Early Friday afternoon, I had to take Tigger (my avatar) to the vet. I had to help him cross that Rainbow Bridge. I’ve known since January this day was coming. It was then that the vet discovered Tigger’s irregular heartbeat. X-rays showed a greatly enlarged heart and a lot of fluid in his lungs. We put Tigger on Lasix (actually a generic form of it – the name of it escapes me now) and he improved. His heartbeat remained very irregular and his heart was still enlarged and he still had fluid in his lungs. But he was getting by and showed no signs of feeling sick. Not until this morning. It was time for his pill. I would always hide his pill in a little bit of canned cat food and he would eat it right down. But today, he didn’t do that. I was about to try a different flavor of cat food when I noticed Tigger’s labored breathing. His sides were heaving. He was struggling to get air. It was about an hour before it was time for me to go to work. But I couldn’t have Tigger struggling to breathe all day. I didn’t want to come home and find him dead, but worse would be to find him alive and gasping for air. So I called the vet. They said the could take me right away. So I called work to say I’d be late. The assistant manager, Lisa, told me to let them know if I decided not to come in at all. But though I knew I would not be bringing Tigger home alive, I still needed to go to work. Sitting home and crying would not bring him back.
I had the vet do an x-ray. I wanted to confirm what I already knew. The x-ray looked terrible. His heart was bigger and his lungs so full of fluid, he couldn’t get air. He couldn’t breathe at all if he laid on his side – he had to sit up. He was doing open-mouth breathing when I called the vet, but he barely opened his mouth. By the time we were at the vet, he started gasping more with his mouth wide open.
The vet (Dr. Abby – the one who has tended Tigger throughout this entire process), told me she could try to draw some of the fluid out of his lungs and that might make him more comfortable, but she didn’t know how long that would last. But I couldn’t do that to him. As hard as it was, I had to let him go.
The vet did let me know way back in January that this condition was eventually going to kill him. She said it could happen next week or next year or even 2 years from then. He was either going to have a heart attack or heart failure or his lungs would fill up so much he would not be able to breathe. I gave Tigger many hugs in the following months, knowing that any day might be his last. So on one hand, I was prepared. On the other hand, I was not. It was just too soon. But Tigger’s suffering is over. And yes, I could see it in his eyes this morning how much he was suffering as he struggled to breathe.
I was an hour and 43 minutes late for work. I managed to get through the workday without crying, though the tears did flow at the vet when Tigger drew his last breath. But I almost lost it near the end of my shift when a song came on the radio “Take Good Care of my Baby”. And I asked God to take good care of my baby, Tigger. I’m trying not to cry as I wrote this, but it’s hard.
Rest in peace, my Tigger. I’m going to miss you and I will never forget you.
Good morning and Happy Caturday, Graham Crackers. Maybe now we can get on with Annie’s story, since Chesney seems to have finished with the nasal spray.
1. A short video: this kitty just lost his hunting license.
https://i.imgur.com/KuONcFz.mp4
2. A short video: I demand that you adopt me out of this shelter now!
https://i.imgur.com/d2Pcvf0.mp4
4. Photobomb: when a jealous cat doesn’t want the new kitten to be the center of attention.
https://i.imgur.com/m4gmjVp.jpg
5. Kitty is up to the task.Bad doggie!
https://i.imgur.com/P8CPK9M.jpg
6. A Caturday classic catitude post: I don’t really mean what I’m saying to you just now. (This is not an apology)
https://i.imgur.com/N6c75Ju.jpg
7. A thoughtful Mr Tibbles remembered to leave his human a Christmas present this year. (Maybe next year she won’t dress him up.)
https://i.imgur.com/rcqqUPj.png
9. A cat in a box post: Steve has found a way to keep himself off the streets and out of trouble. (He is on his way to being a Crazy Cat Man)
https://i.imgur.com/wMMEr9R.jpg
10. If you fail this test, you have no chance at going out on a date.
https://i.imgur.com/xkBdmEA.jpg
11. This is me shopping at a large regional Furniture Store. I ended up going to their competitor and got very friendly and attentive service. I do all my shopping there now.
https://i.imgur.com/SMvQFcf.png
12. A Caturday classic repost: kitty needed a smartphone to order an anchovy pizza.
https://i.imgur.com/gVwRsSq.jpg
13. Are you able to get to stage two with your cat before your cat gets to stage three?
https://i.imgur.com/ibmjNmk.jpg
14. How is your relationship with your kitty?
https://i.imgur.com/KZm9o02.jpg
21 pictures and 2 videos were posted to Ten Cats Fan Club this morning
Dogs are all right, but I prefer cats because they’re lower maintenance. I’ve been looking after my Sister’s dogs while she’s at work, and they’re a bit of a hand full.
DennisinSeattle almost 6 years ago
Well, Chesney knows his audience. A little dog humor always helps.
DennisinSeattle almost 6 years ago
Hey, why do cats and bunnies get all the videos? Check this one out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx-CxuAeVPo
laughingkitty almost 6 years ago
Early Friday afternoon, I had to take Tigger (my avatar) to the vet. I had to help him cross that Rainbow Bridge. I’ve known since January this day was coming. It was then that the vet discovered Tigger’s irregular heartbeat. X-rays showed a greatly enlarged heart and a lot of fluid in his lungs. We put Tigger on Lasix (actually a generic form of it – the name of it escapes me now) and he improved. His heartbeat remained very irregular and his heart was still enlarged and he still had fluid in his lungs. But he was getting by and showed no signs of feeling sick. Not until this morning. It was time for his pill. I would always hide his pill in a little bit of canned cat food and he would eat it right down. But today, he didn’t do that. I was about to try a different flavor of cat food when I noticed Tigger’s labored breathing. His sides were heaving. He was struggling to get air. It was about an hour before it was time for me to go to work. But I couldn’t have Tigger struggling to breathe all day. I didn’t want to come home and find him dead, but worse would be to find him alive and gasping for air. So I called the vet. They said the could take me right away. So I called work to say I’d be late. The assistant manager, Lisa, told me to let them know if I decided not to come in at all. But though I knew I would not be bringing Tigger home alive, I still needed to go to work. Sitting home and crying would not bring him back.
I had the vet do an x-ray. I wanted to confirm what I already knew. The x-ray looked terrible. His heart was bigger and his lungs so full of fluid, he couldn’t get air. He couldn’t breathe at all if he laid on his side – he had to sit up. He was doing open-mouth breathing when I called the vet, but he barely opened his mouth. By the time we were at the vet, he started gasping more with his mouth wide open.
laughingkitty almost 6 years ago
The vet (Dr. Abby – the one who has tended Tigger throughout this entire process), told me she could try to draw some of the fluid out of his lungs and that might make him more comfortable, but she didn’t know how long that would last. But I couldn’t do that to him. As hard as it was, I had to let him go.
The vet did let me know way back in January that this condition was eventually going to kill him. She said it could happen next week or next year or even 2 years from then. He was either going to have a heart attack or heart failure or his lungs would fill up so much he would not be able to breathe. I gave Tigger many hugs in the following months, knowing that any day might be his last. So on one hand, I was prepared. On the other hand, I was not. It was just too soon. But Tigger’s suffering is over. And yes, I could see it in his eyes this morning how much he was suffering as he struggled to breathe.
I was an hour and 43 minutes late for work. I managed to get through the workday without crying, though the tears did flow at the vet when Tigger drew his last breath. But I almost lost it near the end of my shift when a song came on the radio “Take Good Care of my Baby”. And I asked God to take good care of my baby, Tigger. I’m trying not to cry as I wrote this, but it’s hard.
Rest in peace, my Tigger. I’m going to miss you and I will never forget you.
Tigger4-2-0911-16-18
serenasakitty almost 6 years ago
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. It is never easy to say goodbye to them.
ladykat almost 6 years ago
Good morning and Happy Caturday, Graham Crackers. Maybe now we can get on with Annie’s story, since Chesney seems to have finished with the nasal spray.
jessegooddog almost 6 years ago
Okay Chesney, let Annie continue. How would you run your hotel without the dogs?
bbear almost 6 years ago
Today’s BBEAR posts:
1. A short video: this kitty just lost his hunting license.
https://i.imgur.com/KuONcFz.mp4
2. A short video: I demand that you adopt me out of this shelter now!
https://i.imgur.com/d2Pcvf0.mp4
4. Photobomb: when a jealous cat doesn’t want the new kitten to be the center of attention.
https://i.imgur.com/m4gmjVp.jpg
5. Kitty is up to the task. Bad doggie!
https://i.imgur.com/P8CPK9M.jpg
6. A Caturday classic catitude post: I don’t really mean what I’m saying to you just now. (This is not an apology)
https://i.imgur.com/N6c75Ju.jpg
7. A thoughtful Mr Tibbles remembered to leave his human a Christmas present this year. (Maybe next year she won’t dress him up.)
https://i.imgur.com/rcqqUPj.png
9. A cat in a box post: Steve has found a way to keep himself off the streets and out of trouble. (He is on his way to being a Crazy Cat Man)
https://i.imgur.com/wMMEr9R.jpg
10. If you fail this test, you have no chance at going out on a date.
https://i.imgur.com/xkBdmEA.jpg
11. This is me shopping at a large regional Furniture Store. I ended up going to their competitor and got very friendly and attentive service. I do all my shopping there now.
https://i.imgur.com/SMvQFcf.png
12. A Caturday classic repost: kitty needed a smartphone to order an anchovy pizza.
https://i.imgur.com/gVwRsSq.jpg
13. Are you able to get to stage two with your cat before your cat gets to stage three?
https://i.imgur.com/ibmjNmk.jpg
14. How is your relationship with your kitty?
https://i.imgur.com/KZm9o02.jpg
21 pictures and 2 videos were posted to Ten Cats Fan Club this morning
Popcorn almost 6 years ago
Of course,we wouldn’t know the dogs stink,if we didn’t use nasal spray! Ps,my dogs didn’t like the ending..lol
Perkycat almost 6 years ago
As interesting as nasal spray is, I think I prefer Annie’s story. Nice try, Chesney.
Queen of America almost 6 years ago
If I laughed at yesterdays’ strip, I guffawed at this one!
Neal Janzen Premium Member almost 6 years ago
I am so sorry. I understand your grief and wish you peace.
Marge Premium Member almost 6 years ago
@ whisplicka:
Hello Carol, just now I read your sad news … Oh dear, I’m so sorry.
I’ve sent you an email.
Rest in peace, Whisper!
Marge Premium Member almost 6 years ago
@ laughingkitty:
Hallo Becky, oh, another sad news.
I am so sorry about your loss of your friend Tigger. My sympathy for you!
daleandkristen almost 6 years ago
NO MORE NASAL SPRAY stories….can’t you kitties come up with a heart warming tale/tail…maybe something about adopting shelter animals.
HarryCK almost 6 years ago
Getting in shape for the big Chesney take down !
http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/cats/cat-doing-pushups-smiley-emoticon.gif
tad1 almost 6 years ago
Great pictures today. :)
tad1 almost 6 years ago
Dogs are all right, but I prefer cats because they’re lower maintenance. I’ve been looking after my Sister’s dogs while she’s at work, and they’re a bit of a hand full.