Hey Pet Parents & Pet Lovers,
While I was working on yesterday’s article about the complications that could potentially happen when a cat goes through the Perineal Urethrostomy I got fairly triggered. While I dislike using the word “triggered” to describe my emotions, there’s no better way to describe the immense sadness/angst I felt from reliving the moments before taking Beau into surgery.
Going over the long list of complications I can do nothing but feel overly grateful that his operation was a success and he didn’t experience many complications and I truly hope and pray that as this operation becomes more common that it becomes safer and safer for cats to undergo it (or maybe even avoid it altogether.)
Operations are always stressful. It doesn’t matter if the operation is for a human or for an animal. However, I can’t tell you how much calmer it makes me feel knowing that Beau underwent the surgery and his chances of survival are much higher. Although, I will say… every time I hear Beau scream or meow in a particular way it does make me worry that we’re going to have to rush him back to the emergency and repeat everything all over again. I don’t think that that’s ever going to change, but I think that that’s true of me in general as an overly anxious individual.
Unfortunately as mentioned in that article from yesterday, the chances of Beau blocking again are there, so I like to make sure to keep an ear and eye out for his discomfort because let’s be honest… I can’t imagine my life without him. I actually woke up at 1 AM this morning because I heard Beau “scream” in the hallway and thought something was wrong (turns out he was just playing with Kalista and they got a bit too feisty.)
So, what’s the cute part of this story Johnny? Well, it’s the fact that 4 years ago I never would have expected me to love a pet so much. Walker was my first pet ever and while I love him, there was something different about Beau. It might simply be the fact that Beau is a million times more affectionate than any cat I have ever met, making him feel like he was meant for me. A number of my friends have insisted that Beau is my “familiar” and while I would love to believe that, I don’t know nearly enough about what that truly means to even justify calling him that. I also don’t want to disrespect another person’s belief by using a turn of phrase I do not fully understand, but I can say… Beau is my best friend and it feels like I know him inside and out.
My partner and I have rehashed the events that have taken place with Beau’s urinary health a number of times. I have had moments I regret doing the surgery, but it’s mostly due to financial worries rather than thinking that the procedure wasn’t successful. I question if there was another route we could have taken to ensure that Beau was happy and healthy, but my partner keeps reminding me of the devastation we were in and how we were told that it may be time to euthanize Beau, which was definitely not an option for me.
Beau has been my best friend for the past years. Not because I talk to him about all of my problems, but because he comforts me whenever I need it. He’s always willing to sit with me and calm me down. He’s always willing to keep me warm during cold winter nights when our heat isn’t working. He’s always willing to let me sleep in, even if I haven’t fed, just because he enjoys spending time with me.
At the end of the day, I’m just so grateful that we get to have more time with Beau. It doesn’t matter if it’s a few years or 20, I get to spend more time with my best friend. I’m glad I get to spoil such a perfect kitty and that we’ve grown so much together and I can’t wait to look back on all of the memories I have on this blog. All of our pet family is perfect. I would never want it any other way.
Dalton/Angel-MrJackFreckles/Pipo & Angel-Minko says
December 21, 2018 at 2:55 amI feel where you are coming from, and I wish there could have been something that could have kept our Minko from leaving us so suddenly in June 2017. He had been chronically ill for 3 three years prior to that, but he passed from a stroke which had nothing to do with his IBD…
You just feel so empty and helpless…
And when MJF left us last Feb, well, we miss him terrible, but he told us in his own way that he needed to leave, s though that hurt a lot, we knew it was wat was meant to be.
Pipo seems healthy enough, but now I watch him like a hawk, cause yes, he is hubby and my good furend and companion.
Dalton is working his way into our hearts…but still he is so scared of us, its hard to make that bond feel like the strongest glue. I do love it when he wants to climb in my lap or when he jumps into the desk chair and snuggles up behind me.
Good health and loving friends be they human or furry (or otherwise) must never be taken for granted…because our lives are all so tenuous at best.
Johnny Salib says
December 21, 2018 at 12:38 pmAbsolutely. I’ve been doing my very best to show my love and appreciation for everyone who is around me because you never know what may happen. Illness is such a hard and terrifying thing to deal with, especially because sometimes it doesn’t even matter how much you take care of yourself (or take care of your pet.)
In the case of Beau, we thought we were doing the absolute best. Buying him the best food. Buying him the best everything, but he still got sick. Or I’ve had friends who are the biggest health nuts who ended up with cancer in their early 20s.
Ellen Pilch says
December 19, 2018 at 9:33 pmIt is amazing how much we can bond with our kitties, they are special.
Eastside Cats says
December 19, 2018 at 10:38 amAww! I love my cats, but it wasn’t until The PO’M came along, that my emotions were tied in knots for this cat. He’s taught me how to embrace cat personalities, therefore increasing the size of my heart three time over! Hahaha, like the Grinch! And it’s also because Paddy allows me to pet him, hold him, smooch his furry face, pick chunks of crud off his rear-end, and he now crawls into my lap and makes biscuits!