Velvet was quickly struck down by intestinal lymphoma, which probably started as a result of his IBD. On the "sickness" board I told about our sweet 13 year old Velvet. Abdominal fluid that was drained last week quickly came back in spite of prednisolone and a diuretic. We were planning on possibly trying a chemo drug in addition to these but we never had the chance to do it. I was up most of last night with Velvet and it was obvious that his condition was worsening. He was having trouble finding a position that would allow easy breathing with all the pressure from the abdominal fluid. This morning he was pretty listless and you could see in his eyes that he was ready to go. I gave him a painkiller med and fed him his favorite food, a pouch of "Upstream Dream". He never did stop eating up to the end. We made the vet appointment. Velvet was very limp as I put him into the carrier. All the way to the vet I talked soothingly to him but the slight stress of going made his breathing labored. The vet was wonderful and spent time petting and talking to him. I held Velvet on my lap while he administered the pink solution into an I.V. they had placed. They had a little trouble finding a vein due to Velvet's blood pressure being very low but the vet tech is excellent and they placed a lined with minimal discomfort. Velvet felt bad but he looked at me and actually purred a little and raised his chin while I rubbed it. I stroked him and talked gently to him while he slipped away. It took about 40 seconds because of his poor circulation. Velvet went peacefully. He may have lasted a few more days but would have been in increasing discomfort building up to pain if we had not euthanized him today. One thing I firmly believe in is that we owe it to our furkids to not let them needlessly suffer so I think we did the right thing. We kept Velvet as long as possible once the fluid started accumulating but when he began crashing last night I knew that our time was at an end today if I wanted to spare him agony. We kept up a brave front for Velvet until he was gone and then my wife and I both cried. We took Velvet home and buried him in a sunny spot in the back yard. He always loved to bask in a sunny window so I felt this was the best place for him. Now his pain is at an end but we are completely heartbroken. I feel like a part of my soul was ripped from my body when Velvet looked up at me and then closed his eyes forever. I know we did well by him during his final days and we made the right choice to end his suffering before it became too bad for him but it is so hard for us to bear losing him. The only solace I have is knowing that he is not suffering any more and is with all of our other furkids at the Bridge. Velvet was an incredibly sweet cat who loved us both. At the end I could see that on some level he understood we were trying to help him.

Ken Albin

As I read your words the tears are running............ our new little WeeBe has climbed on my lap & looked up at me with such a sweet face that it is as if she knows I am sad. She is after all, her Dad's dog... not really mine.

You have been so kind and supportive here for many of us and I hope that you know our thoughts are with you today.

Last night when WeeBee was on my bed being her happy, playfull self, I looked at Flossies picture and shed a few tears for her playful days with me were over. Only memories of her first 3 years where she too could jump on the bed and romp like that. She was able to play and walk again after that fateful day when her back blew out on her but of course not like "normal". Though she never knew she was crippled; she just adjusted.

My tears also were for the joy of having this wonderful little dog to spend whatever time we'll have with her. My thought was "what a grim existance it would be to not have her."

I know the pain and loss you feel but I also know you have had others, do have others and will more than likely have others come again into your lives............ again, what a grim existance it would be to have none of that in our lives.

I am so sorry about Velvet but you loved him enough to let him go peacefully. What a lucky boy he was to have you there for him for the good times as well as the bad times. May his memory bring you some comfort in the days to come.

Ginger

Hi, Ken, please permit me to offer you and your wife my sincerest sympathies in the loss of your beloved Velvet. Losing a beloved companion is never easy regardless of the circumstances or how long we have been blessed with the privilege of their company. The grief healing journey is never easy no matter how "experienced" we are in being furkid guardians. Thank you so much for sharing with us about Velvet, and please know you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

I am so sorry for your loss. I was just reading about her in the sickness support section. You did a wonderful job with Velvet. My cat Zorro passed away in June '08 from cancer. His abdomen also filled with fluid, they tried the predisone, it didn't work. They tapped his stomach twice and removed the fluid, but it came back so fast, just like your Velvet. It was a down-word spiral that was very hard to watch, your Velvet's story seems so similar. You did the right thing. Velvet is no longer in pain and at the Rainbow Bridge, happy and whole. Believe me, he knew that you were helping him. Before Zorro went in, I was crying so hard, I couldn't help it, I couldn't stop, and I was just staring at him, he was so weak. He stared at me, and a small little tear came out of his eye. I later found out that cats can do that, I never knew. Zorro knew exactly how I was feeling. He knew I loved him. Just like your Velvet knew you loved him so much.

May you have great comfort in knowing Velvet is resting happy, whole and healed tonight. They are probably having a big catnip party right now...

~NM

Hello Ken, I posted to the other before I finished reading.

Velvet knew he was loved. Very brave of you. I don't know if I could stand it.
Also what a great gift you gave. (even tho it was very hard) KNow ing he is in a new body, no pain, no suffering!!!
I am so glad you were there to give him comfort in his final moments.

It is never easy, but you know this pain all too well already.

Sending you many hugs!!!! (to you and your new angel Velvet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Hi, Ken

I visited in Sickness and read you had moved here because you lost Velvet. I am so very sorry and you have my tears typing this. We all know what an awful time this is but we also know we are never sorry these babies were a part of our lives.

I am posting two sayings I have read in this forum that always helps me when I really feel down. I hope they help you also.

One is: The pain of losing him will never ever be greater than the joy of knowing him.

The other is: I have sent you on a journey to a land free from pain, not because I did not love you but because I loved you too much to force you to stay.

You made the right decision, Ken. We really know down deep that we made the right decision when we did. Just because it was right doesn't make it any easier to bear.

Hugs and healing...and a special Hug to your new Angel, Velvet.
Judy

I'm so sorry for your loss of Velvet. You have peace in knowing you gave him a comfortable passing. It's heartbreaking, I know, but you did the right thing. No more pain. What a lucky cat to have had you and wife to give it such great care and love for so many years. Hugs.. Ann

Ken, I am very sorry to hear of the loss of your dear sweet Velvet. It's obvious, that you and your wife provided him with a loving home. He was very well taken care, of and you helped him through the health issues. He was one very lucky cat to have you to care and love him. Please be comforted knowing that he is now at peace. I hope that the happy memories will help you through the grief.

I'm so very sorry about Velvet, Ken. It's never, ever easy to make that decision, and yet it's good that you were with him during such an important time, to see him off to the next part of his journey, back to all his other buddies. Of course he knew and understood, because it was yours and your wife's love that gave him his 'wings' to fly. May you find a little bit of solace in that, too.

Ken-----This is all too familiar with all of us here----------Ken,you did not only the right thing but it was the ONLY thing you could do.Velvet is sitting on Gods lap now and is safe and healthy and best of all is waiting for you and your wife.Easy to say,hard to process.We will have one HELLUVA party when we get there and are with our kids again.Take care,
Bubba.................