Hello Friends,
I joined this forum today following the tragic death of my beloved cat Snuggles just 10 days ago. I’ve been so grief stricken and sick following his passing that I’m desperately searching for help, someone to talk to, understanding, and maybe even a cyber shoulder to cry on. Hopefully I will make some lifelong friends in the process.
Not everyone understands or appreciates what losing a beloved pet is like…and many go so far as to minimize the loss and make comments like “big deal, get a new cat”. So I figured who better could or would understand the tremendous loss I feel than a forum full of animal lovers…sure can’t hurt, and I’m willing to try anything.
First I’d like to share with you some information about Snuggles when he was alive, and a bit about the life we shared together. I caught Snuggles using a trap I borrowed from the Humane Society 10 years ago. A stray cat gave birth to him in my shed, and he was one of four kittens I caught with the trap. The litter was only about 6 to 8 weeks old when I caught them, but already showing signs of becoming wild. I took all four kittens into my home, tamed them, spayed and neutered them, and adopted out three of them to good families. I kept Snuggles, however, because I fell head over heals in love with him instantly.
Snuggles was quite unique in many ways. He had four front feet, for instance. Not just extra toes but extra feet…complete with pads and toes. Even my veterinarian said he’d never seen such an extreme case of polydactyl syndrome in a cat ever. He also had 8 toes on each rear foot. He’s paws looked like baseball mitts....lol
Snuggles was mild mannered, gentle, loving and my best friend in the world. He slept crooked under my arm every single night, often using my cheek as a pillow. He was extremely smart as well. At night if I was not lying on my back so he could cuddle up, he’d tap me gently on the shoulder to wake me up so I’d roll over for him. He had gorgeous, long red and white fur (not tiger stripped), he was red on top and bright white under his belly. He was BEAUTIFUL.
Now that you have a general idea of who Snuggles was, I’m going to tell you about what happened to my sweet baby. Better get a tissue handy…you may need one.
About three weeks ago I noticed Snuggles was pulling out his hair in various locations. He’d bite onto it with his mouth, and pull some of it out. I’d never witnessed this behavior before so being the doting Mom I am I scheduled a vet appointment to make sure he was okay. The vet did blood work on him, and examined him and found no physical illness or anything else that might cause him to do this. During the examination my vet looked at his teeth also. He said that Snuggles could use a dental cleaning, and that tarter had built up on his teeth. He said that having your pets teeth cleaned on a regular basis would actually prolong his life. Snuggles had just turned 10 years old.
I told him I didn’t like the idea of him going under anesthesia for such a procedure. He told me that his clinic had been in business 18 years and that they had never lost a pet during a dental cleaning. Reluctant still, I told him I would have to think about it, and would call him in a few days if I decided to go ahead and have the cleaning done.
I talked it over with my boyfriend, mother, sister, and a few friends and decided that I would go ahead and have his teeth cleaned. 10 days ago I delivered Snuggles to the vet at 7:00 am in the morning for the procedure. The doctor came into the examining room and explained the procedure to me in detail and had me sign a paper giving him consent to do CPR “should” anything go wrong. I began crying as I signed it, still worried about whether or not I was doing the right thing. The doctor again reassured me that everything would be fine, and told me not to worry. I left.
At 9:30 am my phone rang at home, and the caller ID showed it was Baring Blvd Vet calling. I answered the phone and a nurse informed me that Snuggles heart stopped. I screamed, dropped the phone of the ground and went into panic mode. She said they were attempting to revive him, but so far it had been over 5 minutes and they were having no success. I LOST IT! About 20 minutes later the doctor himself phoned and told me that Snuggles was dead and they were unable to bring him back.
I ended up in the hospital about 4 hours after he died. I’d lost complete control. I was shaking, in shock, and crying uncontrollably. They kept me sedated for 6 days and released me to return home.
When I got home I called the vet doctor and asked him what exactly happened, I needed to know. He reluctantly told me the truth. After Snuggles was put to sleep for the dental cleaning a breathing tube was inserted into his mouth and chest. Some sort particle from his lungs or chest came lose and blocked the breathing tube. He suffocated to death. Nobody was monitoring him for 10 minutes after the tube was inserted and he said that the veterinarian aide walked away to take a cell call. Total negligence. She was fired for her carelessness…but that doesn’t bring back my baby. He’s gone forever!
This is my story. I’ve never felt such pain, loss, anger, guilt, resentment or sorrow in my entire lifetime. I’m still in complete denial..
Dear GOD why my Snuggles?
Thanks for reading my long story, I look forward to any replies. I feel like I've been gutted, I'm empty inside without him. Will I EVER feel better?
Grieving,
NevadaKitty
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