vilakins | Goodbye, little grey friend

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claudia

Goodbye, little grey friend

We took Claudia to the vet yesterday afternoon for the last time.

She had gone downhill very fast since the weekend, when we saw her jumping up onto the deck railing, and coming to greet visitors in her friendly, eager way. She stopped eating on Monday and became very weak and dehydrated and was finding walking increasingly difficult, but her last few days were the best we could give her.

She spent her last three nights in bed with us. She hadn't come upstairs for a couple of weeks, but came meowed to be lifted up on the first night and slept between us. The next night we took her bed upstairs, and she actually jumped into bed (not that well, but successfully) with me and spent the night snuggled against my arm. The last night, she was between us again.

Yesterday was a brilliantly sunny winter's day, and I expected her to spend it all borrowed into her bed as she had been doing, but she surprised me by getting out the cat door when I wasn't looking and sitting in the sun in the garden. The cubs and I stayed out there with her for a while, then she made her slow way back inside for a drink, then to her heatpad in the TV room. I thought she'd stay there, but I could see she wanted to jump up beside me, so I lifted her into a snuggler and she spent most of the day there in the sun beside me, curled up peacefully while I talked gently to her and stroked her sweet head.

We took her to the vet in her bed while it was still sunny and bright.

I miss her so much, but given her health and frailty, it's much easier to bear than Tessa's sudden passing.

She was a lovable, funny, and quirky cat--as they all are--and Greg and I have been remembering and talking about all the things she did and liked.

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It's hard to lose a beloved animal, but it sounds like this was the best way.

I think so. I think she knew too; animals know when the end is coming.

I'm very sorry about Claudia. It sounds like she had a happy life and as good an end as you could give her.

I think it was. She had a lovely last few days with lot of attention and love.

::hugs you lots::

I'm so sorry. I will miss her a bit too, thank you for sharing her with us through stories and pictures.

I was thinking about the "Claudia in the sky with rain clouds" picture I draw in August 2007; she was already very light then because we used to joke about her floating away into the sky like a little grey cloud. When she was diagnosed, before that, they gave her 2-3 years, and I think we got the maximum. This was a good thing; she was still active and enjoying life right up almost to the end.

*is crying*:( poor little thing.

I had a dream about Claudia after your last post about her, and she was sitting in the sunshine in your garden and making that face she does in the plush icon. I am glad that's how she spent her last day.

*hugs you so hard*

She was making that face! She loved sitting out there in the sun.

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snowgrouse.livejournal.com - 2009-06-18 21:28 (UTC) - Expand

I'm so sorry. *hugs*

Thanks. [hugs back]

*Hugs* I can only think that Claudia and Tessa are happily together again; they were such a loving pair. *more hugs*

That's what I hope. :-)

Poor you, but at least you were able to help her enjoy her last days.

We were, and that's a big comfort.

{hugs}
{hugs}
{hugs}

Thanks. [hugs back]

Oh, I'm so sorry. She looked like such a pretty cat.

She was: all soft velvety pewter. She had heaps of personality too.

I am so sorry.

*Hugs*

I'm glad her last days were good ones.

Thank you. It's a comfort that we were able to make her happy even though she can't have felt very well. [hugs back]

So sorry to hear that. Rest in peace, Claudia. :-(

I always imagine them in a garden. I think it's from a book I read as a child, but surely they have souls: they love and grieve too.

*hugs*

Thanks. [hugs back]

I'm so sorry. I've been wondering about her the last few days, and I'm glad you were able to make them such loving ones.

It was a comfort that we could.

*hugs* My sympathy to you and Greg. I know how much Claudia meant to you.

I'm glad you got to spend the last several nights in each others company and that she got a last day in the sunshine.

I know it doesn't make it easier but you have my sympathies and my thoughts.

Thank you. [hugs] I know you lost a beloved companion too not that long ago.

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daiseechain.livejournal.com - 2009-06-19 12:58 (UTC) - Expand

I'm so sorry.

Thanks.

My sympathies, it sounds as if she had the best last days you could give her and now she is with Tessa doing every thing they did as kittens together.

I so hope so!

*hugs*

I'm glad to know that you were able to give her last days full of sun and snuggles.

[hugs] It was a great comfort that we could. She was so weak by the end, but she still knew we were there and it made her happy.

*hugs*

What wonderful final days you gave her; peace and love surrounding her.

I'm very sorry for your loss, and hope she is cuddled now with Tessa.

:-) Me too.

Oh, Nico, I'm so sorry. She was a lovely cat. You and Greg are in my thoughts. x

Thank you. She was a huge part of our lives, as was Tessa. The cubs and Vic don't fill the gap, but they do help.

Your home won't seem the same without Claudia around. I looked at your 'we're so plush' icon you used earlier and it's very familiar - strange to think that neither cat is here any more.
I've enjoyed looking at my previous posts about Skiffle, and remembering things I'd forgotten. You've got plenty about your girls here too, and Greg, who shares your memories.

love and hugs to you and yours

We've been talking a lot about her, and we still talk about Tessa too, esp when one of the cubs does something they liked doing.

Thank you. :-)

*hug* You are obviously a loving and responsible owner. x

Thanks. [hugs back]

Oh poor Claudia =( I'm glad she had a peaceful passing and she had lots of love around her.

She did.

*HUGS*
To you and Greg and ear scritches to Ashley, Jasmine and Vic. You must all be missing her.
Not unexpected news after your last post, but it still must have been hard for you.

She got her last day in the sun amid those who loved her.

[hugs back] It was hard, but also much easier than with Tessa because we were able to spend extra time with her in the last few days, and say goodbye.

I'm so sorry. Her last days sound wonderful and I know how much you miss her. Her precious memory will always be there. *Hugs* and blessings.

It will. I have never forgotten any of my cats, and never stop missing them either. It's a small price to pay for years of love and joy though.

Another star has lit the sky in kitty heaven.

Yes, I'm sitting here crying. She was such a lovely furperson, everyone who ever heard about her will miss her.

She was a darling, and so brave as she stopped being able to do things as well. She was still pretty active right up till the last few days, so she had a long and happy life.

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