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Thursday, January 16, 2014

I have lost my Mr. Spencer!


I HAVE LOST MY MR. SPENCER
 
This is a very hard post for me to write.  I lost my sweet Aggie Mae 2 weeks ago tomorrow and during the night I lost my Mr. Spencer, my 11 year old cat that I love dearly. It seems that he never recovered from loosing Aggie. He loved her dearly although she never felt the same toward him outwardly anyway. Spencer was diagnosed last April with Kidney problems. He had been loosing weight since about September and we were worried a bit but he seemed fine. But after Aggie died he went down hill so fast. He stopped eating, he looked so sad and all he wanted to do was sleep. He didn't play with his favorite orange stuffed mouse or follow me around much. Tuesday, January 14th I took him to the vet. They checked him out and he was very dehydrated. They tried to get blood and he would have nothing to do with it so they wanted to keep him over night and give him fluids and get blood the next morning. Well, they put him under and he quit breathing, they got him back and the blood work came back better than in April but still bad. They called me Wednesday afternoon and asked if I would come in and see him, they thought he might eat if I came in. Michelle went with me and we got to be with him and hold him for a while. At first he hissed at me but when he realized it was me he came right over and ate, then kept laying on my arm and licking me. I felt so good and was so excited to go back on Friday and bring him home. Well, Friday morning I got a call from the Doctor saying he had died during the night. I am heartbroken. I know that I was meant to go see him yesterday and say goodbye. When I whispered to him that I would be back to get him tomorrow it was like he knew it would be for good, he went back in the corner and laid down. 

I know that people who don't like cats will not understand the sorrow I am going through. When you have these little creatures living with you for so many years they become a part of you and the family. They were with me 24/7. They were indoor cats although they liked to go out with us in the summer for short periods of time. They were always around, we would go down stairs to watch a movie, they would come and sit on our laps, we would go to bed, they would come in and lay on the bed with us, we would eat, they would eat, if company was over, they would come in the room and join in.
"Beware of people who dislike cats." - Irish proverb
No disrespect to those who don't care for cats. To each their own!







 Our first grandchild, Sydney, was born June 6th, 2003. What a joyful day for us. Well, the day after she was born, Doug went out to empty the garbage and heard a kitten crying, loud. He looked over the fence and saw a little tiny yellow tabby kitten. His eyes weren't even opened yet. We supposed that he was abandoned by his mom and the only way he knew to survive was to cry for help. Well, we brought him in and took him to our vet. They said we could try to feed him with an eye dropper but it would be like a new born baby and we would have to feed him ever 2-3 hours. I will admit I mentioned just taking him to the human society but Heather begged us not to. She said she would take care of feeding him at night and we helped during the day. Before we knew it he was a healthy BIG cat.  We named him Spencer Atticus, yes, after one of my favorite characters from "To Kill A Mocking Bird" Atticus Finch. We had Cally still and she tolerated him, but Aggie never did accept him. She would hiss at him and swat at him all the time. 

This poem is so appropriate with how I feel today. I am so grateful I got to raise Spencer and have him as my "sweet boy".

A Pets Prayer
If it should be, that I grow frail and weak,
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then, you must do what must be done
For this, the last battle, can't be won.
Don't let your grief stay your hand,
For this day more than the rest,
Your love and friendship stand the test.
We've had so many years,
What is to come can hold no fear.
You'd not want me to suffer, so
When the time comes, please let me go.
Take me where my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me to the end
And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you'll see it is a kindness you do for me
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I've been saved.
Don't grieve it should be you who this thing decides to do.
We've been so close, we two, these years,
Don't let your heart hold tears.
SMILE, FOR WE WALKED TOGETHER FOR AWHILE.
Author Unknown

"Happy is the home with at least one cat" - Italian Proverb

I love you Mr. Spencer and will miss you deeply!






4 comments:

  1. That poem is a tear jerker!!! I am thinking of you today. It won't be the sane for awhile but I think it gets easier. Love to you and Doug. This will give you both a chance to slow down and cuddle together and remember those wonderful kitties. Hugs!!!

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  2. That poem is a tear jerker!!! I am thinking of you today. It won't be the sane for awhile but I think it gets easier. Love to you and Doug. This will give you both a chance to slow down and cuddle together and remember those wonderful kitties. Hugs!!!

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  3. Jessica, you are so sweet. Thank you for the good advice. We are going to cuddle tonight in front of the fire and think of our blessings. I love you sweetie! It was sure fun yesterday and so good to see two of your sweet kids.

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  4. What a sweet tribute to sweet Mr. Spencer, he was so loved by you and Doug, Spencer was a lucky cat to have had you guys for his family...they really are our families, those sweet little furry friends! I'm so glad that you got the chance to hold him and give him some love yesterday, I know it made him feel at peace. Love you so much.

    Hugs and love,
    Barb

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