Heartland

Well after nearly 3 months battling advanced renal failure, my moggy is no longer with me. Given that he was originally expected to last 2 or 3 days when first diagnosed, I suppose he did well, but I had hoped for a bit more time and had planned to step up his treatment. Dale obviously had other ideas and collapsed yesterday. I spent today researching like mad and dealing with lots of conflicting advice, but when I saw him tonight, he was clearly extremely ill and not long for this world. I've heard of cats with kidney failure being brought back from the brink and going on for months or even years with intensive nursing. But I honeslty think Dale's kidneys had completely packed in and there was no more chances left for him. He was no longer able to deal with the toxins building up in his body despite just having had a few days of IV fluids.

Dale was the most beautiful, intelligent and bloody-minded cat I've ever met and, to make a severe understatement, I miss him badly

Poor puss.

RIP Dale.

Big cat, big character.

A legend.

Sorry to hear Andrew! He did great in extending the time with you!
Rest in peace Dale!

Sorry to hear that Dale has passed on to Rainbow Bridge. Having three cats I can only commisarate as I cannot bear the thought of losing one of my own

Ooooh I'm so sorry. I know exactly how bad that is

No cat-lover should be put through this.

Cats are the best companions one can have.

They train humans.

RIP Dale

IZ.

Sorry to hear that Andrew

Very sorry to hear that.

i have 4 cats outdoors in the garden and one indoors, i can t even think of something happening to them
i m so sorry to hear that A.

Over the time I had six kitties as housemates.
Lost two to death, four to circumstances.
I miss all of them. And the ones I can't meet anymore that weren't mine.
Sorry to hear that, Andrew.

Glad I got the chance to meet him, but sorry to hear it.

Such sad news Andrew mate, you are in my thoughts.

My 16 year old diabetic half blind moggy is still going, somehow. I know I will one day have to go through what you are right now and it can't be easy.

Sad news.

Comiserations Andrew.

it's been a year since i lost my 18 yr old cat. hold in there... it's still not right. xxx

*Hugs* for the dear Androo, and kisses (achoo!) for the dearly departed...

RIP Dale indeed... Even as a non-cat person, I really have to say he was the acest cat I ever had the pleasure of meeting... He'll be remembered fondly...

Lots of strength to you Andrew

He lived everyone of his 9 lives to the full

RIP little black fella, no more curry for you Puss

Thanks everyone, especially to Si for posting that photo of Dale in his element Right now the only time I don't feel like s**t is when I forget he isn't here anymore. That's going to take a while to sink in.

Andrew S wrote:Thanks everyone, especially to Si for posting that photo of Dale in his element Right now the only time I don't feel like s**t is when I forget he isn't here anymore. That's going to take a while to sink in.

New Kitty?

My Uncle and Aunt lost "Luna" only a few months ago to a nasty bone/blood infection and she was a lovely black cat, just like Dale, she'd been the family pet for years. They've since got a wee black and white kitty by the name of "Boris" who has helped them get over the loss.

Big Si wrote:New Kitty?

My Uncle and Aunt lost "Luna" only a few months ago to a nasty bone/blood infection and she was a lovely black cat, just like Dale, she'd been the family pet for years. They've since got a wee black and white kitty by the name of "Boris" who has helped them get over the loss.

I'd have to agree with this - it's tough to go and find a new cat when the pain of the loss is so fresh, and there's a thought in the back of the mind that you're "replacing" one cat with another.
But talking to people who have gone through this, there is an argument for suggesting that the original cat's energy hangs around long after the dishes have been cleared away. The new kitten often adopts the behaviour patterns of the departed (sleeping in exactly the same place, for example) and sometimes the thought that the original cat is there teaching the new one can help with the feelings of loss.