hi... bad news today - my 16 yr old furball is terminal.....

[peacebird]

Shadow - he was a five year old cat we found in the local pound when we went to adopt a kitten.,,, Actually we adopted Shadow and Yoda - an 8 yr old cat - at the same time. The kittens were adorable little rambunctious furballs with lots of folks ooh-ing and ahh-ing over them, and then there were these two old boys off to the side. One, Yoda, was a purebred american shorthair softer than cashmere to touch. He had the big bulky shoulders and chest of a bulldog, with beautiful swirling patterns in his caramel and cream colored fur.
The other - a young stud of 5, was Shadow. A plain old orange striped cat with brown eyes and the loudest purrbox I have ever heard. Shadow earned his name because he is a gentle giant (over 20 pounds and no fat in his prime) and for all his size he is the shiest of creatures! Friends would never believe we had more than one cat because they never saw him. He only comes out for family, but for us he is a moochbeast - he drops his bulk on your feet demanding to be petted! sigh.
Yoda passed away 4 years ago now after a well-loved life with us. He used to stand at the foot of the stairs with a sheepskin toy mouse in his mouth and yowl in the middle of the night - not stopping til I would stagger downstairs to congratulate him on his catch... Thinking back I believe it was his game of proving he controlled us! After Yoda passed away maybe a week went by and then one night the yowling began again!?!
My teenaged son and I both wandered down to find Shadow with the toy in his mouth at the foot of the stairs. Guess he figured that's how the "top cat" is supposed to act - just like Yoda did.
Anyhow - today the vet said that Shadow's difficult breathing wasn't due to his asthma (I had thought maybe a new asthma drug was in order) but due to the fact one lung was full - of what he couldn't say. But it didn't really matter because there was fluid in his lung cavity and a large mass in his abdomin and another blocking the view of his heart in the x-ray.
I couldn't put him down because my hubby was out of town and would need to say goodbyte - so the vet gave him a couple shots to make him breathe easier and I brought him home and gave him tunafish. He is perkier now and purring loudly. Hubby arrived home a couple hours ago. If there is a kind heart to the universe Shadow will pass quietly in his sleep - knowing he is home, safe, and loved.
He is a wonderful beast, and he will be missed.

[malta blue]

1. So very sorry.

It is so hard.
:hug:

[Haole Girl]

2. Sorry...

I once had an orange gentle giant of a cat...amazing creature. He lives in my heart to this day. Hugs...:hug:

[peacefreak]

3. I am so sorry.

I am glad you & your family will have time to say goodbye. Whisper in his ear how cherished he is. Send him off to meet Yoda at the Rainbow Bridge. You will be in my thoughts.

[Guava Jelly]

4. I'm Sorry

:( just take comfort in knowing that you gave him the best life you could.
And the love is mutual.
When i had to put my last cat down I cried like a Baby.
I really feel your pain :hug:

[xchrom]

5. this is for shadow...

Poem For Cats

And God asked the feline spirit
Are you ready to come home?
Oh, yes, quite so, replied the precious soul
And, as a cat, you know I am most able
To decide anything for myself.

Are you coming then? asked God.
Soon, replied the whiskered angel
But I must come slowly
For my human friends are troubled
For you see, they need me, quite certainly.

But don't they understand? asked God
That you'll never leave them?
That your souls are intertwined. For all eternity?
That nothing is created or destroyed?
It just is....forever and ever and ever.

Eventually they will understand,
Replied the glorious cat
For I will whisper into their hearts
That I am always with them
I just am....forever and ever and ever.

Author Unknown

[driver8]

6. Peacebird, I am so sorry to hear this.

Shadow sounds like a wonderful cat and a much loved member of your family. Bless you for adopting Shadow and Yoda -- you gave them both a wonderful life.

My thoughts are with you, your husband and Shadow.