My Single Mom Life

I don't have any pictures of my sisters cat Zeke, on my pc, Joey sent me a pic of Zeke, and Zeke is Kali's brother.

He was a long cat, wiry, loving and beautiful.
He was white with big splotches of grey, and huge beautiful eyes.
He adored my sister, he would jump on her shoulder, and wrap himself around her neck like an old fox stole wrap, completely wrapping himself around her and nuzzling into her neck.

Zeke had been sick for awhile, off and on for most of the year.
Then he had an infection in his pancreas a few months ago, and my sister went into debt to afford the surgery to remove half his pancreas, and the medications to make him better.
For awhile, he seemed to be doing much better, and then over the last few days, he had a huge swollen mass near his lower abdomen.
She took him into the vet once again, and iv's and antibiotics, and for awhile, they weren't sure what was wrong or if he'd make it.
Then yesterday, they said he was fine, up walking, eating, playing, she could take him home.

Last night, he refused to get up from his sleeping place, he struggled to walk when my sister helped him stand, and she rushed him back to the emergency vet last night around 10:30pm, and made the hard decision to end his suffering.
They gave him an injection to relax him, take away his pain, she fed him some treats he loved, which he gobbled down after not being able to eat most of yesterday.
He was purring and eating, and slipped off to sleep mid chew.
They then gave him the injection to stop his heart.

Zekers is gone, and my heart breaks for my sister and the girls who loved him so much.
My nieces are too young to understand what death is, they will only know it means Zeke is not coming back.
It will be a few more years before they understand what death is.
Skye, will be especially heartbroken.
She and Zeke had a special little bond, he would curl up on her lap, sleep with her, let her pet and play with him.
Before sis took him to the vet last night, she let the girls come pet him, and Skye could see he was sick, she said in her little loving voice, "It's ok Zeke, you'll be ok".
Telling the girls later today will be difficult even though they won't really understand all that it means.
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Mark, my oldest, has lost two cats in his young life, he is very upset about Zeke.
It brings out the bad memories of his losses.
Over the last few weeks around here, Mark has been asking me questions about my Kali.
I've posted recently about her little body shuddering while she sleeps, and this has had Mark asking what I will do if she gets really sick, or these spasms are a serious issue.
I plan on taking her to the vet with my tax return, and having them run tests to see if there is anything wrong, or if those spasms are normal or whatever.

But I've made up my mind after watching what has happened with Zeke, and about a year, maybe 2 years now, when her cat Pixie was sick with cancer and heart disease, and all the trips to the vet, the medicines, the tests, and still in the end, having to put her down as well.
I will not let Kali suffer.
I know most vets say if we do this, this, and this, your cat could get better, but could is the word, and most times, they do not recover from such serious illnesses.
If the vet tells me that Kali has heart disease or something like that, I will ask for a time line, how much time she has left if we do not do surgeries and cancer treatments etc.
If being able to give her a pill a day will keep her alive for another year or two, then I'll do that, but I will not put her through a surgery or two, I will not put her through extensive testing and drug treatments.

Some of you may think that's cold and heartless, but Kali has been my best friend, my baby.
She comforts me when I am sad and sick, she is so gentle and loving, and I will not allow her to suffer through harsh procedures.
I will take any steps needed to keep her comfortable and not in pain, and when she has taken all she can, I will let her go.
Putting her down would be the most loving and humane thing I could do for her.
I believe if she could speak, if animals could speak, they would want to be let go with the same dignity as humans.
And because Kali is such a beautiful and well behaved, such a dignified personality, I will treat her with that same respect I want when my time comes.