Tiger
TIGER AND PRINCESS, A
STORY OF BROTHER AND SISTER TABBIES THROWN INTO A NEW WORLD BY FATES OF TIME ON
THEIR ORIGINAL CARETAKERS.
Below is a letter to dear
friends who know about the cats. We had
taken Tiger into our home and an “injury” was discovered…it was not healing:
“The biopsy showed
cancer. It is an invasive type but not as apt to metastasize as some
other types. This means his leg would
have to be removed and keep hoping the cancer would not return. After
assurances by the best cat cancer oncologist and surgeon in XXXXcity that Molly
(2 years ago) would be ok, we watched her die at home, apparently not in pain
but very weak. We are both pretty well convinced this wonderful boy would
have a recurrence of the disease even if leg is removed. Cats are like
that and many cancers return with a vengeance.
I don’t want that for this sweet kitty.
We are feeling so very, very,
so sad for that 8 year old sweet boy. With all he would have to go
through adapting to a new home, one less leg and likely more extensive removal
of tissue than normal considering the type of cancer...you know us well enough
to know it is not the money even if we had it. We will have him
put to peace and sent to God. I will hold him then. If we believed
he has a good chance over all, we would not do it. We will talk more with our
vet tomorrow.
Strange
twists of life..
if Tiger is put down, this means his sister Princess will go with us.
She is
still living outside the original home; wish us good fortune getting her
in the
carrier! When checked out by the vet she will come to live here. Tiger
is giving his
sister a home in the hardest way of all..the most tear rending way...an
emotionally trying way..a totally final way for him. If he stayed here,
she would not
have a home. Is irony the word? Was it meant for the cancer
suddenly to show up like it did with such a vengeance and for us to know
Tiger
would go to the Creator and Princess would have a home? Later might
have
been too late for both of them. It is almost one of those ethereal
animal
love stories, the sort no people would recognize for the sweetly
delicate thing
it might be. Should we take her to see him? I think so then think not
and
the possible confusion for her…my heart is too hurt to know.
Love to you all.
Tommy.”
My wife to me:
“I will take a picture of you holding Tiger but I want you
to have a happy face in the picture. We
will have given Tiger a peaceful end to his life instead of lying outside
somewhere under a shed slowly dying from cancer and very painful. God will remember that.
And in the meantime, we will love Ms. Princess and give her
the best life she can have just like we have with all of our kitties. Yes, they will hiss and scream and bat at
each other but will eventually get along.
Just look at Callie; I would never have expected her to be the way she
is today when we brought her home from the farm. My; how she has changed!!!
This is why we do what we do; to make kitties lives a little
better for them!!”
----------------------------------------
Tiger
went peacefully to his creator. We cried. Had I taken a flight this
morning, they would have charged for the bags under my eyes! Such is
tears. Princess is in a room right now,
getting used to other cats checking her out from the other side of the
door. This is a day of sadness joined with delicate
silver threads to a happy ending. There are a few literal hissy fits to come but it should work out just fine
------------------------------------
For now, 18 days in, Princess the rescued female is no closer to being sociable than on day one.
We are trying a new approach starting tonight, December 30.
Are we disappointed in how this kitty has NOT adapted to living here with the other cats?
That is the least of it! Apparently she has lived so many years incomplete control
of her area, this change is very difficult for her.
THIS IS DEFINITELY DIFFICULT ON US AND OUR OTHER CATS.
We want her to stay here and fit in, yet are finding out it is going to take longer than first thought.
We will report back ever so often on the situation.
For now, this blog goes back to its purpose of trying to help me generate photography business
as I get the pheromones, safety crate for her temp home ready and keep keeping on.
THE BEAUTIFUL ENDING IS NOT QUITE VISIBLE...YET
THE BEAUTIFUL ENDING IS NOT QUITE VISIBLE...YET
We
are consulting with a highly qualified animal behaviorist at the
University of Tennessee Small Animal Clinic. I tend to do just as
advised but am finding that difficult with several cats free in the
home. My spouse wants to modify the plan to provide Princess more
opportunity to see the other cats. I am trying to gain some closeness of
the home cats to Princess using treats and rewards, with more limited
contact to ease stress in the new kitty. Results so far? I need to be
more patient than now to keep this up for several more weeks. We have
not tried allowing Princess to mingle with the other cats since trying
the recommended approaches. We will post updates as things get better
or worse.
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