July 4, 1993, Jan 9, 2008
Farewell-our beloved 21st Century Schizoid cat.
Written by: RIA P27
Maine Coon, Indy, Charlimaine's Independence Jefferson,
born on July 4,1993, came into our lives as a 8 week old kitten
in September.
For 14 and a half years, he lived life on HIS terms. With a temperament
as volatile as an M-80, he despised any handling, petting or cuddling,
except for pats on his big head, which he often begged for by
sitting up on his haunches. We respected his distaste and outright
dislike of handling of any kind, which was hard for me, a person
who loves hugging her furbabies at every chance.
Quirky with a "Jeckle and Hyde" personality, Indy loved dropping toys
in the toilet, and sniffing his catnip pillows so deeply we thought
he'd inhale them. Loved playing with his lattice balls and loved his
Fancy feast canned food.
Always healthy, and never needing a vet's attentions except for annual
checkups and dental cleanings, he never looked or acted his age
even after he entered his senior years.
He fell ill a week after New years, going off his food, laying in his cave
under the kitchen table, not eating, drinking, using his box or doing
his other "Indy" things such as meowing at the four walls,
hissing and squalling at his house mates, playing with his lattice balls.
He allowed me to stroke his back the morning of January 9 and shocked
me with how thin he had become. So, off to the vet we raced. My heart
shuddered when he did not battle me while putting him in the carrier.
Warlocke had slept beside him all night. . . another weird and scary thing.
X-rays and other tests revealed an enormous nasty malignant tumor
that hogged almost his entire insides! I gaped at the x-ray in disbelief
that something so huge snuck up on Indy so unnoticed. My mind
and soul screamed-how could such appear so quick and deadly?
Yet, it occurred as I hoped, for many times I wished, when Indy's time
eventuality arrived, that it be quick and relatively painless,
as he hated any kind of handling, which included combing,
brushing and even petting of any part of his body but his head.
But I never imagined it would come so soon on the heels
of Phantom's passing. Nor did I ever think he'd not live to 18,19,
or even 20 years of-age . . . such was his feisty spirit.
On that afternoon on January 9, 2008, with a despairing heart.
Yet with Indy's preferences and temperament in mind, we decided
to let him pass to the Bridge, rather than subject him to exploratory
surgery and other things, which probably would not have worked,
as the vet said the tumor was likely inoperable.
Any other option required the intense handling Indy so despised and
resisted with all he was, and it guaranteed nothing.
Run free, Independence Jefferson, our Indybrat, Braticus, Bratboy,
Psychokitty, to never feel fear or pain again. You will always be
our beloved 21st Century Schizoid cat . . .
Indy, our firecracker, born on July 4, so many years ago.
You lived life on your own terms, yet I never doubted you loved
your Momma. who will miss you more than I could ever have known.
Marie
Indy's Momma always
2 comments:
Just want to tell you how sorry I am about Indy. My own cat, Muffie, had to be put to sleep just Friday, April 25th. Your story was so like our own that it inspired me to comment. Muffie lived life HER way with night & day personality changes, extremely territorial, and sparky energy throughout her 15 years with us. I would have bet money she'd still be around 2-3 more years. Then last week she started coughing and eventually only nibbled at her food. And would get irritated at my loving cuddles, my husband and I were the only ones allowed to cuddle her. The vet found congestive heart failure and a mass in her lung that pressed against her airway. Knowing I could give her tons of treatments (and get shredded in the process) only to have her still die in a few months, we chose to avoid any more suffering she'd endure and put her down. Now we are feeling a void in the house. Missing her demand for attention, schreeching for food, and angry run up the stairs when she doesn't get her way. And of course her sweet loving purr at bedtime, constant companionship, and love. Our broken hearts go out to you.........
PJ
Hi PJ,
Thanks so much for telling me about your girl.
It is so hard when they are gone. Indy lived life on his own terms for sure but I miss all of it-including his brattiness when going to the vet!
He was without a doubt the Maine Coon from Hell but we loved him dearly.
Marie
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