Last week I had to put Oreo, my eleven-year-old tuxedo-coat part-Persian, to sleep, and despite the bouncing presence of her other roommate, the young Siberian tabby, I still miss her.

I've written about her before, not always flatteringly, as "Princess Piddlepuss." But I guess her occasional troubles with the litterbox were early symptoms of something much worse: renal failure.

She'd been kind of lethargic for several days before Hurricane Gustav entered the Gulf. Then, on the Thursday night, I noticed her stumbling as she walked. On Friday, when we evacuated to Birmingham, I rushed her to a local veterinarian. They had her on IV fluids in their intensive care for that whole week, but at least she was eating and moving normally when we visited. They said that, with care, she might live weeks, or months, or maybe even a couple of years.

So for the last month Linda and I gave her oral medications, to which she'd object feebly, and fluid infusions under her skin, at which she sat quietly and purred. She stopped using the litterbox; I taped garbage bags under my desk, which she preferred, and thus kept my carpet clean. But she had to be coaxed to eat.

At last she refused to eat anything, and began to hide behind my desk. I knew what that meant. At our local vet's we were told that there really was nothing else to do; her weight had dropped from five pounds (she used to run about eight) in Alabama to just above four, and she was clearly feeling terrible as toxins built up in her system. Keeping her alive would have been cruel.

So I stayed and held her while they sent her off to the Long Sleep. She drifted off with the same placid trust she'd always shown in me: a good little cat who in six years never scratched or bit, and who utterly lacked that "I'm the Queen! Worship me!" attitude of most cats.

In a knick-knack shop on the Gulf Coast, before Katrina, I found a little ceramic figurine, a bushy-tailed black-and-white feline with green eyes and a pink nose. Naturally I bought it and repainted it a little so that it resembled Oreo even more. When her ashes come back from the vet's, I'll find a place for the container where her little figure can sit next to it. She was always a true housecat; not for her the wild outdoors. Keeping her home is the right thing to do.

I can't say that Oreo has gone on to her reward. That implies that this life was full of trouble and strife, and I'd hope that hers -- aside from occasional health issues, and having to evacuate for two hurricanes -- was as calm, peaceful, and easy as any cat could hope for. . . .
.

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-- Paul W. (The Benzadmiral)
('03 Buick Park Avenue, charcoal/cream)
Formerly:
'97 C230, smoke silver/parchment; '86 420SEL, anthracite/light grey; '84 280CE (W123), dark blue/palomino

I've dealt with this since I was 6 years old,both cats and dogs.

Time does not ameliorate the grief nor minimise the pangs of the inevitable,you did the right thing as a great companion{I won't say pet owner}should.

If anything the loss of a loved one,specially one so dependent upon human care makes one,I think,so much more tolerant and forgiving of humanity in general,at least I conclude my life has been enriched immeasurably by the cats and dogs who've chosen to accept me.

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Sorry to hear that, Paul. I know you'll miss her. I never thought I'd find myself as attached as I have become to my two cats. Someone came into my life who turned me into a real pussy lover, though.

Still, it's not always easy to do what you know is really the best thing for your little furry friends.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

There is something about the love and loyalty that a pet offers throughout their existence that leave a longing that you can never shake, no matter how many years pass.

I've had a few pets that have done that to me...and apparently my mom, who has a portrait of our favorite hanging over the mantle.

My wife is "pet-averse", so I can't bring a lively companion into our home...but someday, there will be a dog or cat that will stare at her and touch her heart like no human can...and she'll beg to take a new friend home!

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

I used to think cats were unfriendly and stuck up-acting. Now, I realize they're just different than dogs. They show affection in different ways, but they still show it.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Yes, cats show affection in ways different from dogs, and the ways can be different for each cat.

Arizona, my late great Maine Coon, was not a big one for lap-sitting. But when he'd cross a room, he'd often swerve out of his direct path, bump his big head against my leg, and then go on his way. When diabetes sent him to the pet hospital in 1998, and I came to visit him, he crossed the exam table, thumped that leonine head into my midsection, and left it there for long moments -- as if saying, "Oh, God, I'm glad to see you. Take me home now!"

Tatiana, the Siberian, isn't much of a lap cat either. But she loves to spring onto my chest when I wake up in the morning and scrub her head along my jaw.

Oreo was a true lap cat. But instead of marching in and conquering my lap, she always seemed a little tentative, as if she were saying, "Is it okay? Can I sit with you now?" She completely lacked that cat arrogance that is really (if you're a cat lover) one of their charms. It took me a while after I adopted her to realize it, and that became part of her charm.
.

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* *
-- Paul W. (The Benzadmiral)
('03 Buick Park Avenue, charcoal/cream)
Formerly:
'97 C230, smoke silver/parchment; '86 420SEL, anthracite/light grey; '84 280CE (W123), dark blue/palomino

Benz- I am so sorry Miss Oreo has gone to the Rainbow Bridge but know she is in good company and still watches over us here on the Forum. I have been in that position a few times and it hurts very deeply. When enough time passes perhaps the Siberian will up for a new roommate.

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"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

Sorry for your loss Paul. It takes a keen eye to determine the point that crosses over from care to prolonging suffering and a strong heart to make the difficult decision to let them go in peace.

I've had to do this several times in my life and mysteriously, if your heart is open, there's always a point where it's clear what must be done.

PS. Damn you Mistress for mentioning the Rainbow Bridge... I'm at work!

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-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

Sorry to hear that Paul. I've always struggled with accepting when "it's time" but eventually end up putting my own selfishness aside. I started off as a cat person, and still am, but my wife brought dogs into my life. They all have special parts in our lives.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

sorry to hear of your loss, my wife and I are both animal lovers that have no kids and love our pets as if they were our children. I do unfortunately know what you're going through and feel for you.

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1993 300E 2.8 185k miles
2006 Mustang Convertible 4.0 Eaton Supercharged

Man, that is tough. That was good of you to do that for her. Sorry for your loss. It is always hard to lose a pet, but some pets hit you harder than others. We had our pit bull mix put down about 3 years ago. I still get choked up over her. Something about complete trust and unconditional love that is hard to replace.

You should take comfort in the good life she had.

Having animals since I was 8, I feel for you. When I put Jasmine, my buff cocker spaniel down 11 years ago, it was one of the hardest things I ever did. I was with her for the injections. I brought her home at 8 weeks old and within days, she was house-broken, NEVER doing anything wrong in the house. She played fetch with the ferocity of a mad pit bull and had the speed of a jack rabbit. The gentlest of gentle, her best friend being my neighbors cat Spice, although suffering from a bit of "Gin Gin" syndrome as we called it (I Dream of Jeannie reference). Other than with one person in 10+ years, she always growled when she heard the mail man a few houses away depositing mail, the UPS Truck turning around in front of out house or the meter readers coming every month. Maybe it was a uniform thing.

One instance always stands out in memory of Jasmine. Soon after my mom getting ill, our nosy pain in the ass neighbors showed up on our front porch. A guy with this old witch was claimed to be the son of my mother's cousin from Texas, come to Jersey to live with us (me & my sister) and "help" with my mother's care. Naturally we declined as we had no idea who this guy was. I tried to keep Jasmine in my bedroom behind a closed door but she kept scratching at it. I let her out and had her on the chair with me in the living room as the 45 min conversation progressed. EVERY TIME this guy made a move or gesture, she growled at him despite my nudging every time she did. She NEVER did that before or after with any guest in the house. Always friendly and licking guests to death unless stopped.

I posted back in August about my current cocker, Harry and his knee issue. The right ACL surgery was in mid August and the left one will be done on Monday the 20th when we get back from LA. I think he hates us now because "someone" (luv ya honey mean it) wanted a kitten. Poor Harry now walks around with 10 week old Crazy Leo with orange & white stripes and green eyes, wrapped around a hind leg same way an adult would have a 5 year old wrapped around theirs. Never a complaint, never a growl or snap in anger. If anything I think he's too mellow when it comes to Leo and needs to kick his butt once or twice. He's only 10 weeks old so everything is something to bite, claw or scratch at. I'm kinda enjoying the target practice with the water bottle lol, but when it's cuddle time, he's either up against Harry's belly or on my chest... Yeah, the crazy little bastard is growing on me...

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Sharing my partner's 2012 Forte 5dr SX til I find my next 123 or 126..
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Do I miss being a service advisor ???