"Baby" Remembered Fondly and Never forgotton

by Mary in NC
(NC)

Baby (6 months before he died)

One day in June 2005,as me and my grand children strolled through a local pet store, we came upon some kittens for adoption.
They was the cutiest little tuxedo kittens I'd ever seen.
One of them in particular was VERY playful and took a huge interest in us by reaching out through his cage and grabbing at us with his paws.

Of course the grandchildren fell in love with him but I already had a cat named Smokey who was the BOSS of my house and hated other cats so I told the kids that adoption of a kitten was out of the question.
We left and went home but the kids did not forget the little kitten.
After much pleading and begging, I gave in and off we went to adopt this little kitten and I was hoping Smokey would be kind and accepting of this little newcomer.

Well, Smokey wasn't real happy but after a couple days of hisses and paw smacks, he took on the little kitten and soon showed signs of mothering the little fellow whom we named "BABY".
The kitten and Smokey soon became big buddys and Baby grew up his first year of life with Smokey.
When Baby was 1 yr old, my grandchildren moved away to Virginia and could not take their BAby with them as where they was moving didnt allow pets.
Baby stayed with me and Smokey and we was a small family.
I got involved in cat rescue and loved my 2 feline children " Smokey and Baby".
They and my rescue work was my life savers after the grandchildren moved away which broke my heart.
By the time Baby was 2 1/2 years old, I had adopted yet a few more feline family members.
Rocky, Ozzy, and Molly and we all got along wonderfully.
Of all the cats, Baby was a mama's boy.
He hung close by my side and slept with me faithful.
Then in early May of 2007, I noticed one morning Baby had vomited.
After 2 days of this , we went to the vet.

I was told he had a tummy virus and was given 10 days worth of antibiotic.
I asked for an X-ray but the vet assured me that was an un-necessary expense as since he had a fever it was surely a virus.
So, I took his word and off we went home to begin 10 days of antibiotics.
Unfortunatly in that 10 day span, Baby continued to vomit and refused to eat.
He would lay at the water bowl and lap water but not eat.
After the 10 days we went back to the vet and I begged for an x ray as this was NOT like Baby to refuse food or to vomit.
Afain I was told that he still had a fever so he wasnt over the virus yet and to go home and go back on the meds for 10 more days and all would be well.

Well, I was again begging to do an x ray as this was VERY unlikly behaviour of my feline friend but the vet yet again blew me off saying I was over re-acting so we went home again for 10 more days of meds.
Sadly Baby continued to go downhill the following 10 days and by this time he had been ill the best part of 3 weeks and had lost several pounds which is very bad for a cat and this time I went back for the third Vet appontment, thretening to call an attorney if I didnt get an x ray so reluctantly he did the X-Ray.
However much too late.
We then found the culprit.
Baby had swallowed a copper penny and it was laying in the pit of his stomach and he had contracted copper poisioning.
Emergency surgery was done (it was Friday at 5 p.m) and he was kept overnight for observation.
I felt hopeful since we had at last found the problem but mad as hell that he had been allowed to suffer and starve for over 20 days because the vet refused to x ray my Baby.
On Saturday morning the vet called saying Baby could come home and just to watch him but that he would soon resume eating normally after he got over the surgery.
I felt releasing him so soon (less than 24 hours after surgery) was not good but again took the vets word and took Baby home.
That Saturday night he was worse and very feverish, I called the after hour number but my vet was out of town and they suggested I wait until Monday to bring him in.

NO WAY was I going to allow this cat to suffer 2 more days so I called a good friend of mine in cat rescue who was also a vet.
I told her what happened and she told me to bring Baby ASAP to her office (8 p.m sat night).
Once there, she checked him over and said things looked VERY bad for Baby and we might lose him but she was not going to give up on him like his vet had obviously done.

She inserted a feeding tube and an IV and said she was going to keep him all weekend and give him 24 hour around the clock care to try to save him.
GOD BLESS THE VETS LIKE HER IN THIS WORLD.
On Monday she called to say his blood work showed fatty liver disease had set in due to his lack of ability to eat in so long but that the feeding tube MIGHT be able to reverse it if we was lucky.
I went to visit with my BABY and he knew me and perked up at the moment I walked in the room.
She said that he might recover better at home under my care where he would not be stressed so I agreed to take him home.
She showed me how to tube feed him and how to give him Sub-Q fluids around the clock to hopefully perk him up.
For a week after we went home he was perkier but STILL not trying to go to his bowl so the tube feeding continued.

It was now 5 1/2 weeks since his first symptom of being ill and he had lost 1/2 his body weight and was in my opinion "slipping away from me"
I would lay on the bed with him and cry and whisper to him " BABY, please come back to me" Get well and dont leave me"
Bless his heart, he tried to hang on (Im convinced to keep me from being so sad) but I could see he was not returning to his old self.
He would vomit everytime I tube fed him and he had taken on a glassy look in his eyes.

His cat mate "Smokey" knew something wasnt right as he took his place on the bed beside Baby and would not budge. Smokey even bathed Baby because he was too weak and un-able.
I went in to feed him on Thursday night and he looked like a zombie.
He had been being tube fed for 10 days.
He had a vacant look in his eyes and he cried out when I tried to handle him.
I then realized " Baby wasnt going to make it and all these heroic efforts was causing him more pain and suffering than he deserved.
I had to face the fact that I was keeping him alive for my own selfish reasons of not being able to let go. It wasnt fair to him.
I then called my friend the vet to tell her that I knew it was time to help him cross over and stop the suffering.
She told me to meet her at the office the next morning at 8 am and we would humanly euthanize him and stop his suffering.
I wanted to make the most of my last night with him so I took him to bed with me and placed his frail body on a comfy pillow beside me.
I wrapped my arm around his pillow and cuddled him and whispered to him all night telling him over and over how much I loved him and how much he had made our 3 years together memorable.
He would take big difficult breaths and try to raise his head to look at me. He was trying to confort me in his misery and then I knew what I had to do.
This cat was hanging on because I had not told him it was ok to leave me.
HOW SELFISH OF ME?
At 6:45 a.m I looked at him lying there struggling to look brave for my benefit and then I picked him up in my arms and snuggled him close and whispered in his ear

"Baby, I love you with all my heart and No matter what, I will never forget you and will always miss you but I will be ok and it is ok to go now and leave me behind."
So go now sweet Baby and mama will be ok.

At that moment he slightly lifted his weak little head and sighed softly and laid his head against me and I heard him take in one last breath and he was gone.
That sweet boy held on for many days and weeks for my benefit even though he suffered greatly and died needlessly.
He wouldnt leave me until I assured him I was going to be ok.
He was trying to look after me as I had done for him.
I had him cremated and his urn rests on my mantle along beside of my sweet "Callie" who died of breast cancer in April this year.
Baby would have turned 3 years old the day after he passed which was a terrible, un-nessary loss in my opinion.
If only: I had pressed the vet harder the first visit to do the X=Ray.

If Only: The vet had listened to me closer when I told him many times that this was not like my Baby to be ill and refuse food.

If Only, If Only yadda yadda but all the IF ONLYS in the world wont bring my BABY back.
The point of my writing this is:
You know your pets better than anyone.
Dont ever allow anyone to tell you that you dont know your pet because their life may depend on how well you actually DO know your pet.
Had I been more pressing about having him X-Rayed on the first visit, I feel confident that Baby would be alive today.
But I took the word and advice of my THEN vet and Baby suffered and died needlessly as a result.
I will never step back in the future and NOT be heard when one of my presious felines are in need of Vet care.
So all you feline lovers out there be advised.
Nobody knows your pets like you.
Stand up and be heard when they cannot express themselfs.
It may prolong your wonderful years together.
Rest in Peace my dear Baby and enjoy your eternal life beyond the Rainbow Bridge.
We will be together again one day.

Mary in NC


Comment By Kate
mary you did it again, I am in floods of tears. But i think it is a very good story to tell and one that i hope everyone who reads this takes heed to. A vet does not know your cat like you do and if they are a GOOD vet they will do as you ask not what they want, at the end of the day, it is your cat, your money and they are there to provide a service of care. If they do not or you feel that you don't have confidence in your vet, then move on. find someone else. thanks Mary