After numerous trips to SPCA to look at cats, Monti captured my attention. Being my first pet, I read extensively about caring for cats and Monti was the beneficiary of this knowledge. Gentle and easy-going, he has adapted to my bringing back strays for rescue with patience after a little initial wariness. Becoming a bit sedantary in his middle-age, I thought it best to enliven his days with a companion. He now has 2 young females to keep him active and attentive into his old age.
U P D A T E -- Tue 30 Jan 2018, 11.50pm
Monti has just crossed the rainbow bridge.
He died of kidney failure perhaps compounded by longstanding hyperthyroidism. The blood test results from the morning of his departure stated "Urea 67.8 mmol/L (normal 5.4-10.7)" and "Creatinine 232 umol/L (normal)". For a decoding of the blood results sheet, please google "Understanding Your Cat's Blood Work Results."
As he had made his preference known to me days earlier, the old boy died alone on the balcony where it was cool and away from the apartment's usual hubbub of activity. In his last three days, he drank water and had intermittent nibbles on raw chicken sushi. As his frail body underwent shutdown, he stopped eating totally but continued to drink. His periodic soft purring (of a type not heard from Monti before now) was heart-wrenching to hear but I hoped it was the purr of calming self-hypnosis.
When I placed a towel under him to ward off the chilled tiles, I got a reproachful vocalisation for my pains so I stopped interfering. But he allowed me to mop up his bladder spills.
I take comfort in the fact that in his final weeks of life, I managed to provide him (along with my two other cats which he helped bring up!) with species-appropriate raw and cooked food, eg chicken necks, hearts, chicken sushi and pork bone broth which they thoroughly enjoyed. The approving growls went hand in hand with the appreciative crunch of chicken vertebrae. And yes, it had the requisite supplements and minerals for a balanced meal. So much so that they are disdainful of the usual canned catfood I still have in my cupboard....
I have begun to prep home-cooked (mixed with raw parts) for my two girls –– a happy side-effect of having to understand and care for Monti.
Until we meet again beyond that rainbow bridge.
