Cheerio from NC

by Elizabeth
(NC)

Cheerio was brought to me as a rescue from his former owners. They had decided that at the age of 5 years old that they no longer wanted the beautiful and loving Tonkinese.

They had already declawed him and neutered him... then decided to throw him outside. My Husband and I saved him.

He quickly became a great snuggle buddy with myself and my children. He was very voracious when it came to his snuggles. Frequently sliding under the covers to cuddle up beside me or even cuddle attacking me from above and below while I was busy doing chores around the house.

Cheerio was a wonderfully patient cat. He allowed my middle child to even cut off all of his whiskers at one time... I was so mad... but Cheerio never shied away from them. He would let the children play with him, watch movies with him, and just sit there quietly together.

He was their best buddy for my two eldest. A beloved pet. A snuggler to the end when I had to take him into the vet clinic because of a gimpy leg.

That day began my nightmare.

Cheerio was found to have lost some weight, had mild hypothermia, and the lame leg. X-rays were ordered and blood compositions. I anxiously awaited the news... thinking perhaps Cheerio had had a stroke of some sort. Nothing that we couldn't handle.

Instead, the Vet called to tell me that a large mass had been found under his lung and at the bottom of his heart. We approved a radiologist to look over the films and confirm the diagnoses of cancer, which had already metastasized into his spine and was causing his lameness.

We took him home and made him as comfortable as we could. In less than a week Cheerio took a horrible turn and lost function in both of his back legs and had a lame front paw. He refused to eat or drink, was unable to enter the litter box, and his body was still refusing to regulate his body temperature.

We made the hard decision on Valentine's Day that Cheerio needed to be let go. We prepared the children as best as we could, against their admonishments that Cheerio was getting better.

Two days later, Cheerio spent the night snuggled up against me all night. He never moved from that spot. He meowed silently when I touched him, and had a rattly purr. It was time.

We took the children to school and carried Cheerio to the vet where he was euthanized at 9:30 am on 2/17/2016. We wrapped him lovingly in a hybrid baby wrap that he loved to be carried in and buried him in the yard, under a black walnut tree.

Two paw print memorials were made for my two eldest children, the youngest not quite 2 years old and not understanding of death.

Cheerio was 9 years old, nearly 10. A shining light for cats. Mink in coat with beautiful turquoise eyes which gleamed with mischievousness. I will miss him dearly.