Gateway's final adventure

Goodbye, my little Fuzzy.

He started his day in the usual way... Begging for breakfast. Then, he went outside for a while. I saw him playing on some dirt piles when I let the horses out. He drank out of a puddle, and seemed to be having a great time. At about 8, he came in for a snack and then went to take a nap. Next thing I knew, I heard him growling/crying. I couldn't figure it out because he is usually very quiet. Well... He was in distress. He couldn't use his back legs. I knew from what the cardiologist told me that he had thrown a blood clot. It is a common thing in animals with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Off we zoomed to the vet. I thought they could give him blood thinners to help dissolve the clot, but as we went, he started panting like his heart was acting up. The vet told me that blood thinners might work, but they do not resolve the problem of the paralysis. They also do no keep more clots from forming. And, since he seemed like he was getting congestive heart problems as time went, the prognosis was not good. So, I made the hard decision to say goodbye to my little buddy.

The vets both cried too. They loved him too.

We sent him to be cremated, and he will come home in a couple weeks. We don't know where we'll put him yet. We're trying to remember his favorite sunning spots.

I am so sorry.

I could have sworn I saw him in the yard today. I had to look twice. It's weirdly lonely even though we still have our two kitties and my friend's three here.

Hugs and love from all of us. We all understand about the loneliness.

Today was details day. I called the cardiologist to give them the news. Fortunately, they were busy on other lines so I could leave a message. (No bawling on the phone.) And, I cancelled the prescriptions, which was oddly difficult.

Mouski is adjusting. He is playing with the visitor kitties. That will be kind of a difficult separation for him when they go to their new house in a couple weeks. GK will be happy, but he and Mouski will need to reevaluate their relationship.

I've always felt at times the loss is harder on them than on us.

Mouski seems to have come to terms with everything. GK stayed inside because it was cold last night. He slept on our feet. Mouski came up and tucked himself between our shoulders so he could use the pillows like we do. He purred all night. Maybe he's taking Gateway's role as "under the covers" kitty.

That's good. How are you doing?

Holding up. I had a long drive back from a friend's house today, so I could do a lot of remembering. I think I felt Gateway say it is ok and he is happy. I like to imagine him at the bridge with Sabi where they are both free of all their troubles that haunted them here. It is a nice image.

((((HUGS AND LOVE)))))). I believe it's so for all our beloved pets.

The cardiologist's office sent a card and a lovely little gift in memory of Gateway. Each person from the cardiologist to the receptionist wrote a note on the card, and there was a little packet of forget-me-not seeds included. Such a nice gesture from them. I have a magnet on my car to advertise for them. I would go back in a heartbeat (pun intended) if one of my animals needed to go.

What an incredible gesture.

OhNo Becky.......I am sooo sorry about Gateway.  My heart is breaking for you and family (I can barely see through the tears as I type this). I didn't see this topic before now, please forgive me.
(((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))

Gateway's ashes came back to the vet's today. I'll pick them up tomorrow.

We picked the perfect spot for him. He loved to stay between our gray dogwood bush and the cutest little canning shed from 1902. We will put him in his favorite spot.

Gateway came home today. He is in a very nice box with a heart and a paw on it. It came in a beautiful velvet bag with a nice embroidery saying about meeting at the Rainbow Bridge. The lady who does this also included a poem in a nice envelope. Our vets were so nice to recommend her. We are going to have his little ceremony this weekend when the weather is supposed to be lovely.

We will keep you in our thoughts.

We had a nice little ceremony yesterday. The weather was chilly but beautiful. He is resting under his favorite bush near the canning shed. Right now, the bush doesn't have any leaves, but the branches are beautiful. He had good taste. Gray dogwood... (gray dogwood)

It sounds lovely. If you remember send us a snap when it leaves and buds out i the spring.

Yes, please. I think he'd be glad you picked that spot for him. I know he's at the bridge now with Sabi, Konan, and all the other furbabes you've known and loved....having fun while waiting to greet you at the gate, going into heaven forever together.

It's actually an evergreen winter-flowering bush. I'll try to take a picture between rain showers today. Sigh... More rain.

Overcast and cold. At least it's dry.