My Sully just died :-( ++Update and thanks= page 5++

[Stitchfans]

I am so sorry. We have 3 cats of our own so I know how attached you can become with them. I dread the day anything happens to one of mine.

 

[solferino]

Thanks everybody.

DD was really upset when we told her, as expected. We asked her what she wanted to do to say goodbye, and she wanted to draw a picture of him "playing" with the mice he loved catching; and include a small box of catfood so he wouldn't be hungry on his trip to find Marvin (a dog of ours who died when she was 2) and my late grandfather, who is allegedly taking care of Marvin now. She knew how much he loved hiding in the scraggly iris leaves by our steps and jumping out at us, so she pulled up some of those leaves to leave with the rose from her special bush.

She asked to see him before we said goodbye and wanted to hold him, but we explained that something happens to a body when it dies and it wouldn't feel like he normally does because of that. She instead blew some kissses and touched his incredibly soft and fuzzy fur. (she's 6)

My DH has been so good about this. He's kind of a tough guy and doesn't get weepy like we girls do, although he was clearly saddened. He's a good daddy too.

After we said goodbye to Sully we went to get coffee at Dunkies, just to get away from the house for a bit. On the way he brings up the fact that there is a new litter of kittens at my inlaws (nieces/nephews of Sully). (And believe me, after this one I am so bringing that barncat to be spayed, even if I pay for it myself. But that's a whole 'nother discussion).

He told her that if she wanted to pick one of those kittens out that she could. I was kind of taken by surprise, but I think he wanted to do it to give her something to look forward to. Thankfully they won't be ready until Thanksgiving time so *I* can adjust to not having the magnificent Sully here. I've got absolutely no problem getting another cat, at all, I just so was not expecting DH to mention it quite so soon.

So she picked out a wee little calico girl whose eyes just opened. She has a mark on her face that resembles the number 7. It goes across her forehead and down the nose. We're planning on calling her just that. Seven. There were 2 boys that look like Sul, but DD said she was afraid another yellow one would make her feel sad and miss him even more.

So over the next six or 7 weeks we'll visit her and get to know each other well. In the meantime I'm going to try to get used to not hearing his annoying scratching at the door when he wanted to go out or come in, how he slept on the back of the couch with all 4 legs hanging down and the way he loved sleeping on top of DD right by her head. He was such a cool cat.

As to what happened, well, the only thing I can come up with, based on the little bit of research I've done is he was probably poisoned somehow, perhaps getting a mouse or mole that had been baited elsewhere. We don't have a problem with mice, never have. And even if we did I wouldn't be using the poisons. What I've read matches what happened with symptom wise.

The pug has to have his stitches taken out Friday morning (he had entropion surgery 2wk ago) so I'm going to talk to our vet about what the symptoms were and see what he has to say.

Thanks again for taking the time to read and respond. I know I'm newer here, but am grateful you care about a newbie. DISers are awesome.

 

[Mimi Q]

Sorry for your loss.

 

[mousey]

So sorry! Its so tough to go through!

 

[nativetxn]

Once again, I'm sorry for your loss. It sounds like you helped your daughter adjust to this great loss.

Katholyn

 

[catsrule]

Thanks for the update on the wonderful Sully. Fur babies are wonderful and bring us so much joy. He is gonna be missed.

 

[minnie56]

How old was he?? Such a handsome fellow...thank goodness he had such love in his life...I have 3 kitties and know how it feels to have to say Goodbye.

He is romping up there and will meet you again one day!
Sending lots of hugs your way

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

a beautiful furbaby waits for you on the other side. He probably had a heart attack. I'm so sorry for your loss. May his memories keep your warm.

 

[Jeanny]

WOW, aren't 6 year old's so insightful??? again.

 

[kat3668]

I'm so sorry.... I am sitting here tearing up at all the posts... I'm sure he is in heaven chasing all those butterflies around!!!
You did such a great job with your daughter you should feel proud!!

 

[CookieGVB]

Sorry for your loss.

 

[TnTsParty]

So sorry to hear of you loss. I know too well the way it feels to lose a pet. My Shy-enne passed away in the end of August and I still think about him and tear up when I read about things like this. My Shy-enne was almost 14 (as a matter of fact he would have been 14 on Saturday!!)

Sounds like your dd is taking it well - to have the innocence of childhood again!! For her I guess its a good thing to have another kitty to look forward to. And it makes it even more special since its a niece/nephew of your Sully. It will take time for you to get over the hurt and loss of your baby but you will never forget him!!

Reading this is making me hug my other 2 kitties even more!!

 

[Jockaroo]

I am sorry for your family's loss. Sully was a handsome fellow. Hugs to you and your little girl.

 

[jenny2]

solferino - you and DH handled that so well! I kept meaning to ask you how DD handled the news that day. I'm glad to hear that Sully was laid to rest with the family present, and that DD now has a NEW fur baby to look forward to.

Ohhh... I can already hear the ripping apart of Christmas presents by those needle sharp kitten-claws now, lol!

Soooo... your in-laws have kittens? DH would KILL me,lol. But kitties are sooo cute! My Milo is my baby - he's older than my kids so he's my first baby - but DH is not a cat person, lol.

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

Your Daughter is an amaznig child. Bright and insightful. Sounds like 7 is going to have a wonderful Jr.Mommy to take care of her come thanksgiving time.

May Sully watch over you from Grandpa's lap.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Wow, your story made me cry. I'm glad your DD is doing ok after losing such an awesome cat. My twins lost our two German Shepherds when they were around the same age. My DD had brought a picture to school of herself with the first dog we lost and when the teacher later recounted the story of DD showing her friends the picture, she told me she cried herself that day it was so sad.

We also got a puppy a short time later even though we still had one elderly dog - she is the only dog now and is incredibly loved by both children. BTW, their grandfather is also watching our dogs at the Rainbow Bridge and we made a beautiful Memorial Garden in our yard where we buried their ashes.

Continued good wishes with your kitten.

P.S. I agree about the poisoning. Is it possible Sully got into some anti-freeze?

 

[solferino]

P.S. I agree about the poisoning. Is it possible Sully got into some anti-freeze?

Thanks for sharing the story your kids experienced. I didn't mean to make you cry though. Aren't great grandpas great at taking care of well-loved animals? aw:

When I was at the vet yesterday to get the pugs stitches out I was talking with him about it. He said in a situation as I described it, and how quickly it happened (less than 5 min) it was more than likely a cardiac event, such as a heart attack. He said it's more common in male cats, but 2 is quite young, but not unheard of. He said if it had been poisoning we would have noticed some symptoms sooner.

 

[BandGeek911]

I'm so sorry for your loss