h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Kzin was my cat. I had him for around 14 years. He was about three when I had him at first. He was a ginger male, very light coloured with a white throat and paws. He was a small, very gentle cat, not wonderfully bright (I remember taking a mouse he brought into my bedroom once out of the room under his nose and putting it in the garden - he spent the next half hour looking for it in the bedroom) and very loving. He used to jump on my shoulders and sit round my neck.

Today, I heard a yowling from the conservatory (as I laughingly call our lean-to construction) and he was unable to stand, dribbling and twitching. I gave him some food, but he couldn't eat it. I tried to give him water, but he couldn't drink.

I got a vet's appointment, but not for a couple of hours. I went to the shop for food while Merlin looked after him and gave him reiki. His condition had deteriorated during the time and apparently he had been very distressed.

On taking him to the vet, he was completely collapsed and panting. The vet told me that he thought he was dying and that although he could do tests to find out if anything could be done, the likelihood was that he would die during the tests. I said my goodbye and held him whilst the vet put him to sleep. It was very quick. I know it was the kindest thing to do for him. Say a prayer for Kzin!

My so dear Zarquhon

I am so sorry to hear about your darling Kzin. What a dreadful thing to have happened. It sounds very much as if he must have eaten something which had poison on it. I think therefore, that although it was horribly hard to make that decision it was the right one as he would undeniably have suffered some internal damage.

It is always dreadful to lose pets particularly one which you have had for so long. Poor little >fish> must be also distraught.

My ing thoughts and prayers go to you all.

AR1

it's so difficult losing pets it's it.

You may be right, AR1

I'd never considered poison. I'd assumed that it was old age. We worked it out - he was almost 17. Merlin has agreed with you that it's a strong possibility. Oh, poor little thing. He had such a sweet nature too.

Little doesn't seem that affected by it.

Yes, it was difficult, but the vet made it plain that he thought it was the right decision.

I'm very sorry to hear this, ZSF.

But I think you did the right thing. Poor Kzin.


Azara

Thank you Z, AR1 and Azara!

Yes, it is difficult. It's pouring with rain at the moment and I find myself worrying about where he is and if he's getting wet!

Thanks, Gnomon.

Still feeling sad. I woke up this morning and thought how soft his fur was. I didn't feel so bad about it when I thought it was natural, but thinking he'd been poisoned made it worse, somehow. It may have been that he ate a mouse that had been poisoned, maybe.

That is what I thought my

I do not think that someone tried deliberately to do it.

How good that Merlin was there to give you support.

AR1

Yes, AR1

It was good to have his support, although when it came time to go to the vet's, it was something I had to do on my own. I think little wanted to be there, although I had the feeling it would have been the fascination of seeing what happened. I don't believe in hidiing the realities of life and death from him, but I wanted to be able to think clearly to make the decision if it came to it (and it did) and to be holding him.

Sorry to hear that.
Have you ever read Bridge Across Forever by Richard Bach? (I think it's that one.) He talks about seeing the aura of cats he'd had in the past in lucid dreams. Like they stay with you.

Hi vegantoo!

No I haven't read that one; it's a lovely thought! I know when I got divorced, my cat was a great comfort to me. As I've had him for so many years, maybe he might hang around.

I also heard that the soul of a baby who is due to come to you hangs around the mother before conception. I can't remember who told me that, but again it's a lovely (and a bit of a frightening) thought.

Hiya.
Very sorry to hear about Kzin. We had cat called Beckett who died when he was about 17, we were all very sad but we all coped, he is still a part of all of us and we will always remember him. I wrote a poem the day he died and I have kept it as a reminder of him. Kzin went peacefully though and he lived a happy life like Beckett, so we should celebrate their lives instead of mourning them. Dogs are said to be man's best friend but a cat is definitely mine.
Nice to know there is someone else out there who went through what we did.
Zarkin'

Hi Zarkin'

Yes, I agree that it's better to celebrate a life than to mourn it. I'm beginning to get used to the fact that he's not here any more. It's just taking a bit of time to adjust to. Like worrying about him when it was raining the other day.

Interestingly enough, your post made me think of a record by a sort of folk singer who you've probably never heard of - Jake Thakray, who did a wonderful song about what he wanted his wife to do after his death, including the funeral arrangements, which he wanted to be joyous 'tell them the party's mine, boys!' and I did a search only to find the best link was one for h2g2.

Oh, now I've found a good one, and I've found that *he's* died too:

http://www.demon.co.uk/momus/dailyphoto271202.html

And the song I was thinking of is here:

http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~mjoseph/lastwill.mp3