Fruitycake Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 I am now catless. ShadeMan had something neurologic happen this evening, maybe a seizure, maybe a stroke, maybe something to do with a brain tumor, and it was kindest to let him go. I have absolutely no regrets about what I 'should have done' for him, because since his sister passed a year and a half ago, he has been totally, 100% spoiled rotten. He got whatever kind of food he wanted, even if I had to offer two or three types of canned food to find something that wasn't deemed 'poison' and was fed whenever he wanted - even in the middle of the night - with his dish held at just the right angle for him to eat. All he had to do to ask was look at me and do a subtle single lip smack and I jumped to get him food. He could even wakeme from sleep with that little lip smack, and I would get up and carry him out of the bedroom and get him a bit of canned food. He had two bowls of Kitten Chow in areas kept safe from dogs, because he loved that stuff. He had water dishes through the house, with his main one raised on top of another dish so he didn't have to hunch over it to drink. His litterboxes were always scooped as soon as he was done (even in the middle of the night) and he had five of them around the house with three types of litter. When he wanted to use the litterbox in the basement, he got a ride back up the stairs when he told me he was done. I trimmed his backside (he was a longish mediumhair) so he didn't get too much litter stuck in it, and he purred so loudly when I wiped him when things stuck! He didn't even mind my washing his feet if he stepped in a fresh 'biscuit' after peeing and got litter clumped in his toes. He would call for me to come sit on the back porch with him in the mornings, so I would put aside everything else (or get up if I was trying to make up for lost sleep at night) and sit and color in my coloring book while he napped next to me in his chair. And sometimes he would yell at me from the porch and he would actually be demanding to go outside on his leash, so I'd leash him up and we would spend whatever time he wanted going anywhere in the yard he wanted to go. His last trip out was on his birthday, a pleasant stroll with a little grass eating, some shrub sniffing, bird watching, and walking around the house to check up on the messages from the neighborhood dogs that pee on the cedar at the corner of our lot. He had quirks: as a kitten he was terrified of a fur 'mouse' on a pole toy that my brother bought for him...until he realized it was real rabbit fur and chewed it to pieces and then dragged the remaining stick around the house wherever he went for nearly a year after that. Figuring out how to work the lever-style door handles of our first apartment, and periodically opening the bathroom door when someone was in there. Playing fetch with sparklie balls, where you could throw them and he'd chase and bring them back a few times before he bored of it. Stealing potatoes from the pantry and carrying them around the house. Figuring out that my asking 'Does anybody want a snack?' was a code for feeding time, so he would lead the way to the food cupboard, and then sit at his own dish waiting to be fed. Figuring out how to open cupboards (high and low) and requiring that we get child locks to keep food safe. It was funny that time you wanted to make oatmeal cookies while we were on vacation and the pet sitter found rolled oats and flour on the kitchen floor, and the baking powder can, the brown sugar, and the coconut in the living room. Being a bread-loving freak (he gets that from my side) and requiring all bread be kept in the fridge because even child-safe locks weren't ShadeMan-proof enough. Figuring out that the flip-down door stop on the porch door made a perfect kitty door knocker for when he was on the porch and wanted back in. Making us panic because he would become mute when in a closet or cupboard, even if we wandered the house calling out for him and asking 'anybody want a snack?' in a desperate attempt to verify that you had not gotten outside and lost. Having his sleeping spot under the topmost blanket on the bed, immediately right of my hip, and turning into a snarling maniac if I moved (that was from my side, too). Even though I'll be allowed to sleep through the night again after over two years of waking in the night to feed a cat, I don't know how long it will be until it actually happens. I don't even know if I know *how* to sleep through the night anymore. And I think I should send a thank you to my old workplace for laying me off and to every place that didn't hire me so I could be there for him and his sister at the end. What a gift it was to be able to do so much for them both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramonaghan Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 I'm so sorry for your loss. How lucky you were to have each other, and for so long (though it's never long enough, of course). I can relate to much of your post with my diabetic boy who turns 13 this week. Rest well, ShadeMan. Quote Rachel with Doolin Doodle Dooooo, boss cat Tootie, and feline squatters Crumpet and Fezziwig. Missing gentlemen kitties Mud, Henry, and Richard and our gorgeous, gutsy girlhounds Sweep and Willa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 I am so sorry. I know how it is, I currently have a 17 yr old that gets me up in the middle of the night, demands that I sit down and make a lap for him to sit in, and so on. Totally worth it when you know they won't be around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 I'm so sorry for your loss. Godspeed, sweetie. 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...
Neighsayer Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 Hugs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BatterseaBrindl Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 So sorry for the loss of your kitty. What wonderful memories you have..... Quote Nancy...Mom to Sid (Peteles Tiger), Kibo (112 Carlota Galgos) and Joshi. Missing Casey, Gomer, Mona, Penelope, BillieJean, Bandit, Nixon (Starz Sammie), Ruby (Watch Me Dash) Nigel (Nigel), and especially little Mario, waiting at the Bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beachbum1 Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 So very sorry fr your loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fruitycake Posted May 4, 2016 Author Share Posted May 4, 2016 Oh, and in unrelated news...today's job interview is going to suck. Hay fever/allergies are why nose and eyes are completely red. Yeah. That's why. Mmm hmmm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyPoopon Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 I'm so very sorry. He was a very special boy and he capped a great life with a fantastic last year and a half. Godspeed ShadeMan. Quote Standard Poodle Daisy (12/13) Missing Cora (RL Nevada 5/99-10/09), Piper (Cee Bar Easy 2/99-1/10), Tally (Thunder La La 9/99-3/10), Edie (Daring Reva 9/99-10/12), Dixie (Kiowa Secret Sue 11/01-1/13), Jessie (P's Real Time 11/98-3/13), token boy Graham (Zydeco Dancer 9/00-5/13), Cal (Back Already 12/99-11/13), Betsy (Back Kick Beth 11/98-12/13), Standard Poodles Minnie (1/99-1/14) + Perry (9/98-2/14), Annie (Do Marcia 9/03-10/14), Pink (Miss Pinky Baker 1/02-6/15), Poppy (Cmon Err Not 8/05-1/16), Kat (Jax Candy 5/05-5/17), Ivy (Jax Isis 10/07-7/21), Hildy (Braska Hildy 7/10-12/22), Opal (Jax Opal 7/08-4/23). Toodles (BL Toodles 7/09-4/24) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabrina Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 Shadowman you have earned your wings . We are sorry for your mom's loss of you Daphne & Penny Quote Caroline, Mom to Daphne (49B-50215) and Penny (41D-55779)Remembering Bridge Angels Margo and Sabrina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carronstar Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 I am so very sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiveRoooooers Posted May 5, 2016 Share Posted May 5, 2016 What a wonderful tribute to your most wonderful old fella. I am so sorry for your loss Quote Old Dogs are the Best Dogs. Thank you, campers. Current enrollees: Punkin. AnnIE Oooh M, Ebbie, HollyBeeBop (Betty Crocker). Angels: Pal . Segugio. Sorella (TPGIT). LadyBug. Zeke-aroni. MiMi Sizzle Pants. Gracie. Seamie . (Foster)Sweet. Andy. PaddyALVIN!Mayhem. Bosco. Bruno. Dottie B. Trevor Double-Heart. Bea. Cletus, KLTO. Aiden 1-4. Upon reflection, our lives are often referenced in parts defined by the all-too-short lives of our dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patsy Posted May 5, 2016 Share Posted May 5, 2016 Shademan, we bow all our knees at your incredible hooman-training skills. Gentle rubs to your mama person. Linus &Jazz Quote Patsy and DH with the Humane Society specials, Linus & Jazz, in North Dakota Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
queenwinniesmom Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 Aw, what an awesome guy he was, one who truly deserved all the spoiling he got. How you'll miss your precious Shademan. I'm so sorry. Quote Nancy, Mom to Evangelina and Kiva Missing Lacey, Patsy, Buster, my heart dog Nick, Winnie, Pollyanna, Tess, my precious Lydia, Calvin Lee, my angel butterfly Laila, and kitties Lily, Sam and Simon My Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Catsburgandhoundtown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracey Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 I am so sorry for your loss. Quote ...............Chase (FTH Smooth Talker), Morgan (Cata), Reggie (Gable Caney), Rufus (Reward RJ). Fosters check in, but they don't check out. Forever loved -- Cosmo (System Br Mynoel), March 11, 2002 - October 8, 2009.Miss Cosmo was a lady. And a lady always knows when to leave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexi Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 I'm so sorry for the loss of your wonderful Shademan. Quote Lexi (mom to Nok, the former feral black kitty) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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