Each seemed to have similar symptoms but the vets couldn't pin the cause of death down exactly.
The first of this month our 9 year old mellow yellow boy kitty Charlie was outside minding his business. I saw him in the driveway, under the shade of the big tree about an hour before my wife came home between her split shifts. He looked just fine.
When she got home he was sitting on the porch gasping and choking for air. She nailed him with the meds we had left over from Little Slick and within a couple days he improved considerably. He never did recover 100% though.
After that he was never allowed outside. We decided that due to all the losses we've had, our kitties are now indoor kitties. No exception.
Last night he and one of the females were waiting at the door when my wife got home from work. She came in and walked into the kitchen.
I followed and we chatted a bit then as I walked out of the kitchen I saw Charlie trying to walk. He couldn't his rear end just would not function, it was paralyzed. He squalled and panicked and bit at his right rear leg. Then using only his fronts he started pulling himself up on the couch. My wife helped him up there. He seemed to calm down a bit and about 10 -15 minutes later he walked somewhat normally through the house, down the basement steps to the basement. There was nothing we could do but watch him. No funds for the emergency vet so all we could do is hope he made it till today so we could take him to the regular vet.
Maybe 10 minutes later we heard him dragging himself back up the stairs to the landing. Then he started gagging, gasping and choking again and his back end was again paralyzed. He squalled and panicked and before we could stop him he bounced himself down the stairs and under some metal racks where he died.
It looked to me as if he had a stroke. He was normal just minutes before it hit him, then bam he was down.
We just got back from the County Animal Control, they dispose of deceased pets for a small fee. My wife is shattered, her emotions are about to the end of what she can handle.
Charlie was a very unique yellow and white boy kitty. He never caused trouble, never picked fights and was friendly with all the other kitties that would let him.
He talked and trilled like no other cat either my wife or I have ever had.
I invited him in this month back in '02. He was tiny lost kitten that showed up out of nowhere.
Now he's gone. Lord almighty what hole his leaving has caused in this house.
We have no children so I guess we dote on the kitties. I guess I'm at my wits end too.
Sorry for such a downer of a post, but I had to talk it out and since there's no one here I figured I'd tell you guys.
J
e
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