TheresaW
Well-Known Member
I lost my boy Rio yesterday. I'd had him from 8 weeks old, and he would have been 15 in March. He lived a wild life as a young lad, despite being neutered as soon as he was old enough. He lost his tail at 18 months after a fight with some dogs, he totally ruled the neighbourhood. By the age of 8, he'd lost all 4 canines through fighting the local cats, and I'm pretty sure he lost way more than 9 lives over the years, we were always at the vets with various wounds and injuries. He was always my cat, saw me through a relationship breakup, and although he loved my new partner, it was always me he came to when he felt unwell or was injured.
3 years ago, he started losing weight, and was diagnosed with thyroid problems. The vet wanted me to operate, but he was so thin at the time, I was reluctant. He'd been on meds ever since, and although put weight back on, was never the bruiser he used to be. He still ruled the roost at home though and kept our other cats in their place.
About a year ago, he disappeared for days at a time, but I was never overly concerned when he didn't come in. Eventually found out, he was living in a neighbours garden. He wasn't allowed in the house, but spent all day there. We devised a plan to make sure he got his pills everyday, we would text each other as soon he'd them, so he was never overdosed. Around the end of last August, had a long chat with the neighbour as neither of us were happy with him living outside when the weather turned. Neighbour took away anything that Rio could shelter in, and within 2 days, he'd moved back home.
Over the last 2 weeks, he started to look very old. Noticed he wasn't going upstairs anymore due to the arthritis in his back legs, but he was still eating well, loving a fuss, and happily jumping onto the sofa, kitchen chairs etc. his next blood test was due in a couple of weeks, so was going to have a full MOT.
Friday night, he was really nuzzling my ear and my hair as he sat on the back of the sofa. He has never ever done it before. When I fed them all their tea, he had gone out, so I out his in the microwave so the others wouldn't eat it. Have never done that before either, usually just put some more down for whoever is out at the time. We went to bed and were up early yesterday morning as I had to drop OH at work for 5. Rio still wasn't home, and now I was concerned, even though he'd done it several times before without me worrying. When I got back from dropping OH off, I sat in the kitchen having a cuppa, and had terrible thoughts about Rio being in our pond. As soon as it was light enough, I had a look and saw him.
I am absolutely devastated. I know I can't have changed anything, and I do believe we would have been making "that" decision sooner rather than later. Thinking back, I am almost certain he was saying goodbye to me Friday night. All the cats drink out of the pond, and have never fallen in before. I hope and pray, that if he did fall in, the other cats would have been aware of him struggling and alerted us. I don't for one moment believe he committed suicide as I know animals don't have suicidal thoughts, but I think maybe his heart gave out or something, and thats how he ended up in there. I just hope I'm right, as I can't bear the thought of him suffering.
Here he is, RIP my darling boy.
Sorry if I've rambled on.
3 years ago, he started losing weight, and was diagnosed with thyroid problems. The vet wanted me to operate, but he was so thin at the time, I was reluctant. He'd been on meds ever since, and although put weight back on, was never the bruiser he used to be. He still ruled the roost at home though and kept our other cats in their place.
About a year ago, he disappeared for days at a time, but I was never overly concerned when he didn't come in. Eventually found out, he was living in a neighbours garden. He wasn't allowed in the house, but spent all day there. We devised a plan to make sure he got his pills everyday, we would text each other as soon he'd them, so he was never overdosed. Around the end of last August, had a long chat with the neighbour as neither of us were happy with him living outside when the weather turned. Neighbour took away anything that Rio could shelter in, and within 2 days, he'd moved back home.
Over the last 2 weeks, he started to look very old. Noticed he wasn't going upstairs anymore due to the arthritis in his back legs, but he was still eating well, loving a fuss, and happily jumping onto the sofa, kitchen chairs etc. his next blood test was due in a couple of weeks, so was going to have a full MOT.
Friday night, he was really nuzzling my ear and my hair as he sat on the back of the sofa. He has never ever done it before. When I fed them all their tea, he had gone out, so I out his in the microwave so the others wouldn't eat it. Have never done that before either, usually just put some more down for whoever is out at the time. We went to bed and were up early yesterday morning as I had to drop OH at work for 5. Rio still wasn't home, and now I was concerned, even though he'd done it several times before without me worrying. When I got back from dropping OH off, I sat in the kitchen having a cuppa, and had terrible thoughts about Rio being in our pond. As soon as it was light enough, I had a look and saw him.
I am absolutely devastated. I know I can't have changed anything, and I do believe we would have been making "that" decision sooner rather than later. Thinking back, I am almost certain he was saying goodbye to me Friday night. All the cats drink out of the pond, and have never fallen in before. I hope and pray, that if he did fall in, the other cats would have been aware of him struggling and alerted us. I don't for one moment believe he committed suicide as I know animals don't have suicidal thoughts, but I think maybe his heart gave out or something, and thats how he ended up in there. I just hope I'm right, as I can't bear the thought of him suffering.
Here he is, RIP my darling boy.
Sorry if I've rambled on.
x
