Monday, April 27, 2015

14 good years

The Kittie Sitter
I'm not really feeling like doing a proper blog post today.

I've just got back from the vets and, having feared the worst, I've had my worst fears confirmed.

My big boy cat Cosmo has a large mass in his stomach. He's losing weight very fast because he's eating very little. When I look at this drawing it makes me realise how much he's lost. He's becoming a little boy.

We're hopefully talking weeks rather than days but who knows. He's 14 and would be 15 this July but I rather doubt he's going to make that birthday. We're not going to go in for investigations or being heroic. Rather all the focus will be on giving him a good quality of life for whatever time he has left. I'm going to let him go on for as long as he's still the cat I know and love and he's still purring.

One nice thing is he's forever immortalised in my book. He's the cat who pops up on a regular basis throughout my book - and he's a really wonderful "still cat" model. He was also the best uncle ever and loved looking after Polly's kittens.

I am, of course, sat here typing all of this with Cosmo sat next to me on his fleece - and tears sliding down my face.

I'm just going to make the most of him while he still wants to sit next to me.

27 comments:

  1. So, so sorry to hear this Katherine. My two boy cats are 10 now and I don't know what I'd do without either of them. I'm sure he knows he is much loved.

    ReplyDelete
  2. As a fellow cat lover, and as an artist who always paints with two cats at my side ofr my feet, my heart goes out to you. I hope you spend whatever time you have with Cosmos in the warmth of his love and companionship.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm so sorry, Katherine, I know how very difficult that is. Been there far too many times.

    ReplyDelete
  4. You are both in my heart and prayers. He's a magnificent cat.

    ReplyDelete
  5. So sorry for the illness of your kitty. Cats are such good friends or artists, aren't they. Glad you have immortalized him in your art. Peace, Elizabeth

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm so sorry to read about your dear cat Cosmo. It's the hardest thing about being a pet owner I think...my husband and I even wondered whether we would like to go down that track again knowing that one day the inevitable will happen. But the unconditional love our pets give us makes the journey truly worthwhile. I hope your Cosmo is comfortable for the time he has left... take care...

    ReplyDelete
  7. So sorry Katherine, I know just how hard this is for you.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh I am so sorry Katherine. That is so hard. He is lucky to have lived with you, and I wish you both well in this time you have left with him.

    ReplyDelete
  9. i am so sorry, we just lost our 14 year old grandmother cat
    the hole is HUGE
    i hope your boy fades gently

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Katherine,our pets are more than pets, they are dearly beloved family members and as such it is a terrible thing to have to go through. I wish you peace and courage through this time. xxx

    ReplyDelete
  11. So sad, make the most of him, so many animals have torn my heart apart through the years and it never gets any easier.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Many, many thanks. I'm so very touched by the messages I have received here, on my Facebook Page and account and from those people who have written to me personally.

    I did think twice about sharing at this stage - but he's always been a big part of my life online - always there. It seemed so very strange not to say something.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Heartbreaking. I'm so sorry. Xx

    ReplyDelete
  14. I feel for you Katherine. I have a dog almost 10 and I fear she will not last another year. I lost my last dog almost 4 years ago and still miss him very much. Be strong for him. Our pets are so intuitive.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I know your worry, sadness and fear as I recently experienced it. I'm a long distance SBA student and decided to work on a lily for my first assignment. My 17 yr old cat munched on a leaf. No big deal until she suddenly changed into a very sick cat. It took several days to figure out what could have caused her sudden decline. Lilies are toxic to cats, I now know. I know how how you must feel right now. I do.

    ReplyDelete
  16. May peace and comfort surround you both.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sorry to hear about your kitty but thank you for sharing the wonderful drawing

    ReplyDelete
  18. I am sooo sorry. Cosmos needs you now as you help him towards the light.Guide hm with love. Our fur family members are just that- family members. Take care of yourself.

    ReplyDelete
  19. As a lover of cats I understand the deep sadness you feel at this tough time. Best wishes x

    ReplyDelete
  20. I am so sorry to hear this Katherine. I lost my little girl a few years ago from a stomach mass - she was 19 but when she stopped being able to be a cat we let her go. Recently I found out that my little terrier has an aggressive sarcoma and, as even with intervention, the prognosis was only a few months we have refused an invasive and risky surgery and chemo to give him the best and happiest end of life. So I can empathise. Like you I have immortalised my animals in paint so have my feelings and their images on paper for after they have left me. Much love to you and to Cosmo.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I lost my Wendell almost 5 years ago at 14, also.
    Just broke my heart as he was that one in a lifetime cat.
    Sending love and hugs to you both.
    They give us so much :(

    ReplyDelete
  22. So sorry Katherine - I've been there and now my SweetPea is 11 yrs. old. You and Cosmo are in my prayers.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I am so sorry! I have been through this a few times. Ones heart brakes. All the best to you!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Very sorry about your kitty. I know this pain well, too.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I am so sorry both for you and Cosmo! We love our pets so much, perhaps with a better love than we love humans because it is so unconditional and the love we recieve is so strong and so pure. I sadly know the pain of loosing a dear friend. I lost my heart, my darling dachshound two months ago, seventeen years and four months, and the sorrow is still bleeding even though we have a new little puppy. I am not really very religious but I like to think that when I die I will meet all my loved animals again and there shall be no more sorrow.
    A swedish poet once said something like: "sorrow and grief is the best testimony of love". If we did not love we would not grieve.
    I do hope the coming weeks, even though hard and sad, will be a time for joy and love for you and Cosmo!

    ReplyDelete

COMMENTS HAVE BEEN CLOSED AGAIN because of too much spam.
My blog posts are always posted to my Making A Mark Facebook Page and you can comment there if you wish.

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.