This is the hardest post I’ve ever written. My cat of the past 10 years, Tiamat, passed away yesterday. He was the smartest cat I’ve ever met. He was my first cat. Tiatmat was a heavy set fellow, alright, he was overweight. But he seemed quite comfortable in it, and wore it well. He was all black save a few white hairs on his chest. He played fetch with me when he was young, followed me, played chase with me. He was in the witchy sense, my familiar.
I noticed he wasn’t feeling well. He started throwing up, then he became incontinent. I contracted a serious flu on Saturday, today is Friday. So maybe there were more tale-tale signs, but I was bedridden. We noticed he wasn’t eating, and we were getting worried. So we brought him down to be with us in the bedroom where I was laid up. He stopped being able to walk on his own the day before yesterday, and we noticed blood in his urine. He also started mewling for me. I felt horrid, I was in so much pain from the flu I was shivering constantly, sweating, feverish. I laid on the floor with him and stroked his fur. Occasionally he would purr, and if I crawled back into bed he would mewl for me again.
We took him to West Market Veterinary Hospital http://westmarketvets.com/. Now I was hopeful when we took him in, but I also knew I had limited means and medical problems can often become quite expensive. Dr. Elizabeth Murray was our attending veterinarian. She was very considerate, very kind, and very clear. Tiamat’s temperature had dropped so far it wouldn’t even register on the thermometer. The decision was either let him suffer or give him peace. I elected to put my friend to sleep and ease his suffering. He seemed very peaceful in the end.
I also want to recommend West Market Veterinary Hospital to everyone in Greensboro, NC. This vet was the best one I have ever dealt with. They are now our regular vet. Please keep this local business in mind if you have pets that need care. They also offer boarding.
My life will be an adjustment. I will miss him, my familiar. I love you Tiamat. Thank you for all the years of comfort you brought me.