Pet Care

Grieving for the loss of a Pet.

We gradually introduced him to our other resident cats but Trundles because of what had happened to him never mixed with them. He learned to use the cat door and if the weather was good sometimes used it. We never left him alone outside, his partial blindness and deafness made the outside world a far too hazardous place. But, he loved us, he purred a deep happy purr, he "stomped" his feet as happy cats do and in general had a quality of life as good as his dreadful injuries allowed.

About fifteen months after we had first taken him in, all of a sudden he had a bad epileptic fit, a few hours later followed by another one. We rushed him to the vet, at midnight on Sunday and Tim treated him as best as he could. Trundles pulled out of it after 4 days and our normal life with him resumed, that is, till last week.

Another epileptic fit hit him on Monday and again we rushed him to the vet. Tim gave him medication but warned us that because of his history we should not be too optimistic. Another fit hit him on Wednesday and we decided that for his sake the time had come that we should let him go to heaven. At the surgery, Trundles decided that he would walk around the place and once more we decided to give it another try. Now, I must stress that he was not in pain, if he was it would have been another matter altogether. But, on Saturday morning another fit hit him. It was then that we decided, based on this input that his quality of life was now too low and the risk of him getting a major brain haemorrhage was too great.

Trundles died peacefully in our arms, I held him while he was left to start his journey to a new life and world, one where he is whole again, with all his senses, a world of happiness and light, one where he plays to his hearths content.

I have told you his story in detail, so you could understand how very much we loved him. He was like one of our children to us, and their loss would have been felt in the same way. In the week that he is gone now, I have reflected on his life and our decision to let him travel the new road. I feel comforted that it was the right thing to do, but it was hard. Only his deep love for us, and our love for him, gave us the courage to do what we believed was best for him.

You the reader will perhaps have to make the same decision, if you have a pet. Think of your pet first and foremost, not about how difficult it might be for you to continue without him or her. Your companion gave you unselfish love and companionship, now he needs you to help him on his last journey. We believe that he will wait for you on the other end.