Yesterday, on his first birthday, Tsavo (aka Littlecat) died from Feline Leukemia. For the past few days he'd been going downhill- his back legs didn't work well enough for him to jump because he had literally zero muscle left. This didn't stop him; he climbed everywhere instead, and still tried to do all the things he normally would do, like annoy all the other animals and eat his raw chicken on my couch (isn't that why God made Scotchguard?) all the while making this bizarre noise over and over that sounded just like he was saying "all gone all gone all gone." He'd done this with "good" food since he was very very tiny. It was highly entertaining, as he would change pitch as he got more into it. I'm guessing it had to be some Serval noise, as I've never heard any normal cat make any noise remotely similar.

I keep the cats in the basement (finished, walkout...not some dark dungeon) during the day b/c of the dogs and they come up at night. I went down to give them some delicacies I'd just prepared for his birthday dinner and Herman wouldn't touch the food and didn't even look at it. He's not typically one to miss a meal. He just walked circles around me, rubbing on my leg and meowing very low. I called for Tsavo and he didn't come, which wasn't that unusual. He'd been hiding from me when I came downstairs w/food b/c he was afraid it had medicine in it. He had gotten to the point where he wouldn't eat ANYTHING unless he was upstairs with me and saw me take it out of the fridge. Oh, and it had to be whole...nothing cut, ground, or otherwise prepared or in a bowl. If it wasn't whole and he wasn't there to see me take it out, he was convinced there was something yucky in it. I looked in his usual places and he wasn't there. He had died in the bathroom...when he got very sick he liked the coolness of the floor better than the carpeting.

I feel badly that I wasn't there for his last few hours; he'd seemed ok that morning...or as ok as he had been for quite a while. I had just told him the night before that it looked like he was going to make it to his first birthday.

Rest in Peace, Tsavo Littlecat. With the exception of Herman, the other animals will probably not miss you or your antics, but I will miss you terribly. Love you, Littlecat.

With Herman:
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d33/Jenwilliams918/Tsavo-sick/Tsavo084.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d33/Jenwilliams918/Tsavo/Jan2009memorystick120.jpg
After stealing Simon's bone:
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d33/Jenwilliams918/Tsavo/Anza049.jpg
The day I met him:
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d33/Jenwilliams918/Tsavo/TsavoQiraMatti042.jpg
A few weeks ago:
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d33/Jenwilliams918/Tsavo-sick/Tsavo066.jpg

I'm very sorry.

It's good when such a short life can also be packed with being active and happy and full of mischief.

Jenni,

I am very sorry for your (and Herman's) loss. It's so hard to lose a youngster so full of promise.

You gave him a great life and you have many memories of his antics. You will see your little friend again, and he will be able to run and jump.

Do not feel bad for not being there for his last hours. He went on his terms, bravely and with dignity.

Take care and give Herman a couple extra hugs from me and my pack.

-Kel

Jenni,
So very sorry for your loss. I hope you will find comfort in your memories and Herman can give you some extra lovin during this hard time.
Take Care,
Sincerely,
Joyce

Jenni, I am very sorry for your loss.

Edited by Melissa Hau (12/31/1969 06:00 PM)
Edit reason: didn't finish

Jenni, let me add my condolences to the others. The pictures made me smile, especially the one of him w/ Simon's bone...

Hey Jenni

Sorry for your loss. I also liked the pic with Simon's bone.

Jenni,

I'm sorry for your loss. I've seen it, and I know how fast they go downhill and how heartbreaking it is to watch.

The best cat my wife and I ever had got Feline Leukemia. This is a cat that I trained to "come" on command, would sit up and beg, and was very affectionate. She had more personality than any cat I've ever known.

Once she got sick she went downhill very fast. We took her to the vet who said there was no hope, and we had her put to sleep. I decided she wasn't going to die surrounded by strangers, so I was with her, petting her, when they gave her the shot. It was the hardest thing I've ever done.

Funniest dog or cat story I have. One day I was sitting in my living room reading. My wife was to the left of me, the cat to the right in the hall way. Out the window I saw lightning flash, followed almost immediately by the loudest thunder clap I'd ever heard. The storm must have been directly over us. My wife screamed, jumped, and ran into the hallway where the cat was. The cat jumped and ran into the living room where my wife was. They passed each other on the way. I just about died laughing. Neither of them thought it was at all funny.

So sorry to hear the bad news Jenni.
I wish the best to you and yours.

Ah Jenni, I'm so sorry. Tsavo was a beautiful little guy and I know you will miss him terribly. He however, had an all too brief, but great life eating raw meaty bones on furniture and playing with bones as big as he was! What more could a kitty have asked for? Okay, maybe a few hamsters and gerbils in the basement to terrorize, but other than that, he lived like a little king. Keep that and those sweet memoies in mind. Take care.