Journal Entry 1: July 2002
So how did I get the name B.S. Sundae you
ask?! Well....it's short for "butterscotch
sundae", which is what the human says my coloring reminds
her of! We can't tell you where I was born or where
I came from originally, because the human doesn't
know. It could be that I was dropped off by some
uncaring person. It could be that I was born in the
area.....maybe a relative of Lorraine
who use to live here. There is sort of a
resemblance! I found the human at Pumpkinland, a local
gardening business, made famous by Dorothy and Gordy Kopishcke
for its Halloween related activities.
The human went down there to get some bedding plants. I followed her around and
made a general pest of myself. When it was time for her
to check out, I stayed close by. The new owner of
Pumpkinland told her that I had showed up there and that I
needed a home. The owner liked cats, but her store
manager did not. The owner was not able to take me home
as she already had tons of cats. Now.....the human
does not normally do things spontaneously, but for some reason
decided on the spot to take me home! I was very
skinny, as no one bothered to feed me. I
pretty much foraged for what I got. Anyway, the
human got me home to my new digs.....a shop/garage attached to
her home. I am eating like a pig and gaining weight. I
think I'm going to like it here!
Journal Entry 2: August 2002
The human took me to the vet for shots and to
arrange for neutering. The vet has discovered that I
was a cryptorchid (only one gonad) and had a case of
worms. The vet figures I am about 2 years old. I got through the surgery just fine, tested
negative for the more awful diseases and am having a really
great summer!
Journal Entry 3: Winter 2002
Winter is passing uneventfully in the heated
shop. I really don't care for winter......I don't
care for the cold and so the human keeps me
inside.
Journal Entry 4: Spring 2003
One evening, after a long day outside, the human
noticed I was a bit slow and had a bit of a limp. She
put me inside (I always stay indoors at night) and fed
me. I ate good, so she figured maybe I had sprained my
leg. I didn't get better. A few days
later she found a wound on my side that had begun to
fester. She took me to the vet right away.
The wound was cleaned out and a number of others
found! We're not sure what happened. The vet
found a pellet under the skin. So it may be that someone
shot me. It could also be that I got into a tussle with
another cat, as one of the wounds looked like a bite
wound. The most troubling thing was my white and
red cell count. They were extremely
high/low. The vet thought it was likely due to the
infection. I was given a shot and antibiotic to
take. Numerous visits have been made to the vet. I was slow to heal and while the wound
was healing, the red/white cell issue was not getting
better. Numerous tests were done. I still
tested negative for feline leukemia and other dangerous
diseases. Ultimately it was concluded that I had an
autoimmune deficiency. Shots were prescribed, which my
human administered after a quick tutoring by the
vet. This was done for a couple of weeks.
The problem was that my red/white cell count would not stay stabilized
without something to assist it. I was put on
Prednisone......1.7 cc twice a day. The Vet
advised the human that Prednisone can, in time, have adverse
effects on the liver, kidneys and other vital
organs.
Journal Entry 5: Summer 2003
It's summer time, and I am feeling really
good! I had put on weight (another side effect of prednisone)
and enjoying (mostly supervised) outdoor
jaunts. I've turned out to be a really good
mouser. There is a risk in hunting mice when you have an
autoimmune deficiency as mice can carry disease.
But.....what would life be if you can't have some fun and
enjoy a little mouse hunt once in awhile! I made a
couple of friends......two cats next door......Colito and
Gloria. Colito is just a kitten and I taught
her everything I know! She likes to follow me around and
imitate things I do. During the human's yard sale,
Colito got a hold of a balloon and pounced on it! Of
course it burst and disappeared right beneath her!
She was surprised, and couldn't figure out where it
went! The human threw another balloon on the ground and
I showed Colito how to bat it without bursting it. She
learns fast and batted it all around the yard. The human
thinks it was pretty
cute! :) I also like to sneak across the highway to
Cooper's Toy Box (a storage facility) and chase down
mice!! The human does not approve, but seems glad
that I am enjoying life.
Journal Entry 5: Winter 2003
I had a great summer and
fall! Winter has come again. More of just
being indoors with little opportunity to get outdoors.
Once in awhile, the human will let me venture out, but that
white stuff is no fun and my feet get cold very
easily. I wish Spring would come. The human
comes down to visit me as much as she can, but is reluctant to
let me in the house because of my illnesses. Leo and
Gizzmo have problems as well and it just would not be good for
any of us to mix us. The garage/shop is heated.
The human's laundry room is there and so is the furnace.
There is carpeting and a nice tile floor with rugs to lay on,
so it is pretty comfortable.
Journal Entry 6: March 2004
Spring is here! I've been able to get
out a bit more the past couple of weeks and have enjoyed that
very much. But.......the other day......the human
noticed that I was slower than usual and breathing
harder. She watched for a couple of
days. No improvement. I went to
the vet again. My red cells are lower than
ever. My labored breathing is the result of that
(red blood cells apparently release oxygen to the
cells). For whatever reason, my body is destroying the
red cells. The vet fears there may be a cancer involved
that we simply have not found. There is not much to be
done. The vet increased my prednisone dose to 3 cc twice
a day (that's a lot of prednisone!!) and prescribed some
liquid vitamins. Before I went home, he gave me a shot
(not sure what it was....but apparently stronger than Pred)
and some vitamins. The vet is not sure the increased prednisone
will help. My human isn't either, but wanted
to try. I did feel better when I got home and wanted to
go outside. The human noticed an improvement in my
breathing and that I was more active. She was very
pleased and we had a nice trip outside for about a
hour.
Journal Entry 7: April 2004
In early March, the human decided to enroll
me in CLAW. She figured I was probably going to be
around for awhile and should become a member and start
socializing on the internet! We also joined the
Thespians in hopes that I might get a part in the next CLAW
play. Well.......I may not make it that
long. Life is funny, isn't it?
I guess I will just take one day at a time and
hope for the best. That's about all we can
do. My human is thankful that I had a good summer
and fall last year and a pretty good winter as
well! Keep your paws crossed that I survive the
spring to enjoy this summer! :)
Journal Entry 8: Early Summer 2004
The summer has been wonderful! I
have spent much of it outdoors with my friends Colito and
Gloria. They both had kittens this spring and now I have
8 little mutten heads following me around! I don't mind
it though. They are fun to watch and have so much
energy. They like to pounce on my tail and rub up
against me. The only time I get upset is when they try
to suckle....then I whack 'em! The human is very
impressed at my kind treatment of these kittens. Most of
the time you have to be careful of letting a male cat around
small kittens. I guess it's because I had a tough life
when I was a kitten and want these little guys to be treated
kindly.
I have also learned that I will have a staring
role in the next CLAW play! I will play the
Prince!! I am so excited and have posed purrfectly for
the scenes that are being created. I sure hope that my
health holds out so I can enjoy the play when it's released
this winter!
Journal Entry 9: Late Summer 2004
Well.....my friends are all gone. The
neighbors decided that they should move them to an area farm,
because of the restrictions on numbers of pets in town, need
for licenses, etc. A local farmer takes in cats because
they help to control mice and other varmints. I missed
them for a time. I looked all over for them and then the
human told me what had happened. I will be alone
now. But maybe someday, I will make new friends.
For now, it is my job to keep a rascally Tom cat who likes to
sneak over here, off my turf!! I'm also continuing to
pose for my part in the play. My brother Leo has been
making some splendid sets and we are all looking forward to
the play!
Journal Entry 10: September 2004
Another beautiful fall! This week
(week of September 19) has been especially nice and I have had
lots of opportunities to be outdoors. The human lets me
out all day when she is home and the weather is good.
She telecommutes and this week has not had a lot of meetings
away from the house. I played very hard today, leaping
about and having a grand time. I even tried to catch a
couple of butterflies and searched for mice off the back
yard. I am doing so well this week that I've nearly
forgotten all my problems. The play got put on hold a
bit because of hurricane's in the Southern part of the
Country, where Leo's friend Skuzzy lives. Skuzzy does
all the costumes and has already created a beautiful costume
for me to wear! I look marvelous in it!
Journal Entry 11: September 29, 2004
There's something wrong. I feel badly
today and do not have much energy. I went outside for
awhile, but did not want to do much at all. Just
sit and look. The human is increasing my medication and
we are hoping for the best.
Journal Entry 12: October 1, 2004
I am very weak. I no longer eat...not
even my favorite food interests me. The human let
me out for a very short time this evening. I wanted to
scratch the large roots of my favorite tree, but am so short
of breath that all I could do was get there and just
sit. I am very jaundiced. The human is very sad.
Journal Entry 13: October 2, 2004
Last night I went into my cat carrier.
The human found me there this morning. My time has
come. Even the open door to the outdoors is no longer
inviting and food is of no interest. I hope the human
understood when I tried to tell her it was time to
go.
The human is carrying me to the truck.
She understood. We are going to the vet in New Ulm and
she will rely on the same vet who saw me when I first came
here, to tell her if my time has come or if there is any
hope. If not, I will go to sleep and then begin my final
journey to the Rainbow Bridge.
My human says it is a very beautiful
place.....it is summer and fall all the time. It has
tons of mice and butterflies and the days are always
sunny. There will be no more pain and illness and I can
be outdoors all the time! I will meet Muffy, Hooter and
Binky and all the other kitties that have lived with my
human. Some day the human will join us there and so will
Leo and Gizzmo.
For now though, it is a journey I must make
alone. The human will stay with me until I pass over,
but then must let me go. I am not afraid. My life
has not been long.....but the human has done her best to give
me a good home, love and attention. I am grateful for
that and very glad that she made that trip to Pumpkinland a
few years ago.
The human will bury me in the little tree area
near the place where I searched for mice and chased my last
butterfly.
My only regret is that I will miss the play I posed
so hard for. But maybe.....if my poses can still be
used.....and I try real hard to see back across the
bridge......I will catch a glimpse of "Prince Florimond
and Princess Aurora" ! That would make me very
happy :)
B.S. Sundae.
B.S. Sundae made his final journey
today. I buried him in a nice spot in the wooded area
off the back yard, with his favorite catnip toys. He can
see the house from there and the field where he so often
chased the mice and harassed a bird or two. My neighbors
came over and said their farewells and helped me with the
burial. They are wonderful people.
B.S. Sundae was a gentle soul. He loved
so unconditionally.....more so than just about any other cat that has
ever chosen to live with me. He rarely complained and
was never demanding, but always loveable. He would sit
next to me on an old bench and just watch the sun set in the
evening and then, when called, would come inside, even though
he would have preferred to be out all the time. The
winter time was the worst I guess. He stayed inside most
of the time. He really didn't like the cold and I was
concerned that the unfriendly temperatures might exacerbate
his condition. I would try to visit him as much as I
could. He would always greet me when I came out to the
shop to see him or do the laundry. He loved to sit on my
lap :)
He didn't live with me long, but managed to
capture my heart with his kind ways and sweet
disposition. I will miss his presence and
wish that he could have lived a longer life, but the illness
was irreversible and could no longer be controlled. The
vet told me that his life clock was ticking down and waiting
would not change the inevitable. His liver and other
organs were failing. A natural death would have been
very painful. He deserved a death without pain.
His life certainly saw enough of it. I guess I was meant
to be found by Sundae that Sunday afternoon in July 2002
and bring him here to care for him. God really does work
in mysterious ways sometimes. Good bye my
friend......you were loved.....and you will be missed.
The human
