The hardest part of having a pet

Category: my first blog ever! | Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 4:07 pm

We got Dolly exactly 12 years ago. She was a 6 month old at the adoption center. I had recently lost my big kitty Patches, and had 3 year old Chloe. I thought Chloe would like a buddy. Well I was sort of wrong about that; Chloe was less than welcoming. But little Dolly didn't care, she just went about her own business.
Dolly was really adventurous. I had a second story deck, and she loved to be out there. She always wanted to be outside, but I was protective and didn't want her going too far from home so it kept me busy keeping watch on her. One afternoon, I looked out on the deck, and she was clinging by her claws off the edge. It was kind of funny, but I had to rescue her.
Then there was the time she climbed up a huge Maple and was sitting on a branch about 15 feet up. She didn't seem too concerned, but I was frantic and thought I needed to help her to get down. No ladder around, I tried to coax her, but gave up. Needless to say, she made her own way down when she was ready.
We moved to our home in 2006, and right away Dolly began to explore. Dogs bordering our property helped her learn her boundaries, but I did have to chase her and search for her when she strayed. Whenever another cat came onto our property, Dolly was there to give them the what-for and chase them away.
Dolly had medium long hair, and it was a chore to keep it picked up. Daily brushing!
In 2013, Dolly was unhappy that our loud, chatty Grandson was here, so she disappeared to the outdoors. Well. I really mean disappeared!! We thought she was a goner..... Six weeks passed and who showed up ?? Yep. Lost 1/2 her body weight, dirty, smelly and obviously freaked out. She managed to find her way home. 2 1/2 days at the vet with an IV drip, and she was OK. It took her a good six more weeks to recover fully, and that was when she really learned her home turf boundaries. I don't think she left our property again! Except for Bob and I, Dolly was scared of people. She would go hide when the company came. A lot of my family or friends could count on one hand how many times they saw her! But with me she was so affectionate and it was funny how she insisted on sitting on my lap during the cold months, then when it was nice... off she was to her outdoor world. She loved to sit out and be our sentry at night and we'd let her in before bed.
I loved how she always followed me around as I did yardwork and gardening. She was my supervisor, LOL! I loved being with her out there.
About a month ago, I realized she wasn't interested in my lap or even being around us. She was finding hiding places to be by herself, and not sleeping on the foot of the bed. Then we noticed she was pawing at her mouth, she still had her appetite, but ate much slower. The weather has been unbelievably nice here, and she wanted to be outdoors. So last week, when I was out enjoying the sun, I managed to get her to come to me. I picked her up and tried to feel around her mouth. Yep, there was a hard lump under her chin. Took her to the vet. They had to wrap her in a blanket to be able to look into her mouth, and sadly saw the cancerous growth. She was in obvious pain too.
We brought her back later that day. I had to have Bob come too. Dolly passed at 5:30 on Febr. 16th. We buried her at sunset in the yard. She will be under the shed that will be built soon.
I was able to spend some time with her out in the gardens, and talk to her and say my goodbyes, but mostly that day she just wanted to sleep. It was a sad, emotional day.
We had a "wake" that evening, and talked about all her adventures. She was a strong, brave little girl. Headstrong and sometimes a real pest But we are grateful for the time we had her, and we'll look for her at the Rainbow Bridge along with all the other pets we've loved and lost.

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Comments

Frank wrote on Mon Feb 20, 2017 1:28 pm:

Will written Kay. Thanks for sharing your memories of Dolly.

Netty wrote on Mon Feb 27, 2017 2:04 pm:

So sorry for your loss Kay.
Our pets really do take a huge part of our hearts.

Robin H wrote on Tue May 09, 2017 6:25 am:

Sorry, Kay. I am new here and reading various and sundry blogs. The loss of a beloved animal can be extreme. I held my Ming as he was euthanized (such an emotionally vacant term), but I sure aglad to have been there. Have you gotten a kitten to whirl you around? All that love and loss can be redirected for therapy's sake.

Robin H wrote on Tue May 09, 2017 6:26 am:

Robin H wrote on Tue May 09, 2017 6:27 am:

"sure am glad to have been there..."
Dang autocorrect and slowed human response skills!

Kay wrote on Fri May 12, 2017 12:02 am:

Thanks for your comment RobinH. I think we'll be good with just Chloe now who just had her 16th birthday!
When she is gone, I may take a break from the kitty litter!!!

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