Bevd Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 Some of you may remember my post in Soap Box a short while ago about a cat belonging to a neighbour. The owner of the cat lost interest in her after the birth of a human child and although the cat (Pepper) had been part of her family for 7 years, she no longer seemed important. I offered help and support when Pepper became poorly. I said I understood that she (the owner) was very busy with the new baby and if she needed me to take Pepper to vet appointments or anything else, I was happy to do it. I loaned her a medium size crate to keep the cat contained. Yesterday, Pepper appeared in my house again. In the UK, it's quite normal for cats to be allowed to roam (if the area is suitable) and most cat households have a cat flap. So Pepper came in and she looked a lot better than she had last time I saw her - no sneezing, no runny eyes etc, but she was very thin and weak. We offered her some normal cat food and also some tuna but she didn't want to eat, only sleep, so we left her to sleep on our bed and that's where she stayed all night. I knew her time was near and I told her that it was OK for her to go to The Bridge if she felt she needed to. She wasn't in any discomfort - just weak and tired. She snuggled right up to be close to me and she headbutted my hand to make me stroke her. I saw her use the litter tray this morning and again offered her some tasty food, but she declined. She went back to bed to sleep some more. She seemed to have made a concious decision to rest here with us rather than with her owner and we were fine with that. She stayed on the bed all morning and was there when I popped to the bathroom mid afternoon. Then at about 4.30pm, some local children knocked on my door and said there was a cat laying on someones front garden just close by. I put my shoes on (and noticed that Pepper wasn't on the bed) and grabbed a towel and went with the children. Pepper was laying on her side in the rain on a neighbours grass. She was unconconcious but still breathing. I wrapped her in the towel and brought her home. I put her in a soft cat bed and sat with her for a few minutes and then she took her final breath. I'm not hysterical with grief as I would be if Pepper had been one of my own cats but I'm sad and I'm angry. I'm sad because she was a lovely cat and she was cheeky and naughty and she used to make me laugh when I saw her. I'm sad because we're the ones who are grieving for her - and I'm angry that her owner cared so little about a cat who had been a member of her family for all those years. I'm sad that if those kids had not come knocking, Pepper would have died alone in the rain on a strangers lawn. I'm glad that I was with her, stroking her head when the time came for her to go. Play hard at The Bridge Pepper Cat. Quote Deerhounds Darcy, Duffy, Grace & Wellington, Mutts Sprout & Buddy, Lurchers Ned & Jake plus Ella the Westie + cats. Remembering Del, Jessie, Maddison, Flo, Sally, Stanley, Wallace, Radar, Mokka, Oki cat, Tetley, Poppy & Striker. Please visit our web store at http://www.dogsndubs.com for our own range of Greyhound related clothing for humans! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShanakilMagic Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 Quote Clare and Dylan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 I'm glad you were with her, too. Every critter deserves someone like you to love her and look after her when she has need. Bless you, Bev. Godspeed, little Pepper. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Becki Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 I am so sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paula Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 Poor little thing. I'm glad she had you looking out for her Bev. I'm very sorry. Quote ~One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all ~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 Thank you for loving her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kerrij Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patricia Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 You made her last hours special...she knows she was loved...run free sweet Pepper. Quote Patti-Mommy of Lady Sophia 7-28-92 - 8-3-04... LaceyLaine 8-2-94-12-5-07... Flash Gordon 7-14-99 - 8-29-09... BrookLynne...Pavé Maria... and 18 Bridge Kids. WATCHING OVER US~SOPHIA~QUEENIE~LACEY LAINE~ CODY ANGELO~FLASH GORDON. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StridersSis Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 (edited) Bev doG bless you for taking care of that kitty. You are truely a special person. She chose to spend her last day with you and you should be honored Im sure you are, She must have cared very deeply about you. Run Free Pepper Cat, free of concern and pain you'll see Bev again at the Bridge someday with the rest of her gang waiting eyes expectant. Edited July 24, 2003 by Striders Sis Quote Kim, mom to Reno (Slatex Reno), sister to Daffy (Bally's Flack), Ashley and Sue (racing names unknown), and Bridge kids Strider (7/28/94-4/16/05), RW's Dallas (12/17/98- 06/26/2010), Odd Taylor (aka Lizzie), JC's Curfew (4/6/2005- 4/22/2010), Winnie(Pooh Bear)my heart dog, and Rocky the beagle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ClaudiaRucker Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Run free Pepper........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastgals Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 God bless and God speed little Pepper - you knew who would best see you off to the bridge. And bless you Bevd for caring about her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest shiningstar Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 I remember that earlier post. This is so sad. May she rest in peace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BleusysMom Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Ahhh, Little Pepper.....God speed to the Bridge, and enjoy your time while waiting.....You knew who wanted You, and where to spend your last day.....safety and Love helped you to go....Sweet Pepper...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Champsmom Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Aww so sad I'm so glad she had someone there for her final breath. Bless you for being her friend!{{{{hugs}}}} Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest shirl Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Oh Bev, i am so sorry, poor little girl so glad you were able to be with her in the end though and she wasnt alone ((())) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Kirsten Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 That made me cry! At least she knew a kind person in her life. Some people don't deserve to have pets- or children, what will she do when she has another baby? Abandon the first child? I don't think so. Yet another example of humans being more stupid than animals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hannah Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Run free pepper cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Elvis1 Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 I still have tears in my eyes - Thankyou for being with her in her last moments. You are very special. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorganAndGreys Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 What a sad end.... I'm so glad you were able to be with her as her end came. God speed little Pepper Cat! Run to the arms of the angels..... Quote We need to act responsibly toward the plants and animals with whom we share the world, who have no voice, but whose presence make our world a blessed place. "We call them dumb animals, and so they are, for they cannot tell us how they feel, but they do not suffer less because they have no words." Anna Sewell "Black Beauty" 1877 Bobbi, Rick, Reddy, Jenny, and Kat ...Bethel, CT. Falcon, Romeo, Addie, Shiloh, Frosty, Stormy and Sunshine waiting at the Rainbow Bridge Greyhound Rescue and Rehabilitation..Cross River, NY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houndmom Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 At least you were there to offer her the love she so deserved...when her own family abandoned her. May she find her peace now. Quote Willow & Trace Butch (11/94 - 7/16/08) Hayley (11/96 - 1/13/09) Merlin (11/12/95 - 5/29/09) GPA - Central New Hampshire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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