ON 7/15/06 WE HAD TO HAVEOUR PRECIOUS CAT SCOOTER PUT TO SLEEP. IT WAS SO AWFUL. IN 11/04, HE HAD LOST SO MUCH WEIGHT, SO WE TOOK HIM TO THE VET. HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ACUTE KIDNEY DISEASE/FAILURE. WE WERE GIVEN SPECIAL FOOD TO FEED HIM AND WERE TO GIVE HIM SUBCUTANEOUS FLUIDS. WITH LOVE AND LUCK, WE WERE ABLE TO GET HIM BACK TO HIS NORMAL WEIGHT AND HE WAS HIS NORMAL SELF AGAIN, PLAYING JUST LIKE A KITTEN. THREE MONTHS AGO, HE STARTED LOSING WEIGHT AGAIN AND BEGAN EATING LESS. WE TOOK HIM TO THE VET, AND HE WAS SO THIN. THE VET SAID IT WAS HIS TIME, AND TO TAKE HIM HOME AND LOVE HIM. SHE SAID IF HE DID NOT GAIN ANY WEIGHT, IT WOULD BE TIME TO LET HIM GO. WELL, HE STOPPED EATING COMPLETELY. AND WOULD ONLY DRINK WATER. THE LAST 2 DAYS, HE ONLY TOOK WATER BECAUSE HIS MOUTH WAS SO DRY. I CRIED THE WHOLE WEEK BEFORE, DENYING THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING. WE FINALLY CALLED THE VET ON SATURDAY, AND SAID IT WAS TIME. OUR HEARTS ARE BROKEN, AND FEEL GUILTY THAT WE COULD HAVE NOT DONE MORE. WE WERE WITH HIM TILL THE END. IT WAS QUICK FOR HIM, AND THEY LET US STAY WITH HIM AS LONG AS WE WANTED. THE PAIN IS UNBEARABLE. WE HAVE 3 OTHER CATS, AND THEY SEARCH FOR HIM, AND ARE GRIEVING TOO. WE MISS OUR SCOOTER AWFUL. HE USED TO SLEEP ON MY SIDE EVERY NIGHT, AND CUDDLE WITH ME. HE HAS CROSSED THE RAINBOW BRIDGE.

I had a cat with renal failure, too, in 2001, diagnosed in 2000. She survived 9 months with the KD diet and sub-Q fluids, and had a decent quality of life till the last week of her life, right after 9/11. She was to be be put to sleep the following day, but passed that night in my bed with me stroking her and telling her it would be okay if she left and waited for me on the other side. It broke my heart - she'd been with me since she was 6 weeks old, through several moves, including one to Japan when she was 14 - she passed at 17. It hurts so much, it's indescribable. You have my deepest sympathy, and please know that you did the best and most loving thing in deciding to let Scooter go. You and Scooter were fighting an uphill battle from the beginning, and he left peacefully and knowing he was loved. So many animals never know that kind of security. Scooter is at peace now, so your other cats need your love, and attention (which I'm sure they get anyway). One day you'll be reunited with Scooter, and it will be as if no time has passed. His spirit lives on, and always will. Take care - Barbara

I feel your pain and can't begin to tell you how sorry I am. Nothing like having someone else who is going through the same thing to talk to. Please visit my post entitled "Tomorrow's the Day" and read about my precious Dixie.

These precious furry souls are part of the family. Alot of people don't let themselves experience it and because we did, we are faced with this enormous pain but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Our babies were only put on this earth to live a very short life compared to ours yet they seem alot cooler about it than us. I have to tell myself that if they lived as long as we did, think of all the homeless ones there'd be. Not much help right now as I'm facing the loss of my Dixie Dog. It's like losing my 10-year-old daughter. I don't know how I'm going to make it through. I think this site will help both of us and I hope to see you back here.

I'll be thinking of you, Sue

My heartfelt sympathies on Scooter's passing.

You made the right decision--although I know this doesn't take away the excruciating pain you are experiencing.

You will be reunited with Scooter, and in the meantime he's in a safe place, in the realm where there's no distress or pain, and no sense of separation from you.

Let us know how you're doing!

Love and understanding,

Kathy