Styx

[Hepcat]

my girlfriend volunteered for a cat rescue/adoption organization for a few years....

Good for her!

What's been particularly tough these last two days is when The WOMAN breaks down and starts weeping over Styx again, Deuce comes up from wherever and attempts to comfort her! Here are a few shots of Styx and Deuce together in happier times:

[Count_Zirock]

I can't imagine the agony of knowing you're going to lose another furry companion so soon after Styx. I was so relieved that I had Bella already when we learned that Ignatz had terminal cancer. He only lasted four months after his diagnosis, but most of that time he spent playing with his new little friend. I see a lot of him in some of the things she does. When I briefly took in a stray Siamese/Ragdoll mix male that had been abused by a neighbor, the way they interacted reminded me of the way she and Ignatz used to play. (He was adopted by a friend that lives in Augusta, GA, and is doing great now.)

[Mord]

 We have a Ragdoll mix named Rocky. I really recommend that breed if your looking for a cat. They're the most even-tempered & good natured of all the cats we've had. Lots of personality & a very distinctive meow, if you can even call it that (sounds almost human). Keep us up to date on Deuce, Hep. I hope your final days together are somewhat happy.

[Count_Zirock]

I really hated not being able to keep him, but I've known the people that took him in for 30 years. He probably has it better off there than he would with me!

I hope Deuce's remaining days are peaceful. I already know they'll be filled with love.

[geezer butler]

Hepcat:

I'm really sorry to hear about your loss. I love those cat pictures you post. We have a black cat too. They're the best. So much character and personality. We have dogs too, but the cat is the undisputed boss of the house.

We lost one of our dogs in September. It was a similar thing: all of sudden she was sick and within like 48hrs she was gone. Of all the pets, she was the 'daddy's girl' and my best pal. Heartbroken is the only word to describe how we felt. So again, I really feel bad for you guys. I wouldn't wish that feeling on anyone.

My wife wanted to adopt another dog (same breed) right away, but I thought we should wait. Obviously I lost that debate. Sure enough, my wife brought home new dog from the shelter in December. Turns out it was a great fit. She gets along with the cat and the dog and we're already pretty attached to the new hound.

I know cats and dogs are different in terms of introducing a new pet, so you guys will have to do what's right for your situation. No pet will ever replace the dog we lost in September, but having a new dog in the family is helping us heal.

Best wishes and hang in there Hepcat

[Mord]

 Geezer's advice goes along with mine. There's nothing like the joy of a new pet/friend to offset the sadness of your loss. That's always been our experience, for what ever it's worth. You'll never replace the memories you have with Styx & Deuce, but you can work on some new ones with a wonderful new friend or two. I hope I don't spend too much time giving you advice, but your're a revered member of the UMA and I really hate to see you suffer. Take care, Hep  - Mord

[Flower]

I have always found with cats that at some point in time .. someone will turn up at your doorstep.

[Count_Zirock]

There are so many animals in shelters and strays on the streets, it's hard not to want to just take them all in. I've been feeding two stray cats that live on the apartment complex property since last year. I've named them Fatboy and Little Mama. Little Mama had a litter of three kittens by Beau-Beau (the Siamese/Ragdoll mix now in Georgia) back in September. Sadly, all three were sickly, and died shortly before Thanksgiving. That tore me up, because I'd been trying so hard to get them placed with a rescue group.

[Flower]

Our heads tell us that we can't save them all .. that even giving the mother cat food is doing a good deed and is an act of kindness.

Our hearts will always bleed for the ones that we can't save.  Even kittens born to good owners die, it's sad .. 

You try and you care .. I've often in my life had to deal with a-hole neighbors who are animal or cat haters.  The people next door were moving in July 2013 .. unloading on our front lawn, when I saw it and came out, I was calm and told them that it was unacceptable, I was home and that they should've rang the doorbell.  Instead the woman and her brother started verbally attacking me making threatening movements toward me ...She then told me that she "knew all about me and would kill my cats." .. Too many a-holes in this world.  Just keep doing your best and what is in your heart.

Again, we can't save them all and my vet's lost many of his own pets and I can only imagine his grief coming home to a cat who had strokes and was yowling in pain .. he was crying when he told me this and said that he prayed that it had just happened and not right after he left for work.

Prayer to and for all the sick and homeless animals.

[Dr.Cyclops]

Sorry for your loss Hep, he sure was a handsome cat.It's been a strange winter in TO this year:bad on cats and humans?

[Dr. Madd]

A few years I had a pet who had to be put down because he was dying too. I still miss Outlaw. I feel you, dude.

[neonnoodle]

Thank you for doing as much as you do to care for your dear pets.

[Hepcat]

So The WOMAN sent me this email last Wednesday when I was beating myself up for my inability to save Styx:

This is my head talking right now ... Yes, the vet does believe that Styx has a stroke or several strokes but also that the FIV kicked in and weakened Styx.  I mentioned the we really didn't know Styx's age and that he could've been older.

The FIV kicked in .. even if we had given Styx  treatment sooner or more aggressively, they would've worked for a very short time, Styx would've been unhappy AND we would've had to put him down because of the FIV kicking in.

Both my head and heart know that after Pat had Styx picked up, that YOU saved his life by calling the vet at Animal Control (and adopting him) and that we gave him more than he imagined .. his own day spa (on the front porch), living in the Cool Cat Cookie house with daily treats and good food, visits to Grandma's Diner with takeaway on rainy days .. love, warm laps, cool cat brothers, a posse to protect him, brushing, little girls (from the neighbourhood)  to adore him, videos to watch, fame on the internet, a girlfriend named Zita, he and his buddies gifted the other animals at Christmas and even got some stuff back from time to time.

I doubt if even if Pat didn't have him picked up, that he would've lived very long or know the happiness and joy that surrounded him for over five years.  So many people (including families going to and from the Day Care) got to know and appreciate Styx, he had his picture taken by many phones and is asked about all the time .. more people know him and the other cats than know our names or us.  To know him was a positive, he brightened the lives of many children and adults going to therapy.  It was a great life for all, the world is a sadder, darker place without him.

While the sadness still remains, I'm no longer feeling any guilt over Styx' death. I saved him from eventually being put down at Animal Control by adopting him in 2009 and then we caught a budding urinary tract infection in Styx a year later before it really got going and one quick visit to the vet was all it took to cure him. We gave him more than five years of love and a home full of cat beds, La-Z-Boys, cushion chairs, beds, a futon and the grandest cat tower money could buy. He was accepted as part of a brotherhood of three other cats in the household and one other from across the laneway collectively known as the Pussy Posse. And when the end drew near, he spent his last two nights swaddled in the embrace of The WOMAN who loved and cherished him and who he loved with all his strength in return.

I wish that I could have extended his stay on this earth but my powers in these matters are strictly limited.

The WOMAN gathered up several more dozen pictures of Styx that she took over the last five years. I winnowed them down to these:







Styx was willing to be friends with all, the kids from the daycare, the other cats on the street, the squirrels, the raccoons, anybody who wanted to be friends. A gracious host, here he was welcoming Sooty and Cheetah from across the street onto the porch,



Styx looking over the Xmas gift bags he'd always arrange for his four-footed friends in the neighbourhood.







The posse made a regular habit of gathering for breakfast at Grandma's Diner. Styx always flirted with the waitresses, Zita and Nikki.







He loved basking in the sun on the porch, the front steps or in his garden.







As you can see, Styx was never one to let any source of heat go to waste.

[Mord]

 Beautiful photos. You can tell that Styx was very well loved. How is Deuce doing, BTW?

[Hepcat]

Fluid built up once again in Deuce's chest cavity over the weekend severely impairing his breathing. In an effort to give him a few more good days we had his chest cavity drained again this morning. He's happy at this moment. It's a losing battle though and I'm afraid we'll have no choice but to say goodbye to another friend very shortly.