Dinah has passed way.

[elfs]

Dinah

Dinah passed away this evening at about 6:00pm.

We took her to the vet because her inability to eat was becoming much more serious. She had a growth under her tongue that was making it impossible for her to eat, and Dr. Emily said that with the kidney and neurological damage she'd already suffered, our alternatives were to either put her down, or let her starve to death. We could have intubated her, I guess, but that's not... it just didn't seem right. Omaha and I talked it over and decided it was time.

I blogged back in March of last year the sense of caretaker's guilt I felt sometimes wondering when Dinah was going to die and when I could stop the heroic efforts of watering her and prepping her meds every night and all the rituals that went into caring for a geritric cat. The doctor had said she had six to eight months; she lasted 22 months. The past two weeks had been hard for her, the decline rapid and painful to watch.

I miss her already. Kouryou-chan said she'd never seen me cry before. We walked in the door and I wondered where Dinah was, why wasn't she at the top of the stairs complaining that I hadn't petted her yet. Then I remembered that her body is in a box outside in the deep freezer, awaiting burial, and her spirit has moved on to somewhere else.

I'm still fighting the tears. It's still hard. I loved the burning cat, the bloody cat, and the cat with the pop-top head, and I miss her terribly.

Comments

[kistha.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry for you and your family. We too are still missing the "damn cat" that we lost in October.

Much love and sympathy to you and yours.

[rfeceo.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[dsgood.livejournal.com]

My condolences.

I'm Sorry...

[(Anonymous)]

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry she's gone.

I'm sorry you hurt.

Maybe visit your local shelter and find the one saying "I'll help you heal"?

But grieve... you need to, there's no reason not to.

Bryan.

[stephdray.livejournal.com]

Having lost a beloved cat of my own last year, I know what you're going through. And it hurts. A lot. You did the right thing for her though--the only thing we can ask in life is that someone makes our end as painless as possible and lets us know that we were loved.

[spiralsong.livejournal.com]

Oh, Elf, I'm so sorry. *hugs* We sometimes forget how they cease to be mere pets or cohabitants and become beloved family members. My heart goes out to you and your family.

[shunra.livejournal.com]

:: hugz :: - and some tears of my own. Cat love is very real.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_candide_/]

Hugz!

;_;

epinoid and I offer our condolences to you and your family.

And don't let anyone tell you otherwise: you've suffered a loss. Maybe not one of the Big Losses, but a loss nonetheless. And the natural, correct, healthy reaction to loss is grief. So do grieve.

And *hugz!* once more.

[tagryn]

I'm so sorry.

[maellenkleth]

sorry of this, Elf -- you did well by her.

[whipartist.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry.

It sounds like you did right by her, even when it was difficult.

[damiana-swan.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I'm so sorry.

[irismoonlight.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[taerin.livejournal.com]

I am so sorry for the pain you're feeling right now, and it brings back the memories of the ones I've lost.

I too think you made the right choice. You couldn't let her go on like that, it wouldn't have been right. I let a dog of mine go on longer than I really should have, but it took awhile to be able to let go.

[solarbird]

I'm really sorry. I lost Zoe when I wasn't around, and that was really different than being there. When Polly was put down (for similar reasons) it was one of the worst things ever and I've experienced a pretty big range of "bad," so I know. And I'm sorry.

[aelfie.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry. *hugs*

[kendaer.livejournal.com]

*hug* She was a sweet cat and it's always hard to lose someone like that, be they human or critter.

[featheredfrog.livejournal.com]

You have my deepest sympathy. I lose cats often, as I adopt FeLV+ kitties. They manage to claw a hole in your chest and take up residence there.

I miss all of mine. I understand how much you must miss Dinah. Thanks for sharing your caretaking of her. You're a good dad.

[grum]

Hugs.

[maureenlycaon.livejournal.com]

I'll share some words that helped me once, and that other people I've shared it with told me helped them.

We must treasure their mayfly existances, and take heart that
we have done our best for them.

Do not linger on the concerns that perhaps you could have spoken
softer on occasions, patted and petted more often, perhaps even
treated more. She knew you, and loved you, and had the comfort of a dear friend to her transition. A friend who knew when life had become a burden - not a pleasure, and had the courage to let go when the time was right...

[anthologie.livejournal.com]

Wow. I'm so sorry. :(

[littleone66.livejournal.com]

I'm very sorry to hear this. *hugs* Give hugs to everyone for me.

[fallenpegasus]

I'm so sorry. I will always remember the purrs she gave me.

[desiraes.livejournal.com]

I so sorry for your loss. Dinah was a wonderful who never
failed to make me smile when I saw her.

You guys did good by her. She was very lucky.

[doodlesthegreat.livejournal.com]

My sympathies to you all.