WEEPY LEAVES BIG PARTING GIFT TO SISTER APRIL

  WEEPY on Memorial Day, 2004 in one of his then favorite hiding places under table


WEEPY in his apprentice days in , er, on Coupon Country desk. Best
supervisor we ever had, keeping me company on long, difficult days

Missing Weepy, here's Big Sis 'sad-eyed'  APRIL back on same day nearby in a spot both April and Weepy loved, under table where they thought nobody was looking. Weepy left April many things, including a new low protein, high fat food we had recently tried for Weepy (which he didn't like) but is now what's keeping 20-year-old April going, the only such food she'll eat

WEEPY Leaves Big Gift to Sis April

Still difficult for us here with Weepy on our minds, but it's a little better with time. Just happened to find these older pictures, above, without even trying.. was meant to be. They do Weepy a little better justice - as I said it can be difficult taking pictures of a black cat...

Was thinking of the many things Weepy left us... including a new low protein, high fat food we had recently tried for Weepy (which he didn't like) but is now what' s keeping 20-year-old April going - the only such food she'll eat. We had just bought a case of the food for Weepy to try (saw it on the net), as there's only a couple such low protein , high fat cat foods on the market. Weepy didn't like this one - liked the other - but April really likes this and NOT the other. Without this food, thanks to Weepy, we'd be in big trouble ... (April also has kidney problems , like Weepy, but due to hyper thyroid, which when treated with medication causes the kidney values to climb. But after a year or more April is hanging in, eating a ton of food but not gaining any weight, which is par for the course with hyperthyroid , they tell me. At least she doesn't have the added heart issue, like Weepy , to deal with. By the wayThe new low protein, high fat cat food is called HI TOR NEO DIET in case anyonewhose cat has kidney issues is interested

Finally got the strength to pick up Weepy's ashes this week. Glad we have Weepy back with us now...

Weepy Took Care Of Himself in the End, Making the Transition Easier for Us

Weepy Took Care Of Himself in the End, Making the Transition Easier for Us

Weepy in his favorite spot on bed, sleeping with April. I would join him later

                                         

               I've been thinking alot about Weepy and his last days and how he / we really had things in control. In fact, things were going so well, I thought, that Weepy might be around awhile, though I knew the doctor's dark prognosis. We'll never know for sure whether it was a sudden embolism or if the kidneys, or heart, suddenly gave out (kidney values had suddenly gone up)...



 In any case, Weepy seemed content, considering, and not unlike the past year. He would come out in the living room  and sit on my lap, go back and eat his food and take care of his personal needs.   The only difference is that when Weepy got suddenly ill the first time, late September, he retreated to the dark closet in the bedroom. That would become his 'base' for his remaining days. He would sleep there most nights and I brought his favorite  bed from the living room so he seemed pretty content. I would bring his favorite foods - not always sure what they were until we tried out from the many varieties I brought in.  I had moved one      of the 'toilets into the back bedroom, not far from the closet. Also, I brought in another water bowl  and located it just outside the closet.



So, it was easier for Weepy to take care of all his needs within a small area , and, at the same time I could be nearby to see how he was doing.   Some nights when I saw him coming out of the closet to his water or toilet I would ask him if he wanted to come up on the bed. He really, truly , communicated with me: he would sit right by the bed if he wanted me to lift him up on it and go to his old , favorite spot on the bed.  Several nights it was like old times with him sleeping the night next to me and April (even April didn't always stay on the bed, opting for her own bed down the hall). 



 During the days, Weepy would still wander out from the back closet - I had given him his food and medicine early in the morning - and come out into the living room and to see my by my desk where I was working  . I would either help him up on his 'catbird perch' or invite him over to the chair where he would jump up on and sit on my lap - even during the day, which we never used to do. I would do whatever I could for Weepy now... every moment with him showing interest was precious. And it was just about like old times again. 



 Tbe silver lining...I had worried about Weepy losing a lot of weight and not eating / wasting away - but none of that happened. Only the last night before I brought him in to the vet for the final time did he not   show much interest in eating, but even then he did eat a little.   



 4 am the next (Friday) morning, August 2, Weepy was not in his bed but listless on the carpet next to the bed. I knew something was wrong and called the vet (open 24 hours, now, fortunately) and brought him right in. I certainly didn't mind taking him in at the early hour. The sooner the better if there's anything they could do for him, and , if not it was nice that there wasn't a lot of activity or a long wait at th is early time. Plus no traffic getting there..   I got the bad news and waited until final tests were taken to confirm the poor prognosis. Then , I waited for them to bring in Weepy and I spend  some time with Weepy, alone, saying my final goodbyes. ...



 Weepy has been with me more than 16 years so it's very tough, as compared to my first four cats who hadn't been with me long.  The  pangs of 'hurt' come early and often and a week and a half later I still can't sit in my TV chair. I keep Weepy's bed in the back closet as a reminder.  


I am fortunate to still have April and now Zack, who only came into my life a little over a year ago after
nearly passing after  left  at  'forclosesure' home. They don't remove the pain of loss but they do help for sure.

Weepy in his 'catbird' supervisorial seat only weeks ago while I worked next to him. Works not the same anymore

                                                                 

Life Without Weepy - One Week Later

Life Without Weepy - One Week Later

           It's been incredibly difficult without Weepy. Hard to stay in the house without his presence. I try to do all the things they tell you to do like exercizing, keeping busy, talking with friends, getting out, etc.  I try to rationalize Weepy's loss...e.g. it was his time, or,  perhaps he had not been really comfortable -in retrospect, the last years- moving slowly with heart and kidney issues. But, not to the point where he seemed in any real pain... He was able to climb up on my lap until the last day and be with me - which meant a lot to me knowing he still had the WILL and DESIRE. Weepy was able to function on his own terms (which was important to him) up until the end when he got out of his bed and lay down on the carpet in the hall the last day, effectively in a 'a coma, 'according to doctors.  I knew Weepy was telling me something. Definitely no point to try to keep Weepy alive so it wasn't a difficult decision to let him go, in one respect. 

Weepy in his catbird seat , 'supervising'  my mail advertising business. Picture taken the past week.

We spent much of days the past month together, which made Weepy's loss more difficult but yet I was glad to get as much time as I could with Weepy and I hope being there for him helped give him comfort. He ate well until the last night, which was the first indication of something wrong, as Weepy had been eating pretty well -with the right foods - right along since his initial bout with heart failure.

Now, it's just April and Zack , inside. I know it's been a bit hard on April. She looks in the back closet where Weepy made his 'home' the last month, with his bed moved from his previous favorite place in the living room... But, I think april knew Weepy wasn't doing well.  So, I spend extra time with April - and Zack. Now , Zack is starting to come on the the bed now, feeling more comfortable and , perhaps April likes to have his presence to some degree. He's not Weepy but he's a nother 'big ' brother for her... So, I try to bringApril and Zack together on the bed. Zack is definitely playfull, being younger - to the point of chasing April, which she doesn't really like but puts up with...

So,it's a new chapter for us... Will never forget Weepy and his ways.. Among his memorable traits was  climbing on my lap whenever I watched TV... Weepy has his definite daily routine, which went from sleeping on  my bed to going to the kitchen in morning for breakfast, then moving to his living room bed.  Around noon he would usually climb up on my desk and supervise me from his catbird seat (above)

I'm lucky to have had Weepy as long as I did, with his heart murmur and all -and after losing my first four male cats in the period of a year, he became the 'lucky charm.' If  he hadn't lived long I might have given up on more cats ...

Weepy, you will always be with me. I miss you terribly. It's hard sitting at this desk knowing you won't be 'supervising' me anymore.  I must leave the house soon to avoid the pain.  But , time will heal though I will never forget you. 

With all my love, Dad

Back Bathroom became a kitchen and tasting area for Weepy. We probably tried over half the various canned foods on the market