I adopted Obie from a shelter September 5th 2008. They said he was 8 years old, my vet said he was more like 16, maybe even 18. He had been found on the street hobbling due to a bad infection in both paws. He was a polydactyl (extra toes) and his thumb nails had grown into his paw pads. He was taken to a vet to treat his badly infected paw pads and he also had ear mites. He weighed 20 lbs, so finding food wasn’t a problem! When I came to the shelter looking for an older cat. My goal was to adopt the cat leat likely to find a home. Therefore I could give him the best care and love in his golden years.
I saw Obie curled up in a cat bed sleeping. The lady told me he had been at the shelter for almost six months and hadn’t made any kitty friends. She told me his story and said he wasn’t much of a lap cat, but wasn’t skiddish. She said he just looked sad all the time. She mentioned his extra toes and that’s all it took. I filled out the application and left hoping I would be able to bring him home. The next day I got the phone call! He was mine and I could pick him up anytime that day. So off I went to pick up my new, older 20lb orange cat with extra toes!! He slept the whole way home in the carrier. He slept all the time and always looked sad. I was determined to make this cat happy and take away the sad look in his eyes. And I did. This big boy was the sweetest cat I’ve ever known. I never once heard him hiss. Almost 4 years to the day I adopted him he passed away.
That day was one of the worst days of my life. I woke to find him on the floor trying to get up and meowing very loud. He seemed as if if he was dying right then. I rushed him to the emergency hospital where they told me he was in bad shape. They said they would get him comfortable, warm him up, put some fluids in him and do some blood work etc. and call me when they knew what was going on. That call was full of bad news. He was in kidney failure and with the diagnosis of his blood test, he had cancer. I said I would be right there. In my mind I hadn’t thought I would lose him, I thought he could be ok with medical care. On my way to see him, he passed away at the animal hospital. I never got to say good bye.
My dearest Obie Boy. I am so sorry I wasn’t there to comfort you or hold you one last time and kiss your sweet face. I guess I didn’t want to believe you would leave. If I had known, I would never have left the hospital. I would have stayed by your side. I hope you weren’t frightened. I hope you didn’t think I abandoned you. I would never do that. I miss you sweet kitty and I hope I brought some happiness into your life in the last four years. You sure brought happiness into mine.
Rest in Peace my Big Orange Boy!
I will love you forever,
| Obie |
| 13, Aug 2012 |
| Pamela Madigan |