About ‘Baby’
Yesterday,
August 30th 2024, I posted a short note on social media.
It simply
said, “Please do not contact me today, my baby cat died in my arms earlier this
morning.”
My reason for
posting that notice publicly is that it was easier and less heartbreaking than
writing individual messages to those who know me.
What amazed
me was the response. Not only from those I intended the message to reach but
also the flood of comments from people I don’t know. Many, I am sure, have
never responded to any of my previous posts. So, strangers, all with words of condolence
and sympathy.
I thank you
all. Your words of support or comfort mean more than you know.
In reply, I
think it is only right for me to give you a little background about ‘Baby’.
She found
us, adopted us.
One morning,
about three months ago, I stepped out of the house and saw a small cat curled
into a doughnut shape. She was in a small space between some flower pots.
I lifted
her from the damp ground. She was thin and weak. Her ribs clearly showing, but
she had the most wonderful eyes. As she looked at me, I was certain I could see
hope and trust in her expression.
Not having
any cat food, I scrambled some eggs and mixed them with a little rice. The way
she ate it was obvious she was near to starvation.
Inspecting
her, besides being small and underweight, she only had one-third of a tail, so already
she had experienced trauma.
Over the
next few days, we fed and watered her, gave her a bed and, of course, had a veterinary
surgeon examine her. They estimated she was between 4 to 5 months old.
We also enquired
in the neighbourhood, and on local social media, if any was missing a cat. No
one claimed her.
With the
appropriate vitamin injections, along with the standard inoculations, Baby was
doing well.
I have
owned cats all my life, (I am not young, I am now in the winter of my life)
often having four or more at once, and rarely less than two. The longest my
cats have lived is 22, and 18 years respectively. So, I have cared for a vast
number during that time.
So, I feel
I have some authority to say Baby was special, she was the most gentle, placid,
loving, and affectionate I have had the fortune of knowing. She was a one in a
million cat.
Sadly, she
became ill a short while ago. She had difficulty breathing. The vets say it was
some form of lung infection, a pneumonia type.
She may
have had an underlying condition, something we could not know as she was a few
months old when she came to us.
For nine
days we went back and forth to the surgery, more injections, as she could not
take oral medicine. Never once did she lose her affection. You could see the
trust in those beautiful eyes of hers.
As I said
in my post yesterday, Baby passed away in my arms around 10 o’clock in the
morning. I think her heart gave up the struggle. It had all become too much for
her. She died looking at me, a loving, caring, trusting look.
We only had
the good fortune of her presence for three months, but she made such an impact
on our lives.
So, Baby’s life
was only eight short months. It is so unfair that such a beautiful soul can be
taken so soon.
I hate
mortality.
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