Cats too!

[David Tabor (sailordave)]

Just read the thread about dogs going to heaven. Cats being my personal preference I gots to include them! Although we do have a Rotty that SWMBO insisted on getting and she annoys the $%&* out of me, I have gotten kinda fond of her.

We had known for a few months that McAllister, our Maine Coon (think typical calendar picture) was going downhill w/ kidney problems but they got worse last August right about the time we found out my FIL had terminal cancer. The following week we got his prognosis (less than 6 months) AND realized that it was Mac's time. The next day my wife drove into town, picked me up from work and we went down to the vets. Thankfully he was as kind and gentle a person as you could hope for. We stood there holding Mac, tears streaming down our faces; it was the only time he didn't hiss and spit going to the vets in 11 years. He was SWMBO's cat more so than mine but actually preferred me to play with. Guess I was just stupider! Just yesterday SWMBO and I were walking through Walmart and saw a bag of cat food w/ a Maine Coon on the front and she almost cried. Even w/ three other cats it still is hard. And the funny thing is he wasn't the friendliest cat, but he was always around. So I don't begrudge her Macey (the dog) even though I call her "F.D." and that's NOT "FINE DOG".... ;)

[Ariel]

Cats are special too. They just take care of their needs first and not as devoted as dogs. I have 3 cats -- each is completely different in personality from the other. They are always, as you say, there, and great company whether I'm working on the boat or reading a book, one (or all three) of them is somewhere closeby. Sorry for your loss.

[ahp]

We have had cats, and dogs. The beautiful long haired tabby we had was nice to look at but rather dumb. Like some girls I dated.

Our current tabby is reasonably friendly, with people. She never got over hating my son's cat when it lived with us, and she tollerated the beagle.

There were two brother toms that lived across the street. One was the most outgoing friendly cat I ever knew. More than most dogs. His brother on the other hand didn't get along with anyone, not even his own mother.

[Bpolk]

Although we do have a Rotty that SWMBO insisted on getting and she annoys the $%&* out of me, I have gotten kinda fond of her.

The wife or the Rotty?

(Old Sailor Bob (running like ^%@##@)

[Meerkat]

dog: "oh yeah, I love ya, kick me again!"

cat: "listen a**h*l*, you do that again and it's s**t on the pillow for you and I'm outta here!"

Cats rock! smile.gif

My buddy was a (mostly) Siamese named Sam. Wonderful cat that I drove through a snowstorm and bought for $10 long ago. Woke up the next morning with him perched on my hip (fortunately that was before he got to his full 19#) Used the toilet just like a 'uman a few times, was gentle and totally the lap cat. He passed due to kidney failure in spite of having had the best foods etc. most of his life. FWIW, grocery store cat food (dry) has a lot of ash in it that fawks up a cat's kidneys (said the vet).

It was a good 15 years with him and I miss him still. He went to the dreamtime nearly 15 years ago. :(

[capnharv]

We just lost our Abyssinian cat to kidney failure this past weekend. He had failed kidneys for over 2 years, and always seemed to pull through. But for a 19 year old cat, he couldn't go forever. At least he had a good long life.

The house is a lot emptier without him. . .

Capnharv

[nedL]

Sorry to hear of your loss capnharv. I grew up with cats & know how attached they can get. :(

[paladin]

Our cat, Charley R.B. Solomon (R.B.=Round Bottom)
was a big...24 pound....black and white "Sylvester" type puddy tat.....he made it to over 18 and sweet thing cried her eyes out when he passed......and not a dumb cat either.....

[Hughman]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid14/p3eccc17a1b2c16b9bbb8c7c370901452/fddf51fd.jpg
This cat is aboard this ship:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid14/p0e76cbf3c9160a123933311817ef176c/fde3ab8f.jpg
She is still looking for a berth.

[On Vacation]

Sorry to hear about your cat. But one thing for sure that I have found out is that I don't know where cats go after death, but one thing for sure they go where they please when they are alive and you can't teach them any different. :D

[David Tabor (sailordave)]

<<Although we do have a Rotty that SWMBO insisted on getting and she annoys the $%&* out of me, I have gotten kinda fond of her.

The wife or the Rotty?>>

WELLLLllll, They both annoy me at times, but the wife looks better in a black leather skirt (like last night) so I guess I can put up with SWMBO!! Although the Rotty's black leather studded collar for the electric fence might look good too!!!!

[edsr]

sailordave - Close friends come in more than one flavor.
When ya get to know them, ya gotta love'm. "McAllister" will be in good company, lost my "Otis" several years ago, only one cat left now.
Open your heart to a new furry adventure.

Best Wishes
edsr

[David Tabor (sailordave)]

smile.gif
Actually I already had a "new" buddy. My daughter had a cat of her own and 4 years ago when we moved into our new house my son wanted his own pet so we got ANOTHER kitten. Then we had a mouse problem for the next year from the construction so I thought "GEE, let's get an outdoor/garage cat to keep the damn mice away". So we got ANOTHER almost grown cat from the people we got son's kitten from the same people. Well we had him about a month and a Bl. Lab from down the road got all wound up while playing w/ a bunch of other dogs and chomped on my "Mouser" real good. Wife rushed him to the emergency vet and then called me at work. By the time I got there he had stabilized; IV in, X-rays, couldn't read the EKG to well from the excessive purring! Had DOUBLE pneumothorax and spent two days in the hospital/vets office for which the dog's owner's insurance paid 80%.... Upshot was he became a (mostly) house cat (sometimes porch) and is the best Darn Cat I've ever had! Good thing too, cause when I tried to teach him to catch mice w/ one I found in the garage he played w/ it and then couldn't find it. It had "hidden" between his legs while he was sitting down and looking all around. Gave up trying after that....!

[John Gearing]

I got Punkin (aka The Punk) when her owner decided she couldn't keep her anymore. Lost her this past July after 6 great years as best buddies. She was pushing 12. Had a highly aggressive tumor. I made sure it was a painless death tho it pains me tremendously to think of it even now. I turned her into a talker by repeating to her the sounds she would make, and then she would repeat them back to me with subtle variations and we'd just have a conversation. I never had to set an alarm clock because every morning at 6 AM she'd sit down next to my head and purr vigorously into my face. She liked a good lap, but only for about 20 minutes at a time, which I thought was pretty considerate of her. The Punk was quite a hunter. I saw her stalk a young doe once out in the back yard. The deer thought she was crazy and turned and ran. I always wondered what Punk would've done had the deer stood it's ground! I don't think we have a cat season for deer! The night before she died she took me out in the back and showed me how she hunted rabbits. She would pick a spot on the lawn near the edge of the field, lie low in a springing posture and be utterly still. She knew that in an outright sprint the rabbit would probably win, so instead she practiced "still hunting" and just waited until the rabbits came to her. She was one smart kitty. I thought she died too young, but the vet always told me "anything beyond ten years is a bonus". All in all, the Punk had a great life and lived it to the fullest and I've got a feeling she is in a happy place now, and having a high old time.