I am still trying to cope with the death of my cat Ashly. He passed away on Friday, July 21, at 1:40pm, while I was telling him how much I love him, how much mommy loves him... I couldn't eat for days following his death. So much pain still.
It all started that week, on Wednesday. My husband woke me at 4:40 in the morning to tell me that Ashly wasn't well. At first we thought he had a stroke. He was laying on one side, and could not move it.
On the way down to the hospital, I thought he had died. I called him, and he just lay there, glazed over.
Ashly was a diabetic, overweight, and he had arthritis.
When we had found him as a stray 2 and a half years ago, he was bones and malnourished. He consumed more water then I could keep in his bowls. The doctor placed him on insulin, he also put on the weight. It brought on his arthritis. We never knew how old he was, but estimated around 10. We all thought it was low blood sugar, but they couldn't keep it up, and he stopped eating.
We made several trips with him between his vet and the hospital. No one could say what had happened. It was all so quick. During lunch break on Friday, I went to see him. He was having difficulty breathing. The doctor said he would not make it much longer. I panicked, as I did not want to put him to sleep without my husband by my side. I felt so alone. I called my husband to tell him the news. I held the cell to Ashly's ear while my husband said his goodbyes and I love yous over the phone for the last time. We were brought into the room to prepare him to be put to sleep. I had him wrapped in the blanket that he had been sleeping on. I patted him, told him how much I loved him, and before the needle could even be given, he passed away. His organs had shut down, we were told. He never made it home again, to his warm bed.
He was my companion. He was there for me, sleeping with me, comforting me when my husband was aways for weeks at a time for work. He was my boy.
I miss him. Words can't describe his gentle soul. In a house with five other cats to share, he would always sit and wait for them to eat at the food bowl before he did. He was a prince. We miss you dear Ashly!
