This weekend was one of the saddest weekends I’ve had in a long time. On Friday night, I had to put Marge to sleep. The last few weeks she had not been eating or drinking much. We already had a close call, a couple of years ago, with a urinary tract infection that had traveled up to the kidneys, so we felt that the likelihood of her “bouncing back” this time was slim.
It was a very difficult decision to make, but once we were sitting in the waiting room of the vet clinic, I felt a sense of calm that it was the right choice. She was already very emaciated and I could have spent a couple of thousand dollars more, with the possibility that it would be more stressful on her to try and hold on, with no guarantees that she would pull through whatever it was that she was dealing with that was causing her to not eat, drink, or sleep the way she was.
I met her in the spring of 1995. I had just moved into a studio apartment in the city, after living in the suburbs in a spare room at my brother’s. She was the neighborhood kitty. She would come in through my kitchen window, meowing quite loudly, and I’d give her a little of whatever I happened to have on hand. She loved mushrooms! She would linger for awhile, then move on to whomever else was open to letting her in and/or giving her scraps, or a saucer of milk.
One day, after a couple of weeks of doing this, I came home from work and found her spread out like a rug in my shower stall, and she looked dead. I picked her up, found out she was still breathing, drove her to the vet, and they ran a whole battery of tests to figure out that she had the cat panleukopenia virus (FPV), with a 20% chance of surviving.
After a few days of hydration therapy, the vet said I could take her home and do the hydration therapy myself, and showed me how to do it. I spent the next few days giving her boiled chicken and rice, and she got better within a week! And that’s when I decided, after spending about a thousand dollars on her, that I was going to reform her from her “neighborhood kitty” status, to “strictly indoor kitty”. I know that cats would prefer to be indoor/outdoor, but they don’t live as long. I’d like to think that she was just as happy with me as an indoor kitty, but I know that she would’ve been a lot happier to just come and go. But I couldn’t let that happen anymore. I would if we lived in the country, but living in a Seattle neighborhood would be too risky. I did do my best to make her as happy and as comfortable as I could.
Anyways, It was a good time this weekend to process this major loss, and I’m really quite all right with it. But it feels really different to not have her in the apartment anymore. Out of every living thing in the world, including my parents, she has spent the most time with me. Most of my adult life was spent with her.
I was able to get her buried at a friend’s front yard, where another cat I used to know is also buried. I feel this was the right choice for me and for Marge. It’s only a couple of miles away, but she will always be in my heart.
DAVE BAKES
23 responses to “Marge (1994-2014)”
I’m very sorry to hear about your loss. It had to be hard make this decision, but I’m sure you made the right one. Hugs.
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Thank you very much for your comment. Have a good one.
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My sincerest consolations. 😦
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Thank you!
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What a hard decision. I so don’t look forward to that with our kitty someday. You and Marge have such a sweet story.
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I was feeling dread for the last year and a half. But it really was for the best. She wasn’t herself anymore, was deeply confused, and may have been in pain. I was telling the vet that I couldn’t imagine just waiting for her to pass. Thank you.
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So sorry to hear about your loss, Dave, and thank you for sharing your story with us. xx
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Thanks!
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So sad to hear of your loss. Sounds like you gave Marge a wonderful life- a true rescue story.
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I feel like I did. She was an amazing pet. She gave me a wonderful life in return. Thank you!
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So sorry to hear this Dave, thinking of you and wonderful to hear of the difference you made to her life x
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Thank you for your comment. She also made a huge difference in my life.
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I’m so sorry for your loss. Our furry babies are family too and it’s so hard to lose them. I know you did what was best for her.
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Thanks! I feel more at peace with it as time goes on. She was a special kitty, and I will need time to adjust to her not being around anymore. You are very right about them being family.
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So sorry to hear that 😦 My condolences.
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Hi Dave, I’m so sorry for your loss, but what a sweet story about the special bond you and Marge had, 19 years is a long time to share with a loving pet, she had a good life because of you, you are a wonderful person with a very big heart, hugs:)
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Thanks! She was a great cat to have.
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I’m sorry, Dave. It’s very very sad.
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My sincere and heartfelt condolences on the loss of your cat…this was a very moving narration. I am sure you enjoyed the ten years you spent together. What a kind hearted person you are! I hope she rests in eternal peace!
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Thanks. It was actually 19 years, but thanks. I was so lucky to have her for that long! She was a great companion.
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A most touching tribute to the four-legged love of your life. I completely understand the heartache…but know that you made the right…the most unselfish decision for Marge. She was such a lucky little kitty to have found you… I’m thinking of you during this time of sadness…and I hope that the happy memories that you have of her will help to ease your sadness… wonderful post. ❤
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What nice comments! Thank you so much.
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This brought tears to my eyes, Dave. I am so sorry for your loss. It breaks my heart as well. 😦
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