Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Fluff the Magic Kitty

I've been in a funk since Monday. I'm no longer interested in having children.

This may have something to do with the fact that our geriatric cat, Fluffernutter, went to kitty heaven yesterday. Last week, we made the difficult decision to stop giving her subcutaneous fluids when we saw that they were not helping much anymore and just prolonging the inevitable. She hung on for a week.

In March, I think I predicted that she had three to six months to live. Last year, I worried that she would die after our loss. Not only did she stick around, but just after her 19th birthday in July, she became sweeter than ever. She did something that was so characteristically un-Fluff. She started sleeping with us in bed. She would jump on the bed as we were brushing our teeth, meowing for us to hurry up so she could dive under the covers with us. We wondered who swapped our kitty while we weren't looking, but she still looked like Fluffernutter.

You have to understand that Fluffernutter was one of those neurotic pure breed cats who would beg for pets, then run away when you tried to give them to her. The fact that she would come to you for attention was a real shocker. When I met her, she was just this white blur you saw when she was running away. She also lived in the shadow of her younger brother's big personality, aka Mister B. Mr. B was always shoving Fluff out of the way when it came to giving out pets, eating her food, and taking his pissy moods out on her. Mr. B was dumb as a box, and Fluff was the smart but silent type. They were inseparable.


Fluffernutter and Mr. B, aka Frick 'n Frack,
in fluffier days

When Magic was a bachelor before we married, he left out dry food for his cats 24/7. I told him this wasn't good for cats, but he felt guilty denying them. Mr. B ended up with diabetes, and Magic finally let me teach him how to make a raw food for them. Mr. B needed less insulin with the new diet, living another 4.5 years after being on the brink of death, and Fluffernutter became not so nutter. Loud sucking noises could be heard whenever she was eating, she loved the new food so much. Suddenly, she became a much more personable and sweet kitty. When Mr. B passed two years ago, I think Fluff finally came into her own now that she was the only cat in the house.

I worried that Fluff would die right after our FET failed. She was the one that spent the most time with me through two bed rests. She held on while I grieved for two months post-FET failure. I am grateful that she lived until now because I don't think I would have been able to deal with her loss any sooner.

I started singing this song (below) this past weekend. Fluff stopped eating about last Thursday. She joined me on her own last Saturday while I was gardening. I took this picture of her enjoying her last day outside. I couldn't believe that she had the energy to make it all the way outside and back inside again. She was the amazing magic kitty who we were beginning to wonder if she would ever die.


It all fell apart on Monday, Fluff's body. This is the day I thought I do not want to have children. Running a kitty hospice was more exhausting than I thought. I just didn't want her to suffer anymore. Tuesday, our vet was able to help her go to kitty heaven while still laying in her favorite spot on our bed.

Goodbye Fluff, we'll miss you (*sniff*)!

(sung to Puff_the_Magic_Dragon)

Fluff the magic kitty lived in our house,
She was so sweet and very meek, and couldn't catch a mouse!
Little Phoebe Phoenix loved that rascal Fluff,
And brought her strings and cat toy things and other fancy stuff. ohhh

Fluff the magic kitty, she was our friend,
She fought to live, though really sick, up to the bitter end!
Magic and his sons loved that crazy Fluff,
And gave her pets and kisses wet, and other lovey stuff!

17 comments:

Muser Grace said...

Oh, I'm so sorry, Phoebe. This is a lovely post and tribute. Thinking of you and wishing Fluff godspeed on her way to kitty heaven. Sending love and comfort...

SassyCupcakes said...

I'm so sorry. *hug*

Momasita said...

I'm so sorry for your loss. It's not easy losing a pet (member of the family). Sounds like Fluff held on long enough to make sure you'd be okay. What a brave little kitty.

Sue said...

I'm so sorry. She was beautiful. and lucky to have a great mom like you.

Geeks in Rome said...

sweet fluff!!!! i love your song.

I'm so sorry she is gone, and I'm sure she stuck around to help you through your ordeals.

No doubt she is still keeping her eye on you from the Elysian fields of catnip. Hope she meets my old beau, Reggie!!

Josée Martens said...

I am very sorry for your loss. I love my cats so so so much. ANd I can't imagine your sadness and pain. I am so sorry. YOur song is beautiful.

Beautiful Mess said...

I'm so sorry sweetie! I'm glad that Fluff was there for you when you needed her. She sounds like a wonderful companion. Sending you lots of hugs and telling your kitty to enjoy her time in kitty heaven.
*HUGS*

Lori Lavender Luz said...

Your song is such a sweet tribute to Fluff.

I'm so sorry about your loss, Phoebe.

Blessings to your kitty and Magic and you.

'Murgdan' said...

I'm so so sorry for your loss. :-( So sorry.

Lost in Space said...

I am so sorry, sweetie. It is amazing to me as to how long she held on. There is no doubt that she wanted to be here for you through some of your worst days.

Thinking of you lots in the months to come as you grieve the loss of your sweet gorgeous girl.

Nadine said...

oh honey.
We lost our cat in February 2008, right before we startd stimming, adn it was awful, he was an affectionate bugger, and I have felt a horible pain of guilt every since - did we not do enough for him - could we have done more for him to live a longer life? how can I want to be amother when I can not take care of a cat? it was awful, it still is awful, and my thoughts are with you guys right now.
hugs.

Denver Laura said...

{{hugs}}

kayjay said...

I'm so sorry about Fluff...I had a cat as a child that I loved that we had to eventually put down and I still feel a hole in my heart that only he could fill. I know it's so fresh right now but one way that I started thinking about my kitty was that I hurt so much because we loved so much and I wouldn't trade those years with him for anything. The silent support and comfort only they could give us was sometimes the only thing that made me feel better. It's awful to lose Fluff who was so close to your heart...my thoughts are with you.

Wombded said...

Sending you a hug. As you know, we lost our 19 yo girl this spring. It sucks!

You know, mine got sweeter in the last few months, too. I wonder what that's all about. Some kind of long goodbye? Anyway, I'll take it. It makes for some sweet memories. Glad you have lots of good memories, too.

Sky said...

Phoebe, thanks for stopping by.

Gosh, this is heart-breaking. I am SUCH A HUGE animal person, so this really tugs at my heart strings.

Your little fluff was absolutely GORGEOUS! Furbabies are such a treasure.

Liv said...

Oh, dude I wasn't expecting this. :o( I came over to say thanks for the support on my blog. (I've been real behind catching up on folks) Only to see my current worse nightmare happening to you. I'm so sorry!

I have never had pets before I had my two kitties and they are still young at 4 years. But, the thought of them dying brings me to tears.

I'm glad you were able to have some "extra" time with her especially as you were going through the worst. Many hugs to you.

Queenie. . . said...

I am so sorry about your gorgeous cat. It is so hard to lose a treasured member of the family. But so awesome that she stuck around so long and saw you through so much.