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tungolLast night was pretty long. Gracie was a bit out of it, between the medication and just what was happening to her, but she really appreciated the company. She spent a lot of time staring into space, but every time one of us came to spend time with her after a break, Gracie would put on a happy squint to welcome us back. Margaret stayed up all night with Gracie. I got a couple hours sleep, but kept coming back to talk to her and make sure she didn't need anything.
The doctor came to the house a little after 9am. She was so gentle and professional. I can't imagine having her job. We talked through what would happen. I gave Gracie some salmon treats, which Margaret thought I dragged out a little too long. I just wanted to give her something nice - all night those treats were the one thing that would pretty consistently get her attention.
Gracie went to sleep while we told her how much we loved her, that it was okay that she couldn't stay, that we'd take care of everything and all she had to do was get some rest. It was a long night for all of us, and I'm sure she was tired. Both injections took effect quickly. She's resting now, and I miss her terribly.
I've been bouncing between this enormity of grief and calm relief that it's over now. It was very much time for her to leave us, as awful as that is. There's comfort in that, in knowing that she's not hurting anymore, and that we did absolutely everything we could for her. We probably hung on a little longer that would have been best, but we were also able to let her go before it was too late, and I'm glad for that.
Afterwards, the doctor made a little clay paw impression for us, and gave us a lock of her fur. She gave us the choice of where to take it from, and I picked her chest, which was always so soft and fluffy, and she loved how I skritched her there. We let Reischa see the body, so that she'd understand why Gracie wasn't going to be around anymore. Reischa was very sweet afterwards, and a little later I watched as she sniffed around investigating the bed where Gracie had been. Margaret and I have hope that Reischa will really like being an only cat.
The doctor said that with all Gracie's health problems, 14 was pretty good. That's true, but it was never going to be enough time with her.
The doctor came to the house a little after 9am. She was so gentle and professional. I can't imagine having her job. We talked through what would happen. I gave Gracie some salmon treats, which Margaret thought I dragged out a little too long. I just wanted to give her something nice - all night those treats were the one thing that would pretty consistently get her attention.
Gracie went to sleep while we told her how much we loved her, that it was okay that she couldn't stay, that we'd take care of everything and all she had to do was get some rest. It was a long night for all of us, and I'm sure she was tired. Both injections took effect quickly. She's resting now, and I miss her terribly.
I've been bouncing between this enormity of grief and calm relief that it's over now. It was very much time for her to leave us, as awful as that is. There's comfort in that, in knowing that she's not hurting anymore, and that we did absolutely everything we could for her. We probably hung on a little longer that would have been best, but we were also able to let her go before it was too late, and I'm glad for that.
Afterwards, the doctor made a little clay paw impression for us, and gave us a lock of her fur. She gave us the choice of where to take it from, and I picked her chest, which was always so soft and fluffy, and she loved how I skritched her there. We let Reischa see the body, so that she'd understand why Gracie wasn't going to be around anymore. Reischa was very sweet afterwards, and a little later I watched as she sniffed around investigating the bed where Gracie had been. Margaret and I have hope that Reischa will really like being an only cat.
The doctor said that with all Gracie's health problems, 14 was pretty good. That's true, but it was never going to be enough time with her.
