Conference misery::feline_v1

3386.0. "Maggie May b. 15-July-1975 d. 3-March-1990" by YGREN::JOHNSTON (ou krineis, me krinesthe) Mon Mar 05 1990 10:08

Maggie came into my life as a grouchy ball of golden orange fluff.  Yes, Maggie
was a grouchy kitten already impressed with her feline superiority at 6 weeks.

She nursed me through numerous bouts of flu and was always solicitous when I
was depressed.  She knew when I needed to get up to go to work and escorted
me through my morning routine, in case I missed something out, every workday
morning for 9 years.  She was quite the gourmet and supervised me while I
cooked until 2 weeks ago.

Loud never bothered Maggie, but she didn't allow shrillness.  I cannot begin to
count the times she got nose-to-nose with that no nonsense look in her eye when
I misbehaved in this regard.

Maggie genuinely loved me and felt Rick had his uses [that warm lap was a real
magnet]; but the great love of her life was Teddy, a malemute/collie boy-dog.
From the beginning they were inseparable. He'd carry her off to chew on her head
and she'd purr louder than snoring.  Of course, there came a time when she had
to leave behind her childish ways and dry out [at about 10 months old]; but
they still played and occasionally slept together.

When Teddy died in the fall of 1984, Maggie was bereft.  Shortly afterward she 
began to become withdrawn and her kidneys began to fail.  She was stabilised
at about 20% functionality and was quite healthy so long as we watched her diet.
She was still lonely though.

In the fall of 1986, I brought Milo home in an effort to give her company and
found to my dismay that Maggie hated cats [as long as she had Teddy this wasn't
an issue].  He wanted a friend and she wasn't having any, so we adopted
Cardigan before Milo became totally neurotic.  As much as she detested the 'grey
babies' they were good for her.  She was top cat in the house and enjoyed
walking imperiously into a room, telling them they were scum and settling in
for a good nap. No fuss, no cat fights ... just her imperial highness letting
them know that _she_ had their number for taking advantage of the quintessential
sucker of all time [me].

A couple weeks ago Maggie started spending all her time either in the cellar
near the stove or on a chair in the living room.  She lost interest in 
supervising my bath and my cooking.  Last Tuesday she stopped eating.  I'd
made an appointment with her doctor for early this week, but Friday when I got
home she was severely dehydrated, glassy eyed and smelled vaguely rotten.

I spent the night downstairs with her petting and talking to her.  She was 
obviously in some pain, but she patted my cheek from time to time as if
asking me not to worry.

Saturday I took her in first thing.  Preliminary findings indicated that beyond
the dehydration she was also suffering from anaemia and that she had some
internal bleeding [the rotten smell in her saliva].  The doctor also was sure 
that tests would show complete kidney failure and liver damage.  We discussed
various heroic measures and their minimal chance of lasting benefit.  I decided
that rather than extend her pain, it was best to have her euthanised.

She and Teddy are together again now.  I have no doubts that I made the right
choice.

But I will miss her.

  Ann

    Ann,
    
    I am very sorry about Maggie May.  I lost my cat Hector from kidney
    disease on Friday.
    
    Helen.

    What a very touching and loving story about a beloved cat.  You
    definitely did do the right thing.  Prolonging the life of a beloved
    pet is for our own needs, not for theirs.  
    
    I too had to make a decision similar to yours in regards to my beloved
    Keisha, and know that I too made the right decision.
    
    It does hurt but time eases the pain.  It did for me.
    
    Sandi and 5 furry friends
    
    

    Lovely story, my heart is with you.
    
    
    L-

    Ann,
    
    What a nice story!  And, how lucky you were to have Maggie for
    so long, even after she was diagnosed with kidney problems.  (And,
    how lucky she was to have you!)
    
    My thoughts and prayers are with you.
    
    Barbara

    Ann,
    	Our sympathies. We seems to read more about kidney problems
    all the time.  We had our Doobie for 16 years, so we know about the
    loss of a good friend.
    
    Chuck, Jane, Peaches and Cassandra
    

    
    ann...
    
    we are very sorry, too, to hear of maggie's passing.  again, it's a
    tough choice, but one we make because we love our babies.
    
    thank you for relating her story to us.  sounds like she had great fun
    while on this earth...
    
    diane, stella & stanley
    

    Our thoughts and prayers are with you.  It is so very difficult,
    so hard to say good by, but then they always live on in our hearts.
    
    
    Giudi - Pippin, Gino & Stitch

    Maggie May's name has been added to the Silver Lining Memorial
    List and she'll be comemmorated with our gifts this quarter.
    Hope this helps a bit.
      With Sympathy,
      Nancy DC

    What a wonderful tribute to you best friend..
    Kate

    So sorry to hear of your loss.

			-- Julie