Sunday Milo's kitty sister, Tiramisu, suffered a stroke that paralyzed her back legs and tail. It literally happened in front of me. I thank God it was not a work day and that I was home.
I rushed her immediately to a pet emergency hospital and the prognosis was grim: she was suffering and the best thing I could do was let her go. The vet said she was in pain (imagine someone cutting off the circulation to your legs....painful). Even if she was transferred to the Univ of Penn for surgery, her outcome was not good, 20% chance of surviving the surgery and a very high chance of suffering this same type of stroke again.
This type of stroke is not age related, a one year old kitty could have this happen.
It was devastating...and such a shock. She just turned 11 years old this month. She enjoyed excellent health her whole life and was always playful as a kitten.
I know Milo misses her. When I brought home the empty cat carrier, he sniffed and sniffed it and layed down beside it for a long time. I've caught him going to all her napping places, sniffing...and he looks at me as if to say,
"where did she go?"
The cutest thing he did with her is sit at the bottom of the stairs and watch her come down, then he would "escort" her to to kitchen and sit at the doorway while she ate or drank. Then he would escort her back to the steps and sit and watch her go back upstairs to a napping spot. It was a riot to watch.
I cried and cried. I try to focus on not what I lost...but the gift of love and happiness I had for 11 years with her. Still, it sucks entirely.
"I love my home because I love my cats, and little by little they become its visible soul."