Cleo (cat) dear departed Nov.27th.'06 - a Sad Time

Hello. It is with great sadness that I write that our dear little black female cat Cleo (on right, in picture), whom we had for only 13 months (adopted, "rescued" in November 2005), departed this life on Monday 27th November, "put to sleep" or euthanased at the vet's. We (D. and I) both sat with her as she went... She had become very weak over the weekend: by Monday morning she could hardly walk across the room to reach her bowl of water. The rest of the time, she lay on her usual folded blanket, on an old armchair, but managed to get out of the house into the rainy garden, only 2 days before she died. She had not eaten anything at all for the last 2 days, and was now very frail and thin, but still had a glossy coat. The previous 2 days she could only eat a daily teaspoonful of mashed fish. She continued to drink, which kept her going. She had an indomitable spirit and was so much loved, that she did not give in sooner. She leaves a big healthy brother, Charlie (on left in photo). He seems not yet to notice she's gone, but sniffed her carrier basket before I put it away.

Because our life the previous week was so very difficult, due to my son Tom's drinking, arrest and court cases, we did not put Cleo to sleep as soon as maybe we should have done. She suffered in silence - just a small purr when we stroked her, or a sad little cry when she was about to vomit. She was 8 years and 4 months: this was only half the life she should have had. She had a terminal lymphoma with secondary growths, which the Vet's could not cure. (It did not show.) The vet gave pills to relieve it and enable her to eat OK for some months. But she became increasingly sick over the last 4 weeks. We found it very hard to part with her - this was less true of our old cat, Whitton, as we'd owned him for nearly 18 years and it was his time to go.

The day after she died, we buried her in our back garden, next to Whitton. Tom dug a deep hole, before he left to see his probation officer - then D. and I buried her. I said a halting, made up prayer. I thanked God for Cleo's short life with us - she brought us much pleasure and relief after our losing Whitton, and then going through so much pain over Tom, in the past 15 months. He got into serious trouble with police (when drunk) in September 2005, 2 weeks after Whitton died, and had a few months in prison. (See previous blogs, 2005-06, for accounts...) I spent some time wiping mud off the kitchen floor! Then I cleared up her cat bowls, and only today got rid of her litter tray (I'd left it in the garage.) Now there's just Charlie to take up our affection - he is healthy, happy and enjoys going out all round the clock. He's a big strong cat (see photo). Cleo was tiny next to him. We may get another younger female cat next year to keep him company, and to take place of dear Cleo - but no other could really replace her. She was a little like our previous puss Ping-Pong - our first cat, also a sweet, sleek, black neutered female.

Tom has settled down since his trials last week. He is on an evening curfew, on bail to appear in at court mid-December on charges from when he was drinking He comitted 2 common assaults while at our local hospital. We think he may have his community order tightened up, but cannot be sure. He has been warned of worse consequences if this behaviour recurs - we in England also have a version of "3 strikes and you're out". It is quite alarming, as his offences are minor. He has not raped or attempted to murder anyone (minor assaults when drunk, but on public servants doing their duty, so it's taken seriously). He is ashamed of this, and wants to apologise to the 2 people. I told him that he should do it. This is doing "restorative justice", which the courts would approve.

I shall stop here to cook our meal, as ever. We are looking at having an uncertain festive season - I hope Tom will be with us. We will have just one cat - Charlie (better than no cat at all!).

All the best - Tigey