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raeanna74 · 08-24-2005, 04:42 PM

My cat, my parents cat, our cat, Gracie Marie Elizabeth, died today. I saw her only 8 hours ago. She was lying there barely breathing with her eyes glazed by cataracts. The vet had told my parents that when they reach a certain point their digestion stops and appetite disappears. The only thing to be done is to put them to sleep or allow them to go in their sleep because they will never eat again.

We had that cat for 20 years. Got her as a kitten. I wanted to name her carrot because she was tricolored with a very orange triangular streak on her nose that reminded me of a carrot. My vote was vetoed as I was only a kid. She had a very good life as an indoor cat. She was allowed out after we found that she never wandered beyond the edge of the yard. She was very territorial when it came to anyone who was seriously threatening but she LOVED her family. When someone was sick she would stay on their bed curled against them until they got up. She would even forgo food at times when one of us were ill. She was a large tortise shell Persian and when I say large - she was large, especially for a female. She reached 20lbs at one point. At that time she was put on a diet. In her old age the vet told my parents to begin to feed her more high fat foods as her body wasn't getting all she needed from the food and fat was very important at that point. She ate gormet icecream, fresh salmon, and finely chopped steak. She was a pampered pet. My parents kept a dish of food beside their bed as well as one in the kitchen. My Dad built shelves and added windows in the basement for her to sit in because the bird feeder brought the birds up to the house at basement level. Gracie would growl at dogs who happened to enter her territory. At one time, clawless no less, she attacked a golden retriever and rode him to the edge of our yard. At which point she jumped off and growled at him until he crawled under the neighbors porch to hide from that menacing ball of fur.

Dad came over to tell me. Mom wrapped Gracie in Red Velvet and Dad is building a cedar chest for her. I have seen him so grief stricken since - well I don't think I've seen him cry like that since his Dad died. That cat was his baby. The moment he sat down in his recliner she would be there to curl up on his lap. He would let her sit there and hold his newpaper out away from him to read it.

I'm not terribly choked up at this point but I feel hollow. At my parents, growing up we ALWAYS had a cat, a dog, and a bird. Now their house is empty of pets and children. My parents themselves seem so much more different without someone or something to nurture. They're tired, and by my mother's own admission, without purpose. She told me recently that she is thinking of going back to school or finding some other job. She no longer is needed to care for Uncle David since he is now in the nursing home. She is able to visit but the constant need for help is gone. Mom seems depressed, even before today she was. Now I can only imagine. It's a sad day for my family.

08-24-2005, 04:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	Goodbye Old Friend My cat, my parents cat, our cat, Gracie Marie Elizabeth, died today. I saw her only 8 hours ago. She was lying there barely breathing with her eyes glazed by cataracts. The vet had told my parents that when they reach a certain point their digestion stops and appetite disappears. The only thing to be done is to put them to sleep or allow them to go in their sleep because they will never eat again. We had that cat for 20 years. Got her as a kitten. I wanted to name her carrot because she was tricolored with a very orange triangular streak on her nose that reminded me of a carrot. My vote was vetoed as I was only a kid. She had a very good life as an indoor cat. She was allowed out after we found that she never wandered beyond the edge of the yard. She was very territorial when it came to anyone who was seriously threatening but she LOVED her family. When someone was sick she would stay on their bed curled against them until they got up. She would even forgo food at times when one of us were ill. She was a large tortise shell Persian and when I say large - she was large, especially for a female. She reached 20lbs at one point. At that time she was put on a diet. In her old age the vet told my parents to begin to feed her more high fat foods as her body wasn't getting all she needed from the food and fat was very important at that point. She ate gormet icecream, fresh salmon, and finely chopped steak. She was a pampered pet. My parents kept a dish of food beside their bed as well as one in the kitchen. My Dad built shelves and added windows in the basement for her to sit in because the bird feeder brought the birds up to the house at basement level. Gracie would growl at dogs who happened to enter her territory. At one time, clawless no less, she attacked a golden retriever and rode him to the edge of our yard. At which point she jumped off and growled at him until he crawled under the neighbors porch to hide from that menacing ball of fur. Dad came over to tell me. Mom wrapped Gracie in Red Velvet and Dad is building a cedar chest for her. I have seen him so grief stricken since - well I don't think I've seen him cry like that since his Dad died. That cat was his baby. The moment he sat down in his recliner she would be there to curl up on his lap. He would let her sit there and hold his newpaper out away from him to read it. I'm not terribly choked up at this point but I feel hollow. At my parents, growing up we ALWAYS had a cat, a dog, and a bird. Now their house is empty of pets and children. My parents themselves seem so much more different without someone or something to nurture. They're tired, and by my mother's own admission, without purpose. She told me recently that she is thinking of going back to school or finding some other job. She no longer is needed to care for Uncle David since he is now in the nursing home. She is able to visit but the constant need for help is gone. Mom seems depressed, even before today she was. Now I can only imagine. It's a sad day for my family. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.