In Memory of Rocky

by Mary
(NC, USA)

June 6, 2010
Tonight is a very difficult night for me and I am yet finding it hard to sit and type through the blinding tears.
Yesterday morning I had the unpleasant task of having two of my feline babies put down and it is killing me to even walk through my home and not see them scampering about.
This Memorial is for My Precious Rocky

I rescued Rocky from under a bush in a terribly bitter Michigan Blizzard in the winter of 2005. He was almost dead from the horrible cold temps and upon arriving at the vet, was told he may not survive. But rocky was a survivor and a lover of life and he held on and survived his terrible ordeal and came home to live with me and all my feline family.

Rocky was estimated by the vet then to be only 2 years old. BADLY MISCALCULATED by the vet in charge!
That would have made Rocky only 7 years old now which I have believed to be true until the last year. In the last year Rocky had developed some bad arthritis in his hind legs and hips and tho he was a fighter, I could see he was sometimes in pain

Recently he began losing control of his bowels and was unsteady on his feet when in the litter box. Two nights ago, he slept at my head on the sofa and I heard him cry out when he would try to change sleeping positions. I called the Vet on Friday afternoon and made an appointment for Rocky To be seen Saturday morning.

I could see Rocky was suffering and had gone downhill rapidly. I forced myself to accept the possibility that I may have to assist my Precious Rocky cross the bridge into a life with no more pain, although I did not want to part with him.
On Friday night I tried to spend quality time with him as we never know how much time we have left with our feline children when they are ill.

At about 9 p.m Friday night, I heard a loud thump in the kitchen and looked to see another of my rescues (4 yr old LOLA), had fallen off the kitchen counter.
When I went to check on her, I found her dragging her hind legs behind her.
She could not walk. I was DEVASTATED.
She appeared to be in no pain and allowed me to handle her legs without any reaction or appearance of pain.
A call to the vet and I was told if she wasn't in pain to just bring her in with Rocky the next morning at 9 o'clock.

All night Friday night I couldn't sleep.
I kept asking myself all kinds of questions.
Would I be told Rocky could not be helped to cope with his declining health and would my Beautiful Lola regain use of her legs?
I watched them both like a hawk all night fighting back the need to close my eyes from exhaustion and fear. I spoke softly to them all night and reassured them both how much they was loved. I was afraid I would not get that chance again.

On Saturday morning I took them both into the Vets office and first we looked at Rocky's condition. things did not look good and Rocky was declining but when the test results came back I almost threw up right there in the examination room.

My Precious Rocky was not at all 7 years old as I had been led to believe, but in fact, was at least 16 years old!!!! His arthritis had progressed to the point that his knee joints had deteriorated and his ability to stand or even walk was what I was told to be a VERY PAINFUL task for poor Rocky. Then came the real bad news.
My Rocky had Intestinal cancer! Thus the diarrhea and inability to control his bowels. Suddenly, it all became clear.

The vet assured me that again, this was a very painful ordeal for poor Rocky and he was indeed suffering and it was not something a 16 yr. old cat would survive.
The vet looked at me and said: He is your cat. I know you love him but you must now decide how you want to proceed with treatment for this cat.
I closed my eyes and the tears came like a rushing wind and I looked at the vet and said : There is no decision to make.
I rescue animals to SAVE THEM FROM pain and suffering and abuse.
When I have done ALL I CAN and they are suffering and medical intervention is not an option any longer then I know what must be done.

The vet excused him self to allow me a few quiet, tender moments with Rocky alone.
I held Rockys sweet head in my hands and told him how much I loved him and how much happiness he had bought into my life in the 5 years that he had lived with me.
I thanked him for the beautiful memories he would be leaving behind in my mind and in my heart and I told him that I hoped he had known that I loved him dearly.

I cradled his now 4 pound body in my arms and cried into his soft little furry head and told him that my decision now was to continue my promise of a better life for him and deliver him from his pain and suffering.
Rocky looked up at me with his big yellow eyes as if to say :
He understood and was ready to go.
Then the vet returned with the Euthanasia drug.
I held Rocky in my arms as he drifted off to a final peaceful sleep where arthritis and cancer would no longer cause him to cry out in pain.
He crossed the bridge peacefully and quietly in the arms of a woman who would have gladly given her life to save him if it had been possible.

Rocky was always a survivor and a lover of life.
NOW he would be able to live that life pain free and would go to join his fellow feline house mates that we lost this past year (Callie, Salem, and Snickers).
I feel sure they greeted him at the other side of the Rainbow Bridge where they all scampered off into the sunset together.

Farewell, my sweet Rocky.
Although I am grief stricken and suffering without you here on the pillow at night, I know you are well cared for and knew that I loved you and will do so eternally.

P.S PLEASE look after little LOLA
She will need you by her side.

Missing you always

Mama (Mary in NC)

P.S.S I mentioned that I took Lola in Sat morning to the vet after a fall the same time that I took Rocky in.
Her story is also being submitted As I have sadly, lost her as well.