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Mews You Can Use

When is the right time?

Quite often I receive calls from pet owners who are seeking advice as to when it is appropriate to pursue treatment for an ailing pet and/or how does one determine the "right time" to say good-bye. Unfortunately, here at Home 2 Cats, we face that dilemma more often than the average person and I wish we could say that we knew the precise answer but there really isn’t one.

Cats are notorious for masking the severity of their condition, which makes it even more difficult in making decisions. There are so many factors to take into consideration. For terminally ill animals, I believe the primary factor to consider is the degree of suffering. Are they eating and drinking? Are they responsive? Are they interacting with you?

Even though the final decision to say good-bye to our companions is difficult, I believe it is a final act of love and kindness we can give these special loved ones so they do not have to suffer.

For animals requiring treatment for an on-going severe condition, some factors to consider are the animal’s personality, attitude and tolerance. What Home 2 Cats may do medically for a friendly lap cat that is touchable may be quite different from what we decide for a feral cat.

Our judgment in trying to make a decision regarding the health of our pets is sometimes hindered by our emotional involvement and bond. (Been there, done that!) It is so hard to be objective and it helps to seek guidance from your veterinarian.

I had taken one of our resident feral cats to a specialist and the doctor was discussing the surgery along with the long-term medical treatment that would be required. During the seven years the cat had resided with us, she never permitted anyone to touch her. She loved the other cats but was always scared of humans. The surgery and long-term treatment would not only be stressful for her, but she would need to be confined to a cage the rest of her life for us to treat her.

I asked the doctor if I would be wrong and irresponsible not to treat her but to bring her back to Home 2 Cats where she resided with a group of cats that was family to her. His response was," I can always tell you everything we can do for an animal, but that isn’t necessarily what we should do. By all means let her go back and live with her group."

That was the best medical advice not only for the cat in question but also for future situations.

Whether the situation is for a terminally ill pet or a long-term illness, it all comes down to a matter of quality of life.

 

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Cat Tails

This year has been especially difficult for us at Home 2 Cats with the passing of some of our very special long-term resident cats. Many of our dear friends and supporters have also had the difficult time of having to say goodbye to some very special companions.

We are very honored and privileged to be able to share with you a tribute to one these special animals. Boo-Boo was a beloved member of the Bandusky household and Kellyann, who is 17 years old, wrote a beautiful tribute to her loyal friend. Kellyann has kindly given us permission to share her tribute with you of her beloved Boo-Boo.

Farewell for Now, My Loyal Friend
by Kellyann Bandusky

Only animal lovers can understand the unconditional love pets’ give and the heartbreaking pain when they are gone. Last month, my cat Boo-Boo passed away. He was 17 years old. Everyone is familiar with the mystical belief of cats having nine lives; I believe my Boo came pretty close.

Such short lives our pets have to spend with us, and they spend most of it waiting for us to come home. It is amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our lives and even how much closer we become with each other because of them. Pets have no use for fancy cars or houses or designer clothes; that means nothing to them. Pets don’t judge others by their color or class, but who they are INSIDE. Give a pet your heart and he will give you his.

Boo-Boo was a huge part of my life and played a huge role in my family. I miss him terribly and will cherish all of the memories. He wasn’t the type of cat that would hide or hiss at you. He was quite human like and very friendly. Probably cause my mom treated him like the king of the house. He would greet everyone that entered our home, and he wouldn’t leave you alone until you picked him up. He’d follow me everywhere.

Boo was quite the thief, too. Anything that was yours WAS his and it would disappear. You would find it later with his cat toys. He was also a beggar when it came to dinnertime. He loved chicken.

People say you can’t train a cat, but we did. He was leash trained and we took him on walks. Neighbors would laugh and point but we didn’t care, and Boo, he just looked at them and mewed. He was the keeper of all my secrets, boy if that cat could talk, I’d be in BIG trouble!

Aside from the bond I shared with my cat, he taught me a lot, I learned responsibility at an early age by helping take care of him. He taught me to live each day, seize the moment and follow your heart. He taught me to appreciate the simple things in life, a nap in the sun, a walk outside and stopping to smell the flowers. When he got sick 6 months ago, he taught me hope when faced with his sickness. He would have his good days and his bad days, but no matter what, he would always purr when I would hold him. He taught me about friendship, selflessness and above all, unmeasurable loyalty.

Farewell my friend, until we meet again, your paw prints are imprinted within my heart forever.

 

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Animal and People Recognition

While losing a companion is one of life's greatest sorrows, never having one is to miss out on years of loving companionship.

 

 

In Memory Of Animals

Amy, Aster, Butterscotch, Tiger, Mocha and Purr
--Rebecca Wood

Dittos
Loving and Beloved dog of the Kvietkus Family
--Hal, Suzanne, Elyse, and Andrew Pate, plus Ki-Kitty

Boo-Boo
--Kimberly and Kellyann Bandusky

Boo-Boo
Beloved cat of Kimberly and Kellyann Bandusky.
--Lauren Domian

Boo-Boo
Treasured feline family member for Kimberly and Kellyann Bandusky.
--Hal, Suzanne, Elyse, and Andrew Pate, also Ki-Kitty

Sylvia aka Bamboo Kitty
Beloved feral cat of Kelly, Joann and Walker Rhodes.
--Larry and Barbara Stanley

Lil Princess Jasmine
Beloved cat of Diane and Bruce Camidge.
--Diane and Grace Clement

In memory of all my cats
--Sidney Nisbet

Spence, Abby, Katie, Toby, Wilma and Jenny
Home 2 Cats
--Larry and Barbara Stanley
--Ellen Lentz

Katie
Home 2 Cats
--George and Linda Bond

Misty
--Ellen Lentz
--Larry and Barbara Stanley

Granny
Beloved cat of Bill and Rita Vandenburgh
--Steve Meyer

Vivian
Beloved cat of Jeanie Condo
--Ruth Blann Cartledge, Phoebe and Holle

In Memory Of People

Ted Cartledge
--Ruth Blann Cartledge

RoseMarie Kromrey
Beloved sister-in-law of Rita Helmsley
--Susan Barnhart

In Memory Of People

Larry and Barbara Stanley
--Sidney Nisbet

Larry and Barbara Stanley
--Ruth Blann Cartledge

 

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A Word from Home (2 Cats!)

GoodSearch.com

There is a new and easy way to raise money for Home 2 Cats just by searching the Internet with "GoodSearch.com".

GoodSearch.com is a new search engine that donates half its revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. It’s simple. You use GoodSearch.com like any other search engine — the site is powered by Yahoo! — but each time you do, a small donation is generated for Home 2 Cats.

Just go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter Home 2 Cats as the charity you want to support. We hope that not only will you use GoodSearch as your main search engine from here on out, but will also pass this message on to your friends and family. The more supporters we have who use GoodSearch will help generate additional funds for Home 2 Cats.

 

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Home2Cats | Newsletters | Photos | Lynx

Please send email to:  home2cats@aol.com

Or write to: Home 2 Cats
P. O. Box 752671
Memphis, TN  38175-2671

And, as always, our sincere thanks for images from:

actioncat.com
Graphics from CatStuff
Microsoft Office: Design Gallery Live
*NaNcY*'s Cat Animation Gallery
Lucky Cats portraiture by donaldmoon

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This page was last updated 12/31/10.
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