Tiger

We had to say goodbye to our sweet Tiger this past Wednesday.

After a week of trying everything possible, it was 

obvious that it was time for him to go.

Tiger was one of four in that first litter that was born here

from a feral mama.  That litter came at a dark time for me

and I always considered it a gift....a bright, pleasant distraction

from all the sadness and stress going on in my life.

And he wasn't just a pleasant cat.  He was exceptional.

He will always be remembered for bringing less fortunate cats

home with him, as if he sought out needy ones and said,

"Come home with me.  Betsy will take good care of you."

Cocoa and Slate were brought here that way.

They have Tiger to thank for the good lives they have now.

He was a chatty guy, too.  His voice was clear like a bell

and he'd have a conversation with you, listening as you talked

and answering back and forth for as long as you wanted.  Our girl

cats were smitten with him.  And he was smitten with The Mister,

greeting him every night and following him around the house. 

Our hearts are broken.

He will always be missed.

I'll be back in a few days, when I've found my smile again.

♥ 

Home

Well, today was kind of a roller coaster with Tiger.

He hadn't been well for several days and I thought something

was wrong in his mouth since he had trouble eating

and then gave up entirely.  I thought I saw something under

his tongue and after reading a lot of doom and gloom online,

I feared oral cancer and even had resigned myself overnight

to saying goodbye to him today.

Well, the vet took a look and his mouth was fine except for

a bad tooth way in the back.  He missed it the first two

looks but finally found it.  What a relief.  A tooth is an easy fix!

I left him there with plans to pick him up a few hours later.

However, they called with some bad news with his blood work.

Feline leukemia. That was a shock!  The cats had their

vaccines back when they were spayed and neutered

at a different place where I was told that FL was practically

nonexistent now and rarely seen and that it wasn't

among the necessary vaccinations.  Obviously they were

wrong.  The vet said that they could have contracted it

 very early in their lives.  I remember 30 years ago with

 my first cat hearing how fatal FL was, and how contagious!

So I was particularly concerned with the contagious part!

But after talking through some things on the phone, it was 

suggested that letting him come home wasn't introducing a 

new virus.  After all, these cats have lived together for almost

six years.  And I was told that it isn't necessarily the death

 sentence it once was.  Tiger is young and otherwise healthy

and would probably do very well with a daily immune booster.

 So we are going to have the other cats tested, vaccinate

the ones that don't have it, and go from there.

He's not out of the woods, yet.  How he recovers

this next week will tell a lot.  But for now, he's going to

sleep off his anesthesia here on my lap.

Thanks for thinking of us today.  I'll keep you posted.

♥

Sick Kitty

Sweet Tiger isn't feeling well.

He stopped eating a couple of days ago....

looks to me like something is hurting in his mouth.

The vet was closed yesterday and booked solid today,

so we have an appointment in the morning.

He's chosen our bathroom counter to camp out on,

snuggled on a towel, where he can sleep undisturbed.

I'm forcing some water in him with a syringe.

 It's been a long time since I've had to do that,

but it can be done!  Say a little prayer for him, won't you?

♥

Slice of Life Saturday #2

♥

Slice Of Life Saturday #1

  

I thought I'd start a fun new post category!

No words necessary...just my Saturday in photos.

♥

Friends and Enemies

Mama Squirrel is still around.  She loves her sunflower seeds from 

the bird feeder and I put some unsalted peanuts out for her, too.

Tiger gets in the tree to catch her and I can't tell if they are

really enemies.  They come toward each other instead of chasing

and almost touch noses!

Shadow, on the other hand (oh, such an appropriate name!),

is much more sneaky about it all.  I know his intentions

all too well and they are not good!

♥

Rainy Day, Sleepy Day

♥

Tiger

♥

Cat Nap(s)

Zzzzzzz.

♥

Spring Weekend

1. The crab apple trees are just about to burst open!
2. Still cool enough for jeans but warm enough for bare feet.
3. Cooked some yummy meals.
4. Cut three boys' hair.
5. Enjoyed watching Tiger in the sun dappled grass.
6. And who Tiger was watching in the branches above!

♥

Puddles

Tiger was most amused at the snow 

that the boys tracked in this afternoon!

♥

Frosty Photos

♥