by Kelly
Spunky was such a special part of my life. He was more then just a pet but a family member. No matter what mood I was in he always knew how to make me smile. Each morning at around 5:30am I would wake up to his crys, he cried so loud I never really needed an alarm clock. He was ready to be fed at this time, and was never able to sit and wait even a couple of minutes. At times it would drive me nuts, but now I can only begin to tell you how I miss the wake up calls. He always walked with me to the door as I was leaving for work, and was always there at the door waiting when I came home. I must tell you I could never get out of his site. I never really had any privacy he was always attached to my hip. I never minded one bit, I would do it all over again in a minute. Spunky was in my life for almost 15yrs. On december 21, 2000 he was taken from my life. He never showed any signs of illness we played on Monday night as we always did every night when he was at the foot of my bed, he always wanted more room (if he could have he would have taken my whole side). He played and nothing seemed to bother him. On Tuesday evening I had noticed that he just wasnt his self. He just slept next to me where ever I was. On Wednesday morning when he didnt wake me up I knew that something was wrong. Upon seeing him I noticed that he was acting weak. He didnt want to eat. I called the vet and took him in. The vet listened to his heart and said that he had a heart murmur but nothing to be concerned about everything else was fine. He gave him a shot of antiobiotics and said I should see improvement in 24hrs. Later that night I did get Spunky to eat some food and we went to bed. Two hrs after eating he woke me up and was getting sick. On Thursday morning I ended up taking him back to the vets, this time we was so weak that he was shaking. The vet took some blood work and said he would have the results on Friday morning he then gave him fluid injections. Needless to say Spunky did not do well later that night he ended up having a seizure and had a hard time breathing. My husband and I rushed him to the Animal Hospital. From there things turned so fast we were told by the vet after looking at Spunkys x-rays that his heart was half the size of his chest cavity. His lungs were filling with fluid and he could not breath on his own even with oxygen. The doctor did blood work. A kidney (creatine) function in a well cat is 1-3 Spunkys level was at 15.6. We were given no choice but to put my baby out of his suffering, there was nothing that could be done, they did what they could. I must tell you that my husband and I cried so hard. My husband and I went into the room to be with our baby, I kept asking over and over again are we doing the right thing the vet told us yes as she was crying. I couldnt hold him because of the pain that he was in, but we did get to pet him and talk to him. As weak as he was he purred for us the whole time. He was so brave and I know that I did the right thing. But I miss him so much, our house is not the same. He gave such unconditional love and I know that I gave him a happy home and much love. I will never understand how two vets that Spunky seen on that Wednesday and Thursday did not hear the fluid in his lungs or the echo of an enlarged heart. I went to these vets because of there many years experience with treating animals. They have taken care of my cats for over 8yrs. When the blood results came back on the Friday from the vets his creatine level was at 13.7. They never looked for the other signs!. For everyone that reads this and owns an animal or plans of getting one just remember that they will bring you much happiness, unconditional love, and are always loyal. Spunky mommy and daddy miss you. I will meet you one day at the rainbow bridge and you will be hugged and kissed and loved as always. XO