Spittles from Iowa

by Stephanie
(Iowa)

Spittles chose me in December of 2001. I think she was born around Thanksgiving.

My friends had a litter of kittens and had picked out their favorite one for me to adopt. When I got there a little gray and white kitten caught my eye. I picked her up and she touched my face and loved on me in a way that touched my heart. I knew that she was the one that should come home with me.

Spittles had the heart of a dog. She was loyal and extremely affectionate, not a mean bone in her body. She only wanted two things in life; love and food. She made me the center of her world and chose me over everyone else. She became a very fat cat with a thick luxurious coat of rabbit like fur.

Spittles started having health issues in 2013. A couple of vet appointments and lab tests revealed liver problems. From that spring on, she lost weight. In the last six months of her life she became skinnier than we ever thought possible. Her soft flabby belly and even the saggy skin shrunk away.

She was cold all of the time, stayed by the heater vents, and I put her in small dog sweaters. At her last vet visit I was told she had a gum infection, jaundice, end stage liver failure, and had two weeks to live. We were devastated.

She couldn't keep enough food down to pull out of the jaundice. She had such mental clarity that it was hard to believe that her body was dying, she was slowly starving. She still wanted food and attention, and it seemed like she was fighting to stay with us.

Eight days later on February 14th, 2015 we put her to sleep to prevent complete organ failure. She was 13.

The hours before the appointment were torture. How do you say goodbye to someone who doesn't understand that they will never see you again?

When the time came and I put her on the table, I held her close, and kept saying "I love you Spittles!" over and over. I begged her to forgive me. Once she was gone I wrapped her in a baby blanket with her favorite toy piggy. I buried her next to 'sister' Kittie so they could once again be together.

Now her suffering is over and mine begins. I see her everywhere but can never hold her again. She had a heart of gold and will never be forgotten. Rest in peace Spittles. Mommy loves and misses you more than you could ever know.