The weekend before this last one Odie started throwing up and he was not eating as well as he normally did. On Monday last week Ron took him to the vet. After 800 dollars the vet said she felt he had no blockage and most likely he had an ulcer. She gave us several medications and told us to get him some over the counter Pepcid. We managed to give him his medications in a syringe.
But on Thursday we took him back to the vet for a bolus of fluid because he still was not eating nor drinking. We increased his new make him hungry ear rub. All weekend we tried hard to entice him to eat or drink. On Monday I had a doctor’s appointment. When I got home I suggested that Ron call the vet. He told me he got Odie to drink something and said he heard cats can make huge turn a round after not eating or drinking for days. I felt what it really was a cry for more time. As Odie seemed stable and not in pain I let things be, after all Ron watches a lot of animal vet shows and I hoped he was correct.
For the first time since Odie got ill he did not leave his safe space which is Ron’s closet that day. Ron tried hard to get him to drink or eat. This morning (Tuesday 8-5-2025) I told Ron he needed to call the vet and he agreed, he had faced the fact of Odie’s situation and realized that Odie was passing and not able to get better.
The vet told us to bring him in around 4 pm or 1600 for those on a 24 hour clock. All day both Ron and I checked on him and Ron kept trying to get him to eat or drink. The veterinarian hospital is only like five or 7 minutes away from us. At about 3:50 pm Ron set the carrier on the counter and put a fresh blanket in it. I picked Odie up from the closet and realized he had no strength to even support himself anymore. Once I got him in the carrier he did not even try to turn around and we struggled to get his tail completely in the carrier. I ended up having to reach around him to pull the blanket further in so we could secure the door.
I needed Ron to carry the carrier to the vet’s office, but while I had been with every furry family member when they walked the rainbow bridge, Ron has not joined me during the procedure as his feelings are so strong and he has struggled with the death of each one. I feel it is the last act of love I can do for them. My last duty for them.
The vet asked if we both wanted to stay and I said yes. I was surprised Ron did also. The vet assistant took Odie to have an IV inserted. I asked Ron if he was sure he wanted to stay instead of going to the waiting room or the car. He wanted to stay. When they brought Odie back we petted him until the doctor came in to do the finial step. As first the sedative and then the last medication was injected Ron sat near him and talked to him. I stood next to him and gently rubbed his head and neck fur. I said a few things verbally and a lot more mentally. I could see Ron was doing the same. I was proud of how he handle a very painful experience. The one who was crying the most was the vet, she said that her cat was a ginger and she really liked Odie when he was visiting them.
I have included a few pictures of Odie below. Best wishes, Purrs, and Hugs for all who want them.
Odie as a Kitten
Odie older.
Odie in his favorite spot to get my love and attention. My desk.
Scottie's Playtime 
oh my dear man. I’ve been where you are so many times, and it never gets easier. And there does come the hardest moment when you realize there’s no recovering, it’s time. you love them, but you have to let them go.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Hi Judy. Yes you are correct. As I told Ron when he mentioned it hurt so much, that is because they are dependent on us as little children are. They stay little children in our minds and hearts no matter how long they are with us because we know they need us for basic functions. It is like losing a child you are helpless to save. The hardest part of it is to know when. You don’t want to deprive them of life it is good for them but when they are losing the quality of life and it is become a burden instead of a joy for them, we the humans have to be the adults, meaning doing the hardest thing, letting them go. As you said we have to let them go when it is time. Hugs
LikeLiked by 2 people
The second photo made me tear up. I’m so sorry for both of you, for this loss.
It is hard to keep our deal with our pets-they take care of us, we take care of them, but you and Ron were heroic with Odie, and made his crossing the bridge much easier, knowing you were there, you loved him so, and he was the best kitty in the world. You and Ron did good.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Ali. Odie came into the family when James was living with us the first time. He was about 19 or 20 and he noticed how Milo clung to me, followed me, stayed with me, on my desk, near me looking out a window, on my lap, and slept on my head or next to me at night. He asked if he could have a cat. We said yes. Then he asked that I don’t bond with the cat before he did. Normal to want but hard to do. Because at the time I was home all the time and Ron and James worked, the pets bonded to me. I was here for them, fed them, petted them, and made of them all day long.
He tried to keep Odie in his room for a few weeks. I think that was a bad thing looking back. Odie knew we were there but not given a chance to be with him. But after a time I explain to James he was hurting Odie, leaving him alone while he worked long days and if he went to friends on his days off. Plus he was getting tired of caring for Odie just himself. He learned that cleaning a cat box is not a fun task and keeping cats fed is a more than once a day thing. So he opened the door letting Odie come out and meet us. I still tried to keep my distance but the more he saw Milo with me the more he wanted to be with us. I let him. He became mine somehow.
After he came out of James room James turned all duties to care for him over to Ron and me. We fed him and we cleaned boxes, while James would pet him or hold him occasionally. Odie slept next to me while Milo slept on my head. When James moved out like 6 or 7 years later he asked if Odie was going with him or staying. Ron told him firmly that Odie was staying. James was happy for that.
When James moved back in a few years later he tried to make up with Odie. But Odie did not want to be with him or near him. He pulled back from James. So James accepted that. After James met the woman he fell in love with and moved out again, every time he came to visit Odie hid in his safe space like he did for people he did not know. The same safe space he ran to when he got sick. That is the story of Odie. Hugs
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m so sorry, my brother. I remember when you got Odie for James. You gave him a great home, a lot of love and a number of treats 😉 Being there for Gracie was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, so I understand your pain. My heart goes out to you both.
Hugs
Randy
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi brother. Thank you so much. Knowing you are there when I need your support is a huge blessing for me. I had forgotten how small Odie was when he first came into the house. He was not adventurous from being in James room at first. He was very timid, but soon realized he was safe. He loved the Christmas tree and felt it was great fun to hide in it. But since hurricane Ian I noticed he was failing. He developed diabetes and lost strength, over time had trouble with his bowels. But when he started throwing up I got worried, and when he stopped eating I knew. I just had to let Ron come to the understanding also. It hurts to let them go because they are children we are the adults to. They are dependent on us for everything, all the basics such as food and water. In return they give us love and attention, things humans need a lot of. Hugs
LikeLike
Thank you. Hugs
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Scottie and Ron, my heart goes out to you.. They always take a piece of our heats with them, but they leave their’s in it’s place to fill the void.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Bruce. Thank you so much. I just read of your lost of Tikka. I agree with you, they share their hearts with us. I have always felt that the love and joy we share when they are in our lives is worth the pain when they have to leave this existence. Hugs
LikeLike
Dear little cat, walking over the rainbow bridge.
Our sympathies to both of you Scottie and Ron, and praise for you both for loving him so much
Roger & Sheila
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you both. Roger I do not know if your family included furry family members with tails. But I have always felt the love and joy of having them in my life outweighs the pain of when they pass from our plane of existence. I had my first real love of a furry friend with a tail as an abused child and this dog gave me everything, pushed deep against me when I cried, howled when I screamed, and was by my side through it all. When I was not allowed in the house and they called for her she refused to go in, staying huddled with me in the rain or what ever.
That kind of love I found in each furry person with a tail we had enter our family over the years. As a child I did not understand it well but as an adult I looked at each of them as children dependent on us for even the basics in life. In return they gave us the love children give to those who love them. Each has their own character and needs also each have different ways of showing love. Hugs
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can understand the pain and the loss folk feel when they lose a pet. They bond and they become part of the family with their own loving contribution.
Some year back one of neighbours had a cat ‘Smudge’, he was a big, ragged old one-eyed tom. He took a liking to us and our back garden, and often we would see him stretched out in a favourite spot sunning his old bones, he would look up at us with a sort of ‘Hi. How you doing guys?’ and then go back to his meditations or doze.
We do miss him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Roger. One other question. You mentioned that Sheila’s health was getting bad and very troublesome. How is she doing? I hope things have gotten better for her. Hugs
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for asking Scottie, I’ll pass that message on, Sheila will appreciate it❤️.
She has a combination of what the medical profession would call non-threatening. Tinnitus, IBS and Asthma (mild so far), each one could be bad enough but together they can leave her housebound for days.
These days with our NHS under threat from budget cuts and in roads by commercial outfit (many of which are less than perfect themselves) it is difficult to get an appointment with a doctor and then there’s the waiting. It’s a subject that will raise very passions over here. One commentator said the NHS in the eyes of the public is the closest thing the UK has to a state religion.
There’s a kind of bonding that does go on between sometimes between staff and patients along the lines of ‘Yes. We know the Governments have screwed up all. We’ll try and work together’
It’s not perfect but its ours.
If some MAGA person was to say to me, ‘You should ditch that NHS’ My curt response would be ‘Sure. When you bring in strict gun control laws like ours!’
Take care you guys
Roger & Sheila
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well said, very well said. Yes please give my best to her. Getting older is hard enough without fighting for needed health care and health issues. Hugs
LikeLiked by 1 person
I passed your message on Scottie. Sheila said ‘Thanks’ and was grateful for you taking your time to ask.
All the best
Roger & Sheila
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always sad to lose a cherished pet. I feel for you guys.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Shelldigger. They become such a large part of our lives so that their loss leaves a large hole that has to heal. But the joy of having them in our lives is worth the pain when they are gone. Hugs
LikeLike