basis. He's not a cooperative patient.
We decided it was time to let him go. He's clearly depressed without April and he's very ill.
It was a difficult decision, but we're in total agreement.
We brought him home to spend one last night with him, and to let family and friends come by tomorrow to say goodbye to him. We'll take him back in tomorrow to have him put down.
Ironically, it will have been exactly three weeks ago tomorrow that we had April put down.
For the past ten years (since moving into this house), I've hardly ever laid down for a nap that Indy didn't lie down with me. And because we deliberately keep such odd hours, we generally nap almost daily. I can't imagine what it will be like the next time I lie down to nap...
Actually, most times both Indy and April would lie down and nap with me.
Since he was a kitten Indy has often slept on my pillow. I guess he never will again.
It's very hard.
I've cried several times today. I've tried not to, but I can't seem to stop myself. I miss April. I'll miss Indy terribly. The same is true for Marilyn mistressmarilyn, of course, though she's much braver and more controlled about it than I am...
It's hard to believe I can feel this bad about losing my cats. I know it's a small enough thing in a world where so many have recently lost everything, and so many people have died. I know family and friends who have many losses that are larger than this. But my heart hurts, even so.
They are our family. Indy has been with us for 15 years -- April had been with us for 14 years. They have been our babies.
Mom and Dad will surely welcome them in heaven. And if for some reason cats aren't allowed there, you can bet I won't ever be going there!
That's it for today. I'm too emotional to write more.
Aside from that, there are some other difficult things going on right now, so I doubt either Marilyn or I will be online that much for a few days. But you never know! The people we're close to here have been so wonderful to us...
Thanks to all of you for being so kind about April, by the way.