One of my rescue kitties (from 1998) is dying...
Last edited Tue Aug 4, 2015, 09:19 PM - Edit history (1)
Coaxed them out from under a neighbor's deck way back then. His mother was a feral that we fed until she died last December. We had been able to trap Scarlet some years back, and have her spayed. The vet told us at that time that she had "been around the block several times". I figure she was around 18 years old when she left us.
I brought the litter in, hoping to rehome them. But after all the eye infections, shots, trying to socialize them to humans...well you know the story. I ended up keeping all four of them as inside kitties.
Noogie never did warm up to us, as his brothers and sister finally did. Always skittish, never wanting to be petted or held. He is a beautiful long-haired yellow and white calico.
The only female (Baby) died four years ago from FIV. According to the doc, it was probably transmitted at birth and was dormant until she got older. We buried my favorite of the group, BT last year also. I named him that, being short for Boy Tabby, figuring I wouldn't be keeping them, of course. BT was a joy...he would actually retrieve a small ball, drop it at my feet, and do a somersault in celebration. His record was 27 consecutive times. 
There will be one left, Elvis Purrsley is his name. From the beginning, he was the one that the others looked up to. Either that, or they felt he was just too bossy to argue with. The "King", so to speak. And I recognized that fact, even before I was able to trap them all. In fact, I used Elvis as bait to catch Noogie.
Anyway, even though these guys have had a pretty good run, it saddens me to let them go. They came to me shortly after a cancer diagnosis, and helped me to remember that the world did not revolve around me.
I don't have a pic of Noogie, but here is one of BT and Baby watching a hummingbird watch them:
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they take a piece of your heart with them when they leave 
Trying to come up with the words to express my sympathy without looking like an idiot. I understand how painful it is to lose a feline friend.
I sry.
Sending very much hugs.
You are a good person and those 4 lucky kits were blessed the day you took them in. Fifteen and 17 years they were and are loved and taken care of. In turn you too were / are blessed to have these creatures in your life. My feral, Baby Girl, just turned 9. I can't imagine my days without her. May Noogie go peacefully in your arms.
rescuers are such brave people and give so much of their hearts
peace to you
safe passage, noogie, and peace to you 
Maybe it's all your good vibes...who knows?
Noogie is back to eating, he actually took treats out of my hand. And...allowed me to stroke his head a few times. He is also eating soft food. He was more energetic tonight than he has been in a while.
He had been staying inside, but went out yesterday (Thursday) to enjoy the sun. My husband had built an outdoor enclosure with shelves that the kitties can access through a pet door.
Tomorrow, I will go to the pet store and get him so high-calorie cat food and try to put some weight back on him. I don't think he is done yet.
Thank you for all your kind thoughts.
Since he's older, he may be dealing with kidney problems. My old man Kitty has chronic renal failure and he's benefitted from adding slippery elm powder to his food to help with the nausea/stomach acid and I started sub-q fluid therapy which he's responded very well. Some days he won't eat much but others he'll be a clean plate kid.
All my my best to you. If he's got kidney problems, and there's no cure for that, there's many things you can do to make him feel better and comfortable.
It tears your heart out like nothing else. But you are a wonderful person for rescuing these sweet angels and seeing them through all the rough times. I love that picture you posted!
I was happy to see the positive update on Noogie - I hope he's continuing to do well. Every day is precious.
Sometimes words just fail.