UPDATE Jan. 24, 24 My old cat is winding down
Last edited Wed Jan 24, 2024, 08:29 AM - Edit history (2)
Bunny hasn't died. She got better. it took awhile, but she's had a really good week. I played the calming music for her on days she was really low and I think it helped. I can't expect a whole lot more time with her, but I'm so glad she pulled out of it. I appreciate everyone's comments and advice 
Bunny is either 18 going on 19 or 19 going on 20. We've had her since since was less than a year old. She was a stray. If I saw strays, I'd put some food out, so I put food out for her. The next thing I knew, she had gone into our fenced back yard and my Mom's 15 year old dog had chased her up a tree. My husband figured out a way to get her down. She is a tabby and white Manx, so she was super friendly from the the beginning. I remembered thinking as my husband handed her to me, that if she was too stupid to stay away from a fenced dog, she wouldn't last long outside. We brought her in. We advertised her as lost and found, but no one claimed her.
We had a young neutered tom, and when we brought her in, he was astonished. And from their first meeting, she was his pet. She accepted her spot in the house, and all the years we had the kitties, she was his. We were responsible for food, water and clean-up and he did the rest. We adopted an older girl cat from the shelter in 2014. Bunny and Hiss hated each other. but they both got along with the boy cat. He died at age 17 about 3 years ago. Hiss died a year later, also about 17. Since Bunny has become an only cat, she has become a different cat. She has become my cat.
I expected Bunny to die of a heart attack years ago. She was always overweight and loved to eat. But she has lived on. I changed her food a little, and she adjusted. Since she's been an only cat, and my first cat who lived this long, I started giving her treats that I hadn't given to any of the cats over the years. The only thing is, if she got a treat, she expected that treat at the same time, every day, from then on. I take a pill at 7 pm, and one time, gave her a teaspoon of heavy cream. I have to say, I haven't missed taking the pill at 7 since, because if I don't head for the kitchen, she comes to my chair in the living room and stares at me till I get up. With the time change, she was appearing an hour early. Lately, she stopped wanting cream. I gave her some milk, and she liked that, but the last week, she doesn't want it. In the last few days, she has stopped eating her other treats, and yesterday, turned down her regular food. I offered her some today, pate mixed with water. She got most of the wettest and then went to the basement. She doesn't usually go to the basement, but I let her stay down there for about an hour. I made her another fresh bed in the room she likes. I made sure all of her needs are nearby, in case she rallies. She is comfortable, just seems to be sleeping away. She's been a really good kitty, no matter whose pet she was. I didn't expect to feel this bad, but I always did love her, and now that she's been my cat, she is going to leave a big hold.
I have been planning to take a couple trips while I don't have a pet. The only time in my life I didn't have a pet was for a couple months in 2002. If I get another pet, it'll probably be an older cat or an older bonded pair. All of the other dogs and kitties I had were strays that picked us. Thanks for reading. I feel better sharing the news about Bunny. I'll have to let my kids, grandkids, friends and pet sitters know we are nearing the end of an era. Maybe I can do it without tears.
https://imgur.com/a/wSPSfWh
= new reply since forum marked as read
I have Patches, the indoor cat, and the outdoor cat I call Tiger was a feral, neighbors and had I a bunch of kittens taken care of by a TNR organization, 13 years ago and he’s the only one stuck around, He disappeared for seven weeks about eight years back I was sure a coyote had taken him, I cried and cried. Then he showed up, skinny and dehydrated. Soon gained back all his weight. Now he comes up to my second floor deck every evening for supper. I love him and he lets me pet him, but he gets real nervous if he is inside with the door closed. Both of these cats keep me from being so Lonesome I could die, so I know exactly how you feel. Good luck with your care. I’ve gone through it a few times. We hope to outlive our pets, I guess, but it’s always so hard. 
I'm sorry for your loss. I got to see one of my kids today and let her know that Bunny is fading. Daughter was here Sunday and Bunny was herself, so I'm glad about that
which is a great suggestion for some diagnostics.
I might need that sometime.
Bunny is a beautiful cat. She has always liked to get in things, boxes, pizza boxes, glass bowls, baskets. I took pictures of her over the years and made an album on Facebook called Bunny in a ____ She doesn't mind getting her picture taken, so some of them are pretty good.
Once we got the digital cameras and phones, we took pictures a lot more often and I'm glad we have them. Glad you have pictures that left you. Sometimes I enjoy the pictures, other times, too many memories
