We Say Goodbye

This morning when I sat with Annie Annabelle, she did not climb into my lap like she normally did. I picked her up and held her for a few minutes before we hooked up her line feeding. We let Annie wander around for a bit and she discovered one of our clinic cat's beds. She curled up and seemed content to stay there.

Each time I sat with her, Annie just looked at me and put her head down again. She wasn't insisting that I hold her and wasn't interested in anything. She was very slowly gaining weight with the tube feeding, but her bloodwork kept getting worse and she was getting more depressed as each day passed. Annie was getting sicker, not better.

After 5 hours of being hooked to the line feeding, Annie vomited the entire amount of the liquified food she had been given and then laid back down in her bed curled up in a small ball. I sat with her, stroked her head and she stared at me with eyes that seemed to say, "It's time, please let me go".
When I whispered to her, "I will let you go", the expression in her eyes became softer and she rubbed her head against my hand.

My Kitty Haven partner and I agreed that it was time. We didn't want Annie to suffer any longer. Annie was euthanized as I held her, kissing her head and telling her she was loved. Her eyes met mine one last time and she purred as she rubbed her head against my face. It was as if she was telling me, "Thank you for loving me enough to let me go". My tears flowed freely and heavily.

Annie Annabelle is now at the Rainbow Bridge playing with our other kitties that have passed away. At the Rainbow Bridge she is healthy, happy and knows she is eternally loved.