Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?

I've been reading and keeping up, but haven't posted much the last few days. My days are spent holding our oldest sweet kitty, Wesley, who is 19 and may not make it until morning. He just wants to be held so it's the least I can do. Right now I passed him over to my husband for a few minutes so I could check in and say hello. Poor Wesley cannot walk very well but tries. He falls over and just lays there until I pick him up. He's not hungry and doesn't want any water. He just sleeps on my chest with his head under my chin. Each breath I think will be his last, but he's lasted all day. I took him outside to feel the sun. Poor guy couldn't even sit up. I've taken him to the litter box but have to hold him up. It's pathetic to see him on his side in the litter box. We knew this day would come, but you are never prepared, are you? We have 3 other cats. Rosie prefers to be outside in the backyard in the sun most of the summer, but lives inside when it gets cold. She is 16. Jeffrey is 15 and seems to be going strong although he is thin in spite of trying to fatten him up. The youngest is Emily, who is 12. She's just a big squishy kitty who never gets in trouble.

We had 9 cats at one point, but one by one they have died. It's been 4 years since we lost the last one so it feels "raw" now. My 2 cents about getting a new cat: we've always gotten kittens and never had any problem. The grown cats seem to know the new one is a baby. They seem to enjoy watching the kitten playing around. Every time we've gotten a new one, another of our bunch adopts the baby. It's sweet to see these big male cats cleaning a little kitten and allowing the baby to climb all over them. That doesn't happen right away, but within a week or so. Male/female doesn't seem to matter. My daughter in Chicago adopted a 3 yr old male shelter cat who had previously been an outside stray. It took him a little while to adjust to staying in the apartment all day, but he soon settled down. Allison decided to add a kitten and brought home a little six week old terror...a cute hyperactive male kitten who looked like a miniature version of the big one. I was concerned that the older one could hurt the baby but after the first week, they were sleeping together! So my advice is to get a kitten. Doesn't matter what sex, and sit back and enjoy.

Sandra.... I'm so sorry.....  We never want to see that "time" but it always comes...You will just know.

I finally took our Lacee up one morning, just DREADING that day, but she couldn't help herself any more, and that was the only way we could help her....  I was sobbing going in to the Vets, and cried  going back out to carry her in................ Then  Lacee just laid there......   waiting.........  like she knew I would help her.  And that was the only way we could.   But I held her, as she just "went to sleep."

She had been going downhill for so long...and every day, you just hope and pray she would be "better"......

 I'm sorry about your Wesley.

Sandra, I had noticed that you wee not showing up much.  I'm so very sorry to hear why.  It is in so many ways very hard to lose the gorgeous, loving, kind, and decent animals that share our lives with us.  They are so without avarice, totally guileless, and always there.  They make no judgments of you.  In their eyes you are never wrong.  They will listen for hours if you need to cry your heart out to them and show total sympathy and agreement with you. 

No wonder it is hard to watch the end of life process they and we all must go through.  This is no disparagement at all on our human friends, but Wesley and those like him are different.  This I  feel is why they are so accepting of their end while many of us are not.  Because of their animal limitations, and because they can't actually tell us how they feel about any one thing, we feel  a bit sad thinking their life was not as full as it could be.  Most of the time ( especially in a loving home with loving caring companions there, ) they live an almost perfect life.....and they are somewhat content and extremely accepting when it is time to let go and cross the Rainbow Bridge. 

Spiritually, I feel those we have loved deeply ( very much so, our animal companions )  will be a part of our eternal existence.  But, even if you believe....for us the parting is difficult and dreaded.  We don't want them to go so soon and end the cherished personal bond.  But I truly believe they have ( what seems to them ) a very long life and like us, I know they enjoy quality of time.  So, with heavy heart and many, many tears.......we release them reluctantly to the Rainbow where they can once again run and play, flitting about with a yarn ball or chasing a butterfly just for fun........or enjoy the sun on their once again shining fur.  They are healthy and happy again and as always will wait patiently until we arrive ready to reclaim our trusted loving friends.

Prayers for you and Wesley...your trusted loyal, caring friend.

Blessings

Jackie

Good Morning,

Have not got through all the posts yet.  Chevy, yes it is heartbreaking.  Our DGD has not seen or spoke to her Mother in 7 months and refuses to do so.  I am in the process of trying to find a counselor for her.  I stayed home today from the broom shop, time to do some things around the house.  Hoping to go to Iowa to see my Mom and sisters and go to the State Fair in August.  Just depends on the pocket book.

Everyone have a good day.

Jackie, you seem to know exactly what to say, no matter what the circumstance. Thank you for your sweet words. Wesley died this morning. I stayed up all night, thinking each breath would be his last, but he hung on, safe in his favorite place...on my chest.

MomMom,
Yay for you.

Blessings

Jackie

I hope your birthday is one of the best ever and that you have as many more as you want, Sally.  Happy, Happy Birthday to you.

Blessings

Jackie

Sandra, I am sorry for your loss.  I still talk to my heavenly dog who has been gone for many years.  I did have a very good birthday.

Termite- what a joy.  Six lbs is a perfect bundle.  Six lbs 5 oz was the national average years ago.  Not sure if that has changed.

Blondie-whatever cats you now have I hope they are sweet and make you smile.

Jackie-I love the funny five things to remember.

Holeinone-fun things to do are always on my must do list, so that's a great name.

Tonight we had a campfire by the lake with grandkids and s'mores.  I think one of Carole's deer was lurking nearby and we were all laughing like her loons.  Good evening friends.

My nephew called his Mom's nipples milks and his Dad's nipples no milks.

Hi,
Sorry Sandra, for this difficult time.  Our kitty was about 16 and had a seizure when about 8 yrs - we never thought she would live.  She did, but then that day did come, just as you described.  Hugs...

Congrats on the chemo graduation, Mommom.  Nice card!

Sally, Happy Birthday...cake looks great.

On my way home from Cape Cod which was nice, but a little cool at times.  Stopped at DD's on the way home and spending the night.  Best part:  Seeing my 2 grandaughters.  Home tomorrow...I miss home in the summer.

Gratitude is an
attitude that hooks us up to our source of supply.
And the more grateful you are, the closer you become to your maker,
to the architect of the universe, to the spiritual core of your being.

- Bob Proctor

Mimi...sounds like you had one of those "memory making" evenings where almost the same joy and sense of well being and all over happiness is reproduced every time you think of it.  The special times really make the rest of the mundane and only just casual times fine, but we are always thankful when they move into that better category. 

You don't know why or when, but they are so special when they come.

Very comical about the breast stories. 

Joan -- just thinking about the little note of wistfulness in your tone when you said you miss "home" in the summer.  Great to go away and have 'different' experiences but whomever said there is no place like home  ( ? Stephen Foster ? ) was so right. 

Chevy -- not thinking time wise, I was surprised that it has been 7 mos. since Lacee went to the Rainbow.  We have lost so many that somewhere along the way I quit feeling it so much in measured time.  The dread and pain are still there, but I've been able ( probably because so many are left needing same amt. of attention ) to not keep measuring. 

As to birthdays...wow, we are glad we have them !!!!  On the one hand since I care for my 98 yr. old lady ( who in general does so darn well ) 77 seems sort of young, but I think I do know what you mean.  Our parents or other people we have known were actually OLD, but when we get to the same place, somehow we magically feel a little younger than the SEEMED to be.  Then you sort of wonder if you are nearly jinxing yourself for even thinking about it.  All I really know for sure is that none of us know for sure............so hopefully we all find joy, peace, contentment and remember to treasure all the common little things. 

I'm treasuring a cool morning outside.  We didn't need the a/c until late yesterday afternoon.  I think today might be just the same.  Though we have had a lot more rain this summer, I'm surprised that we have not had the sultry humidity as much as I would have expected.  Here's hoping. 

I hope you are all well and able to enjoy your day.

Blessings

Jackie

SallyS - hope your day is filled with fun and laughter. Happy Birthday.

Sally, glad you had a good birthday.

MomMom, congratulations on finishing up chemo.  Love the poster!  What a sweet thing your granddaughter did by creating it for you.

Sandra, sorry for your loss. 

Mommarch, hope the pocketbook allows you to visit your mom and sisters.

Hugs to Blondie and hi to everyone.