Toonces
I know I owe you so many updates. So much has gone on lately that frankly it leaves my head spinning.
Right now it all really doesn’t seem to matter much.
Wednesday morning I knew my life was going to change one way or another. Life as I knew it would never be the same.
About six months ago my ‘sister’ Cindy and her husband Andy adopted out to us these two beautiful cats, Toonces and Jason.
We knew at the time that Toonces had a kidney issue which affected her weight and general health.
In the last week Toonces had seemed to go down hill. She would jump off the couch and lay in a ball on the floor for a good thirty seconds before mustering the energy to get up and walk away. Same with walking down the stairs. She would walk down the stairs and just collapse at the bottom for a minute then get u and walk away. It seemed like she had a challenge actually stepping into the litter box. She would still eat her full can of food during the day but now it took three sitting instead of the normal two.
I asked Cindy to come over and have a look at Toonces. When you are around someone or something every day it is harder to notice changes that take place over time. When Cindy came over her initial reaction to Toonces’ size and weight was pretty strong. It was obvious it was not in my imagination.
The three of us had just come back from an event with F.L.O.C.K. and Andy spent the next few hours working on Heather’s computer trying to figure out our wireless internet issues. Around 2am he had it done and we all had decided they would stay the night. They also agreed to take Toonces to the vet in the morning and see what we could do for her although options had already been discussed.
I woke up around 4:30 to get ready for work and around 5 I fed Toonces like I always do at that time. Our kitchen has a night light which illuminates the room as well as any good night light would including the area where Toonces’ food is. When it was time to go I walked over to the light switch to turn out the main light on my way out. Toonces stopped eating and meowed very loudly at me. This is not usual for her. I went to where she was and stroked her for a minute then returned to the light switch in another attempt to turn it off. Again she meowed at me. This time I had to turn the light off as it was time to go.
I wonder what she was trying to communicate to me? I would like to think it was something like, “Thanks for breakfast. Oh yeah, and for taking care of me. Have a nice day today.”
I turned and looked at her silhouette as I walked out of the room. I suspected it may be the last time I see her.
I got the call I was waiting for around noon. It was Cindy and I could tell instantly that she was crying. I knew what the story was. She told me the vet said maybe this or maybe that and cat’s can’t really demonstrate to us the level of pain they are in and sixteen years old and whatever else we already knew. Cindy said the vet said it may be time. Cindy agreed but wanted to hear me agree as well. Fighting back the tears that had so easily flown the previous two days when reality was setting in I said it was my opinion this may be the best thing for our little one.
Wednesday afternoon our precious Toonces was taken from us. I only had her for six months but had grown very attached to her.
I feel for Cindy who had the cat its entire 16 year life I believe. I also feel for Heather as this was her first real pet. The only solace I could give Heather was to remind her of the fact that sometime in the early morning after I left, Heather wasn’t able to sleep. She got out of bed and went downstairs and held and stroked Toonces for ninety some odd minutes. I had to remind Heather how lucky she was to be able to have that time. So many pets are lost everyday and the owners never have the chance to say good-bye.
I will never be able to express to Cindy and Andy how blessed I am to have them as friends and how grateful I am to have had the chance to take care of Toonces and Jason. As well, I do not know how I would have been able to handle that trip to the vet. As my eyes grow glassy even now as I type this and as they did several times again earlier today, it reminds me that I am not the bad ass I would have you all believe.
Our little Toonces will always be in our hearts.
Right now it all really doesn’t seem to matter much.
Wednesday morning I knew my life was going to change one way or another. Life as I knew it would never be the same.
About six months ago my ‘sister’ Cindy and her husband Andy adopted out to us these two beautiful cats, Toonces and Jason.
We knew at the time that Toonces had a kidney issue which affected her weight and general health.
In the last week Toonces had seemed to go down hill. She would jump off the couch and lay in a ball on the floor for a good thirty seconds before mustering the energy to get up and walk away. Same with walking down the stairs. She would walk down the stairs and just collapse at the bottom for a minute then get u and walk away. It seemed like she had a challenge actually stepping into the litter box. She would still eat her full can of food during the day but now it took three sitting instead of the normal two.
I asked Cindy to come over and have a look at Toonces. When you are around someone or something every day it is harder to notice changes that take place over time. When Cindy came over her initial reaction to Toonces’ size and weight was pretty strong. It was obvious it was not in my imagination.
The three of us had just come back from an event with F.L.O.C.K. and Andy spent the next few hours working on Heather’s computer trying to figure out our wireless internet issues. Around 2am he had it done and we all had decided they would stay the night. They also agreed to take Toonces to the vet in the morning and see what we could do for her although options had already been discussed.
I woke up around 4:30 to get ready for work and around 5 I fed Toonces like I always do at that time. Our kitchen has a night light which illuminates the room as well as any good night light would including the area where Toonces’ food is. When it was time to go I walked over to the light switch to turn out the main light on my way out. Toonces stopped eating and meowed very loudly at me. This is not usual for her. I went to where she was and stroked her for a minute then returned to the light switch in another attempt to turn it off. Again she meowed at me. This time I had to turn the light off as it was time to go.
I wonder what she was trying to communicate to me? I would like to think it was something like, “Thanks for breakfast. Oh yeah, and for taking care of me. Have a nice day today.”
I turned and looked at her silhouette as I walked out of the room. I suspected it may be the last time I see her.
I got the call I was waiting for around noon. It was Cindy and I could tell instantly that she was crying. I knew what the story was. She told me the vet said maybe this or maybe that and cat’s can’t really demonstrate to us the level of pain they are in and sixteen years old and whatever else we already knew. Cindy said the vet said it may be time. Cindy agreed but wanted to hear me agree as well. Fighting back the tears that had so easily flown the previous two days when reality was setting in I said it was my opinion this may be the best thing for our little one.
Wednesday afternoon our precious Toonces was taken from us. I only had her for six months but had grown very attached to her.
I feel for Cindy who had the cat its entire 16 year life I believe. I also feel for Heather as this was her first real pet. The only solace I could give Heather was to remind her of the fact that sometime in the early morning after I left, Heather wasn’t able to sleep. She got out of bed and went downstairs and held and stroked Toonces for ninety some odd minutes. I had to remind Heather how lucky she was to be able to have that time. So many pets are lost everyday and the owners never have the chance to say good-bye.
I will never be able to express to Cindy and Andy how blessed I am to have them as friends and how grateful I am to have had the chance to take care of Toonces and Jason. As well, I do not know how I would have been able to handle that trip to the vet. As my eyes grow glassy even now as I type this and as they did several times again earlier today, it reminds me that I am not the bad ass I would have you all believe.
Our little Toonces will always be in our hearts.