Conference misery::feline_v1

2646.0. "Thank you Patate and goodbye" by GVA02::CEHRS () Mon Jul 03 1989 09:02

This note is in memory of my cat "Patate" who passed away last Tuesday
    evening. Patate (which means dummy in an endearing way in French)
    came to me in December of 1974 as an about 7 to 8 weeks old kitten.
    She had been found in a field with her mother and her brother,
    all of them in very bad physical shape by someone who brought her
    to the Humane Society. A friend of mine gave her to me as a present
    and I started to take care of her, building up her physical strength
    by feeding her by hand (anything she wanted from steak to prawns,
    etc., spoiling her rotten of course) and building up her trust in
    the human race, who had let her down so early in her life, by
    spending as much time as possible with her, talking to her, coaxing
    her and playing with her. Patate slowly but surely developed into
    a very loving cat who trusted us one hundred percent and became
    quite friendly even with people she did not know. The one thing
    she hated most was if one of us (my husband or myself) or both
    of us went away from home for a vacation or a business trip. She
    would always let us know that she was unhappy by doing a "dumb"
    thing, like e.g. peeing in the wash-hamper, or throwing her food
    all around the kitchen, etc. We were lucky to have her for fourteen
    and a half years. She started to become slimmer and slimmer a few
    months ago. (I wrote a note about it in this file). A month ago
    I took her again to the vets and had all sorts of tests run.
    She seemed to be fine. However, last week she suddenly started
    to go downhill on Monday. She would not eat much anymore and seemed
    weak and tired. On Tuesday morning I called up the vet and we
    decided that if she should not be any better by Tuesday evening,
    we would put her to sleep on Wednesday morning. I came home from
    the office Tuesday afternoon and she was even weaker and had not
    eaten all day. I talked to her and told her that I believe that
    her time had come and that she should not hang on for our sake if
    she did not feel well. Before I took my dogs for a walk I went to
    see her again, said goodbye to her and thanked her for her loving
    companionship over all these years and asked her to let go if that
    was what she really wanted. I came back from the walk with the dogs
    half an hour later and she was dead. She had understood everything
    I had told her. No need to tell you all how much we miss her and
    how terrible the pain is. However, we look back in gratitude to
    her for having been able to spend fourteen and a half years with
    her as a loving companion. We remember all the "dumb" things she
    used to do (hence her name) and we can already smile about it.
    Thank you Patate, we miss you and we love you.
    Martha
    

    My thoughts are with you, Martha. What a rich collection of memories
    you have of Patate. She was with you almost her entire long and
    happy life. Both she and you were blessed by the relationship
    
    Shayne (NZ)

    I am so sorry about your loss.  What a lovely life Patate had
    with you.  Memories are such treasures.
    

    I am sorry about the passing on of Patate. The relationship 
    between you and Patate sounded so wonderful and the loss is
    great. Patate understood all you said; and will live on in your memories.
                                          
    Pat
    

    Martha,
    
        So sorry to hear about Patate.  You can always feel good about
    the life you restored to her and how much you loved each other.  
    
        We had our childhood cat for almost 20 years and I still
    miss him--but, oh the memories are wonderful--as yours are already
    starting to be.
    
    Barbara (Melody, Melissa and Brittany)

    Martha,
    
    It's been a sad day reading notes.  I'm really sorry to hear about you
    losing Patate.  Your note showed thru all the love you shared.
    
    Thanks for sharing Patate with us.
    
    Mary
    

      Sounds like the two of you had a most special relationship. Myabe
    someday it would make a nice kitty story, like the ones in Cats 
    magazine. They are fun to read. 
    
      Our thoughts are with you,
    
                      Denise, Max, Silvy, Pepper, Chief kitty
    

    Patate's name has been added to the Silver Lining Memorial Fund
    and she will be commemorated this quarter in our donations to
    the Robert Winn Fund and the Framingham Humane Society.
      I hope this helps a bit.
       Nancy DC

    Martha, I am reminded of our ancient Siamese who passed on at
    19 and 21 years.
    
    Our sympathies over your loss.
    
    Chuck & Jane