The Loss of a Pet

Hello everyone,

Well, I had planned my day to take Ishka to the Clinic for her annual bloodwork. I was so excited to finally have an update, I could hardly contain myself. However, my day as planned quickly changed with a heartbreaking twist.

Back to last night when I was visiting my mum and her beautiful kitties, we tried to cut Sacha's toenails. This has been done many times before, with no problem, but things were different this night.

As I held her in my arms she was really struggling, and seemed stiff in her joints. She was 13 years old, affectionate like crazy, and this behaviour was altogether new. Due to her struggling, I put her on a chair as I realized that she was having a hard time breathing. As the night went on, Sasha was having a hard time lying down, sleeping, and later was panting. I believed that it was her heart, but had never experienced this condition before.

As I already had an appointment to take Ishka in to the vet, both my mum and I went together. It was the family trip to the vet.
Two cats that were identical in colour and personality. One being 13 years old and the other 21.
I had actually picked Sacha up as a stray 13 years earlier, but ended up giving her to my mum, as Ishka was very territorial, and wasn't interestred in making another friend.

My mum stepped in and saved the day,( as mothers often do),by taking this little kitten into her heart and home.

Oh, and what a great life she had with two other companions to play with all day long.

Sacha was seen first due to the urgency, and then after that, everything seemed to happen so quickly. We didn't even have time to think.

The next thing I knew, was my mum saying that Sacha was going in for x-rays to determine what could be done if anything. It seemed like 5 seconds later when our Doctor opened the door of the room, and said "where's your mum?", as she waved for me to get her from another room. I could tell by the look on her face that something was wrong.

Our beautiful Sacha appeared to have had a cardiac arrest on the table, and there was not time to think about anything but to take her out of her misery. The shot was given directly to the heart to ease her pain, and then it was over. It all happened so fast we were in shock, as my mum and I placed our hands on her.

All we could do is say a prayer.

I am so glad that I was there to share that moment with my mum. It is one of the hardest things that we go thru in our lives, as many have experienced that moment when our heart feels like it could explode because of the pain and loss we feel.

It was a very surreal day. Such excitement on the long life of Ishka, while my mum's cat passes away in the next room. It was a bittersweet moment in my life.

Symptoms of the heart such as shortness of breath, difficulty in climbing stairs or, up onto a chair, and a purr that has a gurgling sound may be signs of such a condition and need to be addressed immediately. Animals suffer in silence, and observation of our furry friends is crucial. As mentioned previously our pets behaviours or actions will change to help us see. I would like to hope that if diagnosed early enough our furry friends can be helped.

Now it is time to grieve. To let time heal our hearts, as the loss of a pet is undeniably one of the most traumatic events one will experience in their life.

My thoughts and prayers are with you mum.
To love fully and unconditionally creates both pain and joy,but to not love competely is not truly living.

Thank you Sacha for your unconditional love, you will always be in our hearts. May you dance, skip and run with all of your friends in kitty heaven, and have lots of toys to play with!

Cheryl, mum, Callie and Sheeba.