Another Wonderful Life! 

Leo's Passing

At 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 26, 2004 Leo apparently  had a sudden onset of Thrombosis.  Fortunately I was there about the time it occurred.  Leo has had numerous medical problems throughout his life, but at the time this occurred, we weren't treating him for anything that we thought was in any way life threatening.  Thrombosis is a blot clotting condition and usually secondary to myocadriopathy or congenital heart disease.  In this case the clot occurred in his back legs.  A vet could give you all the medical terminology for it, but bottom line is that it causes paralysis, loss of control of bowels and kidneys and is just plain terrible to experience for all concerned.  I took Leo to the emergency service at the New Ulm Veterinary Clinic.  As I drove, I held my hand inside the carrier so he could feel my presence.  Leo has never liked riding in the truck and with so many confusing things going on, I knew he was frightened.  Dr. Kahler, the vet that cared for B.S. Sundae was on duty.  She took an x-ray and found that his heart had enlarged, his lungs were filled with fluid and his back legs were ice cold.  We could have tried heroic efforts to remove fluids, clear the clot, etc., but the chances of his regaining the use of his legs was slim and it would have been a long and possibly painful and lonely time in intensive care with an uncertain future.  Out of love, a painful decision was made.  I will always pray it was the right one.  I don't think Leo was in much pain, but was scared and confused  because nothing was working the way it should.  Dr. Kahler gave him a sedative to relax him and she permitted me to spend as much time as I wanted with him before proceeding.  I cradled him in my arm, betted him and told him over and over how much I loved him and that we would be together again one day.   He relaxed......snuggled his head against my arm, mewed softly and licked my hand.  Shortly after we sent him on his journey.  It was very peaceful.  I believe my boy was already half way there before Dr. Kahler finished.  I stayed with him the entire time. 

I took Leo home in a little coffin.  The ground was rock hard, so I build a fire in the area I wanted him to be in an effort to thaw the frozen ground.  I was able to dig down about 6 or 7 inches and was probably pretty close to breaking through the frost line, when my wonderful neighbors Mariano and Maria came home.  They had been at the hospital where there one year old son was recovering from a serious illness.  I remembered Mariano had a pick axe and asked if I could borrow it to break through and break up the frozen soil.  Mariano not only got me the axe, but came over and finished the job!   He dug me a nice grave about 2-3 ft deep, squared it up nicely  and removed tree roots.   He then asked to see Leo, and petted him.  He is such a nice man!  He lowered the little coffin into the grave and asked if I wanted a moment to say a final word to Leo.  I spoke my final goodbyes to my lovely boy and then Mariano helped me fill the grave.  We then surrounded it and topped it with some concrete pieces that came from an old sidewalk.....just to be sure nothing would disturb the site.  

The next time you hear someone complain about the Mexican immigrants, remember how a gentle couple from Guadalajara took a half an hour of their time, even when their only son was in the hospital with a serious illness, to help their old friend and neighbor bury her kitty!  

Another Life To Remember

After Leo passed, I had a chance to email with Penny Bobb's human Lynn.  Lynn told me about a wonderful kitty that entered her life for a short period of time.  Here is what she told me about a handsome guy named "Rascal":

"The shock and pain of your sudden loss of Leo brought back the same memories of losing Rascal in July. Rascal was the newest of the Bobb Cats, showing up out of the blue in March of 2002 .I have no clue where he came from or how he found me, but he would stare in at me from the window and I'd break down and stick plates of food out for him, telling myself that there was no way I had room for another cat...until one cold and very rainy day when I watched him sitting in the downpour with no place to go. As soon as I opened the window, in he jumped and onto my lap, where he began purring and kneading with total abandon. I was hopelessly in love with him from that moment on. He was a terror to the other cats....loving to hide under a rug or in a corner, waiting for the right moment to pounce, scaring the fur off the cat going by.  I could never stay mad at him.  All it took was one of his gentle nudges and a plop in my lap and I was like melted butter.  He was the smartest cat I'd ever met. He loved going out in the back, which is a dead end grassy alley, and hiding in wait for the ferals, where he would treat them to his "Boo" attack. But as soon as I would call for him, he would come running, talking a mile a minute, as if to say "what took you so long?"   Then came the day in July when he did not come when I called for him. Strange, I thought. He must have found something pretty interesting to keep him busy. Then the phone rang and it was my next door neighbor with the news that there was a  cat out front that had been run over.  My spouse went out and gathered up Rascal, crying like a baby as he loved him too. He buried him for me and I still miss Rascal like crazy. Even with 9 inside Bobb Cats and 6 outback ferals to tend to.....there was only one Rascal."

Rascal was not a member of any club and very few even knew he existed.   Penny and her human never got a chance to give him a tribute except in their hearts.   The memory of him and the loss of my Leo prompted Penny to tell us about Rascal.   It was the perfect time to share Rascal with us Penny and Lynn :)  Leo was born in July and would have loved knowing Rascal.   They seem to have had some similar traits....."boo attacks" from under rugs and corners for one! :) So now we will give Rascal a place with Leo, so he can be known and remembered by others :)