Monday 7 January 2013

A Very Fine Cat Indeed

This is a sad post, but I want to write it anyway.

 
Today our dear, beloved cat Sherlock fell peacefully asleep, after struggling with health problems for some weeks.

We will miss him sorely.  He was beautiful, gentle, soppy, sweet, friendly, curious, happy, demanding, grateful, good company, soft, fluffy, cuddly, funny, sometimes grumpy or sulky, always a real Cat.  He was our pet, our friend.  He was a paid-up member of our Family and we all loved him very much.

Sherlock had been receiving treatment from the vet for kidney problems, for a couple of years.  He also had high blood pressure, so there were tablets for this.  Recently he began to have daily painkillers to help him with arthritic pain in his back legs.  But otherwise, once the medicines were working effectively, Sherlock was a healthy, happy, normal cat of 15 years old. 

However, in October we noticed that he had started to chew at his tongue and/or stick it out sometimes, as if there was something bothering him.  When this didn't improve, I mentioned it to the vet at his routine blood test appointment.  She said that perhaps he had a small ulcer on his tongue and we should keep an eye on him, but return to the vets' if it didn't improve after a few weeks.  He also seemed to have conjunctivitis, as his right eye was watery and sticky, so she gave us drops for this.

The tongue chewing never really stopped, but it did improve, so that he did this quite rarely.  The eye problem cleared up at first, but then seemed to come back again.  I used the remainder of the eye drops, which did help.  However, Sherlock then began to sneeze, sniff, lick his nose, groom his face and the eye flared up again, becoming runny and sore-looking.  So we went back to the vets' in mid-December.  The vet thought he might have cat flu, but was a bit concerned because the side of his face seemed to be swollen, although it was not painful. She gave him an injection of long-acting antibiotics, more eye drops and said that if he didn't improve, we should bring him back again.

Over Christmas, Sherlock seemed happy enough, though not too keen on a lot of company at once.  He hid himself upstairs when all the family were here - but that wasn't too unusual, since he often did this when the small children were around (he was never fond of babies).  He was eating well, playing his "morning game" (James giving him his meds, by rolling the tablets along the floor for him to chase and eat), exploring outside, drinking water - generally being "Sherlock", except that he was perhaps a bit more sleepy than usual. 


But his face didn't improve. His eye didn't get better.  If anything, the swelling was a bit bigger.  Perhaps he had an abcess in his mouth or sinuses?  We made another vet appointment after Christmas, to see the "eye expert" at the vets', who knows the most about eyes, faces etc.   He had as good a look at Sherlock as he could, considering that Sherlock - our gentle, soft, silly old cat - was swearing and hissing at him before his carry-box was even placed on the examining table, for us to open it.   It was agreed that, although the facial swelling didn't seem to hurt, it did need examination under anaesthetic.

Last Wednesday evening we dropped off Sherlock for an overnight stay in the vetinary hospital.  He was given extra fluids, to support his kidneys (as happened when he had his teeth done in March), then on Thursday he was sedated and examined. 

The vet called me, while Sherlock was under the anaesthetic, to say that it was a tumour.  The tumour was in the side of his face, had grown behind his eye - which was causing the eye problems.  It was also growing into the roof of his mouth.  It was inoperable and Sherlock would die from it sooner, or later. 

The decision was to bring him round and take him home to be nursed.  He hadn't been showing symptoms of pain or unhappiness before the vets' visit, so I thought it best to give him the chance to live as long as he could; so long as he was able to still enjoy a good enough quality of life to make being with us worthwhile.  We all discussed it and felt that, as long as Sherlock was not in pain, unhappy, suffering, we would care for him and nurse him. 


That was last Thursday.  He came home, seemed glad to be here and pottered about for a couple of days.  However, he didn't seem to want to eat very much and didn't really bounce back from the anaesthetic (the vet said today, that he would have felt so much better in March, after painful teeth had been removed, that he picked up quickly and ate well because it no longer hurt; this time eating wasn't so attractive, he felt tired and unwell, so he didn't recover well). 

By Saturday Sherlock was rather subdued.  He started spending more time sleeping and less time in our company.  He was less keen to go out.  On Saturday he ate almost nothing, except a little tuna and drank very little, except for his morning "shower" - where he would drink the water from the shower tray - and some spring water from the tuna can. 

On Sunday he was more subdued still and in the evening it became obvious he was suffering from serious constipation and pain in his abdomen, pacing around, crying etc.  We did what we could to make him comfortable.  Eventually he settled down to sleep and we left him in peace for the night.

This morning, Davey was up at 5am, for a business trip.  He messaged me to say that Sherlock had not stirred from his bed - which he would normally do, so he could sit next to Dave while he drank his morning coffee.   When I went down, he was still on his bed and didn't want to get up. 

I warmed some skimmed milk and syringe-fed it to him.  After that, he got up and stretched, took a bit of a walk around, had a short trip out the back door, then drank some tuna-water, before returning to his bed.  He was obviously ill and very dehydrated.  I rang the vet as soon as they opened for the day, then took him down to see the same vet as last week.

I had hoped that they could help him; that the constipation could be solved with a tablet or injection and that they could perhaps put him back on a drip for a day or so.  I hoped to bring him home and keep him well cared for, while he recuperated.  After all, he was fairly chipper when he went to the vet last week, so he could probably pick up okay and be with us for a while yet.

The vet was very kind, but explained that Sherlock's kidneys were failing.  He would be feeling horribly ill - which was borne out by him growling and moaning if we touched him too much.  In order to sort him out, they would have to give him more anaesthetic, which would kill him, as his kidneys couldn't take it.

I had to make the heart-breaking decision to let him be put to sleep this morning.  We decided on an injection, rather than using a catheter in his arm, as that would be distressing and undignified for him.  It would take longer, but I wanted him to die with dignity intact, with someone who loved him close by, to stroke him, talk to him, tell him how much he was loved, what a special and wonderful cat he was, how we would miss him. 

So that is what happened.  He had an injection and drifted into a gradually deepening sleep.  I stayed with him until he was gone, then covered him with his soft blanket and left the vets by the back door.  They were so kind; the bill will be sent on later, they will arrange a cremation and we will receive his ashes, so we can scatter them in his favourite part of the garden.

 
I miss him already.  At lunch time I looked for him, to give him his food - no Sherlock.  When I sat down to work, I looked to see if he was in his favourite spot on the back of the sofa - no Sherlock.
Those who've lost a person or pet who they loved, will know what I mean (Sherlock was a Person to us, not "just a cat").  There's a hole in the family now. 

The comforting thing is that we have lovely memories, photos and stories about Sherlock, that we can look at, read, talk about.  He'll never be forgotten and I hope that he'll be glad to see us again some day.

* * *

In Memory of Sherlock Gillum
 
who peacefully fell asleep
10am, Monday 7th January 2013,
aged almost 16 years
 
Much loved, much missed.
 
"A Very Fine Cat Indeed"
 
* * *

33 comments:

  1. Oh no :( i am sorry aunty. Thinking of you all. We all loved sherlock (especially mimi) x

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  2. sad news Liz sending hugs xxx

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  3. I know exactly how you feel for I have lost beloved cats myself, and Rudi is now 15 and I'm not sure how much longer I will have him.

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  4. I'm so sorry for your loss - pets are indeed members of your family and you grieve for them as you would any family member.

    All the best

    Kathyk

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  5. Oh Lizzie - how sad - what a well loved cat he was. He is at peace now and pain free. Hope your photos and memories help you through this sad time.

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  6. Oh lizzie. I am so sorry. You wrote some beautiful words for him. Sherlock will be missed.

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  7. Isn't it hard when an elderly pet starts to decline in health. RIP Sherlock, he was obviously a a much loved cat who live a long and happy life.
    Thinking of you xx

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  8. So sorry, Your dear Sherlock has left you with lots of lovely memories.

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  9. It's never an easy decision, is it, Lizzie? I hope the happy memories don't take too long to edge out the pain.

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  10. Oh Lizzie I'm so sorry to hear this, pets bring us so much joy and love, but I do find the pain of them leaving so hard to bear. Thank you for sharing your story with us x x x x

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  11. I'm so sorry, Lizzie. Sherlock looks like he was a wonderful cat, and I know the hole these friends leave behind. Sending hugs - xox

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  12. I am sorry Lizzy but it is all part of being owned by a pet. I hope the paid fades and you begin to feel a little better soon.

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  13. So sorry for your loss. I hope your fond memories will bring you all comfort at this hard time x

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  14. Oh I am so sorry Lizzie! *hugs* This is a beautiful tribute to him.

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  15. Lizzie,
    I'm so sorry for your loss. I know what it's like to lose a feline friend and it's truly heart-breaking. I hope you enjoy all the many memories you have of him.

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  16. Im so sorry for your loss, Hoping the pictures and memories help ease the horrid pain at the missing patter of kitty paws. Sherlock is still right by yourside and will never leave you.

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  17. oh no poorly Sherlock. He was a beautiful cat. Reminds me so much of what happened to Holly last summer. Maybe they will become Heaven friends and talk about us blogfriends until we can get there and have them with us again,
    Lots of love Jo and Willow xxxx

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  18. Aw lizzie, your post brought tears to my eyes. I'm glad you had so many wonderful years with him and I'm sure you'll always remember him with great fondness. Hugs xxx

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  19. Lizzie - so sorry to hear about poor old Sherlock. A beautifully written account of his last days, your efforts to care for him and a lovely tribute to a handsome member of the Gillum family. {{hugs}}

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  20. Lizzie,
    My heart goes out to you. Sherlock was obviously well loved and cared for; that's all our pets ask of us, I think. Sending lots of good wishes your way,
    rinda

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  21. So sorry for the loss of your beloved cat. It sounds as if you gave him such loving care right to the end -- he was very lucky to have you. ~ Laura

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  22. oh lizzie so sorry to hear of your loss. Sherlock sounds like the perfect cat. love to you all x

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  23. Oh, Lizzie, I am so sorry! I'm sitting here with tear streaming down my cheeks. It's so painful to lose a pet we love. Sherlock was a lucky cat to have been loved by such a nice family. xo

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  24. I'm so sorry,Lizzie....sending hugs your way.

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  25. Oh Lizzie - reading this with my snoring cat beside me on the sofa, brought me to tears. Our two are millennial babies - so thirteen this year, not much younger than Sherlock. But what more could be said than "A Very Fine Cat Indeed" :(

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  26. I'm very touched by all these kind messages. Thank you.

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  27. I'm so sorry to hear this sad news - thinking of you and sending love and hugs xx

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  28. So sorry to read this Lizzie...your beautiful post has moved me to tears...pets really DO become part of the family!
    Alison xx

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  29. I'm really sad on reading this, Lizzie, and thinking of you all. It has clearly been a sad and difficult time, mixed in with some happy moments ... How wonderful that Sherlock was cared for and loved so much.

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  30. Oh Lizzie! I've come to this post late & my heart goes out to you! I've been there myself & it never gets any easier! Sherlock certainly was a very fine cat & was so lucky to be part of a loving & caring family...but I know that he leaves a huge hole! Fill it with all those fond memories & he'll always be there with you! {{hugs}} x

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  31. My heart goes out to you Lizzie. This is a moving account full of love and family. I know that some weeks have past but also know that it takes a long time before it doesn't hurt to miss a loved animal companion - they really are members of the family. (()) x

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