This afternoon I sent my 13 year old cat Chelsea over the bridge. She had not been normal the past few days and showing that she did not feel well. Blood work today showed kidney and liver disease and also her abdomen was full of fluid. There was really nothing to be done except tapping her abdomen every week to reduce the fluid and keep her more comfortable but knowing a trip to the vet every week would not keep this feisty girl happy I opted to let her go.
Chelsea and litter mate Jazz came to me at 10 mos old- born from a street cat and rescued almost immediately. Within an hour or two of being in the house they had explored every corner ( including my lap) and Chelsea had climbed the 7 foot book cases and strode along the top in and out of the articles there with me holding my breath and wondering how I would get her down. Nothing broke and she easily clambered down herself. She and Jazz were very close as youngsters, contantly cuddling and grooming although they grew more apart as they got older. They slept on my bed mostly and I would wake in the night and turn over to find my self being groomed by a rough tongue!
She always had to know everything that was going on. All visitors were throroughly inspected especially if they sat at the kitchen table. She loved to sit in the cat cradle in the kitchen window and watch the birds.
When I started fostering rescue dogs Chelsea always let them know the rules. More than once I saw her eyeball to eyeball with a dog, then reaching out to give the dog a gentle tap on the nose as if to say Im the boss here! Fosters learned to respect cats in my house.
Here is my favorite pic of her in one of her favorite spots - the kitchen table!
