On September 22, 2014 the call came through that an emaciated “dirty” scrungy kitty had walked into this woman’s kitchen and wouldn’t leave. After finding out her husband’s idea of a good cat is a dead one, I left immediately to go and pick the cat up. At first, I thought it was a black cat, but it turned out to be so covered in fleas and flea dirt that is the discoloring of her coat and what I was looking at. I gave her several baths and she bled red in every single one. We rushed her to the vet, it was determined she was about 10 years old and anemic- she had the bad form of anemia, the non-regenerative type, severely dehydrated and just hanging on.
We gave her fluids and meds, I brought her home put her by herself in a cage with an outside patio attached and wanted to see if I found her in time. I didn’t find her quick enough and this week has been really rough. She stopped eating, she lost weight, she would lose urine when she slept and if she did eat something it ended up being hurled across the cage in an impressive (and scary) projectile vomiting. She was telling me that she was done- it was over. She didn’t want to play this game any longer.
I took her in this night for her journey’s end. My vet agreed that if she was going to kick this flea-induced anemia she would have done it by now. He didn’t think that he could find a vein- but I prayed so hard because the alternative is not a good one if a vessel can’t be found. He hit the vein the first stick! I was at her head whispering in her ear and telling her how much joy she brought to my life in the short time she was here. When the fluid hit, I just saw her take a huge sigh or relief then she licked my hand and she was gone.
Run free Hope in the heavens. Play in the grasses and find that special boy up there who will be your best friend. I loved you- I wish I had gotten to you sooner. Thanks for trying to fight- you were such a courageous kitty to the end.
I’m sorry this had to be Hope’s end here on Earth. She deserved better. She came into that woman’s kitchen seeking help, and she found it in you. What she needed at last, you gave her. Hers was a cruel life, but a loving death. Godspeed, Hope.
I am so sorry to hear that Mary Anne, She tried so hard to win her battle. What a blessing that she knew in the end what Love was and it was you. she gave you her final kiss and headed off to run and play with kitties that have gone before her. Godspeed Hope and continued blessings for you Mary Anne and all that you do!
and my eyes are leaking all over the keyboard
My heart is breaking right now! Tears run freely! She did deserve better but God called you in to be with her when she needed it the most! Run free and be whole again Hope! You were so lucky to have Mary Anne by your side when it meant the most. God bless you Mary Anne! Words cannot express what I am feeling for you and what you do for these fur babies!!!!
As you are often called to do.. you helped put some love and dignity into her life. I am sorry she’s gone, but glad you had the last 3 months to help her make that gentle journey
We are so sorry…..but in the end she knew love and sometimes peace is the best gift we can give….
I am sitting here in Israel which has a ginormous feral cat situation, by choice. There may be as many feral cats here as there are people. I feed about 30, six live in luxury on our front porch. Two further away that I feed are blind, having eyes either scratched out by other cats ir birds perhaps while still little kittens.
One has three legs but seems to be a year or two old compared to the rest of them, which seem under a year.
I add sardines and chicken and turkey for treats every time I go on my cat walk, and the ones near us get treats every day, like boiled chicken pieces. EXPENSIVE and I have had to slow down little by little.
On November 17, 2014 I looked down to see which one was rubbing against me, and I had never seen her before… a little ” holocaust” kitty I saw… she had three legs and was literally skin and bones. you could not feel one bit of muscle on her anywhere. Her legs were bone and sinew. I picked her up and brought her indoors, and se have had her to the vet three times. She had respiratory sickness, now cured, and she was so stressed, perhaps by the loss of her leg that her immune system had never had a chance to develop. The vet put her on her al Cat Calmex and she is finally calming down, so that her immjne system can develop.
She may be six months old, the vet said, and she has been neutered , as many cats in the city were from a program they ran until very recently.
The first minute my husband saw her he named her HOPE. We do plan to return her once the cold weather is over, because I have learned that feral cats have buddies within their colonies. I walked across the street to the place where I first found her, with her in my arms today, to give her hope one day she can go back, and I thought she was going to get away from my little lamb’s wool carrying bag… I think when the day finally comes, we will set her down, see if she stays by us or runs off to see her buddies.
I cannot keep her because we may return to the USA and I know she would never make the /4- hour trip from airport to airport in a cage cold right next to dogs barking.
If I have to, I will ask the vet to help me find a loving home for her. She has put on weight and is finally beginning to fill out a bit. Israel is a cat lover’s Heaven but your heart will also be ripped wide open for them. Fortunately, God Is a good God Who cares more than we will ever know for every creature of His.
If you want to meet me in Heaven, ask where the mansion is with a billion cats. I am sure there is plenty more room for more.