Discussion
It is with great sadness that I report the passing our our beloved Tonkinese cat Gillmore. He was 14 years old. Both Debbie and I are distraught.
Gillmore became diabetic in November last year and with careful control of his diet and insulin he had continued to lead an active and healthy life.
Sadly, early last week, he began to fall ill with diarrhoea and vomiting and went hypoglycemic. A trip to the vets on Thursday for an overnighter and he was much better by Friday evening when we collected him. Sadly, the vomiting and diarrhoea had not stopped. He barely ate or drank Saturday or Sunday and was clearly in some discomfort. He disappeared and hid away yesterday for several hours and would not come when called. We thought the worst - that he had run away to die. Fortunately he appeared just as we had almost given up hope - He was just a few yards from the front door hiding in a garden. We took him to the emergency vets immediately and they put him on a drip, took blood tests etc.
Sadly he took a turn for the worse and we got a call at 10.50 or so last night to say that they didn't think he'd make the night. We rushed down there to see him and he was in a bad way. The decision was a no-brainer but that makes it no less difficult. He passed away with us by his side at 11.25pm. The little bugger fought all the way to the end - it took three injections to take him down. Sadly for Gillmore, this was one argument where he couldn't have his own way.
Everybody loved Gillmore - he even converted non cat lovers...! No matter how much the dogs antagonised him he took it all in his stride and was never ever aggressive to anyone or anything. He wouldn't claw or scratch you, hiss or fight, he was truly a gentle giant that everybody loved. I got a call this morning from our regular vets (he was at the emergency vets yesterday) and Francesco was in tears as I told him what happened. This is a guy who sees sick and dying animals day in day out so you can imagine how special Gillmore was to have such an impact.
Gillmore was a handsome and majestic cat. We mill miss him desperately, his calm demeanour, his embracing personality, his answering back, his distinctive voice.
He will be cremated and delivered back to us in a little 'cat on a cushion' urn.
Gone but not forgotten. RIP Gillmore.
Little youtube clip : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HE8Gsgstf0
Gillmore became diabetic in November last year and with careful control of his diet and insulin he had continued to lead an active and healthy life.
Sadly, early last week, he began to fall ill with diarrhoea and vomiting and went hypoglycemic. A trip to the vets on Thursday for an overnighter and he was much better by Friday evening when we collected him. Sadly, the vomiting and diarrhoea had not stopped. He barely ate or drank Saturday or Sunday and was clearly in some discomfort. He disappeared and hid away yesterday for several hours and would not come when called. We thought the worst - that he had run away to die. Fortunately he appeared just as we had almost given up hope - He was just a few yards from the front door hiding in a garden. We took him to the emergency vets immediately and they put him on a drip, took blood tests etc.
Sadly he took a turn for the worse and we got a call at 10.50 or so last night to say that they didn't think he'd make the night. We rushed down there to see him and he was in a bad way. The decision was a no-brainer but that makes it no less difficult. He passed away with us by his side at 11.25pm. The little bugger fought all the way to the end - it took three injections to take him down. Sadly for Gillmore, this was one argument where he couldn't have his own way.
Everybody loved Gillmore - he even converted non cat lovers...! No matter how much the dogs antagonised him he took it all in his stride and was never ever aggressive to anyone or anything. He wouldn't claw or scratch you, hiss or fight, he was truly a gentle giant that everybody loved. I got a call this morning from our regular vets (he was at the emergency vets yesterday) and Francesco was in tears as I told him what happened. This is a guy who sees sick and dying animals day in day out so you can imagine how special Gillmore was to have such an impact.
Gillmore was a handsome and majestic cat. We mill miss him desperately, his calm demeanour, his embracing personality, his answering back, his distinctive voice.
He will be cremated and delivered back to us in a little 'cat on a cushion' urn.
Gone but not forgotten. RIP Gillmore.
Little youtube clip : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HE8Gsgstf0
Give it a few months and then get a replacement. There will never be another Gillmore but there will be something to fill that quiet corner. Which reminds me:
I shall walk in the sun alone
Whose golden light you loved:
I shall sleep alone
And, stirring, touch an empty place:
I shall write uninterrupted
(Would that your gentle paw
Could stay my moving pen just once again!).
I shall see beauty
But none to match your living grace:
I shall hear music
But not so sweet as the droning song
With which you loved me.
I shall fill my days
But I shall not, cannot forget:
Sleep soft, dear friend,
For while I live you shall not die.
To a Siamese Cat (June 1930-December 1942), by Michael Joseph
from "100 Years of Siamese Cats", May Eustace, 1978
I shall walk in the sun alone
Whose golden light you loved:
I shall sleep alone
And, stirring, touch an empty place:
I shall write uninterrupted
(Would that your gentle paw
Could stay my moving pen just once again!).
I shall see beauty
But none to match your living grace:
I shall hear music
But not so sweet as the droning song
With which you loved me.
I shall fill my days
But I shall not, cannot forget:
Sleep soft, dear friend,
For while I live you shall not die.
To a Siamese Cat (June 1930-December 1942), by Michael Joseph
from "100 Years of Siamese Cats", May Eustace, 1978
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