Caturday 91: The Lonely Podium

The Lonely Podium

We called Lacey's little cat tree by my den window, Lacey's Podium. On most evenings, I would remember to place a treat up there for the puss. She would find it on almost every night, and Lacey in her podium was often the first thing that I saw in the morning. If I were sleeping in my chair, I'd open my eyes, peek over, and there she would often be, looking back at me.

Last night, when I thought that I should place the usual treat on the podium, I soon realized that there was no need because Lacey will not ascend to her podium again. Nor will I see her in her bed under the desk, or her downstairs bed on the couch. The blanket on the bed where she would catch the afternoon sun on chilly days will gather her fur no more.

It was late last week that we began to notice serious problems with the old girl. One side of her mouth  swelled up, and she was having trouble eating. We were quite distressed and resolved to call the vet on Monday. We did call but could not get an appointment until Thursday.

Meanwhile, Lacey could sometimes pick up some kibble and a treat, and I offered her plenty of treats. By Thursday, I had figured out how to get her to eat her wet food by dishing very small bits rather than the customary big lump.

On that final morning, Thursday, I spread a dozen small mouthfuls at intervals on her plate, and she was able to consume most of her breakfast, sometimes with AC nudging the bits into place for her. I remain pleased that we figured out how Lacey could eat a good last meal.

On the previous afternoon, Shauna had come by for what we expected to be a final visit. Then, on the fateful Thursday morning, Danica dropped in to bid farewell. She helped us by carrying the cat carrier to the car, but she helped us more by just being here. 

We expected that Lacey would either have a tooth abscess or cancer. In either case we were not expecting her to come home. If it were an abscess, there is no way we would allow an already fragile, old puss to suffer through extractions and life afterward. If it were cancer there would be no remedy. It turned out that she had cancer in her jaw. The vet discovered that Lacey had already lost a tooth or two while the cancer was having its way.

We knew what had to be done, but we shed tears. When she was sedated, we shed more tears as she drifted into faraway land. We shed more tears as the final dose was administered, and Lacey was soon crossing that rainbow bridge. And now, I shed a few more tears as I write about her parting. 

The litter box is being emptied. Her beds will be cleaned and put away. Her food will be passed on. But, the podium will remain in place for the time being, for we are not in a hurry to forget our Lacey. 

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I will drop a few pictures. The first is Lacey just a few days after she came to live with us in February 2019.

Shortly afterward, we purchased her podium: April 2019.

Sue was kind with Lacey during the vet visit, stroking her and talking lovingly. In this final picture, we are both touching her comfortingly before the vet came in to examine her.

Sniff.