Good-bye to Krista

[FeebysOwner]

It is so true about the pictures! I have next to none of Tawny (1977-1992), and probably just a few more of Gracie (1992-2004)! I am doing much better - albeit more recently - with Feeby!

But, I have had it both ways in terms of having another cat enter into my life. Gracie 'appeared' on my doorstep the very same day we had to let Tawny go. Then, when Gracie died, nearly 2 years went by before Feeby found me. I am not sure I can honestly say one was 'better' than the other. I also knew the end was coming with both Tawny and Gracie, so neither was an absolute shock, per se. Horrific losses to be sure, but I knew 'they were coming'. Would I have sought out Gracie that quickly? Probably not. But, it happened, and for that I am not sorry - and don't feel as if it makes me love or miss Tawny any less.

I guess when you have a choice you have to go with what feels most comfortable. In my case, I didn't really have a choice with Gracie, so I just decided to believe it was meant to be... If you somehow 'find' a cat, don't pass it up. Just sayin'.

Btw, my husband was allergic to cats, but for some reason he 'got over it' with Tawny, and hasn't had an issue since!

 

[daftcat75]

I had to go through my physical pictures. But I found two more of Cabbie.

I had a friend who worked in a photo shop (as in actual film) and made the wallet size photo for me for free from a roll I dropped off with her. It shows all the wear of being in my wallet for years. Now I can merely set my phone lockscreen photo.

 

[tarasgirl06]

I had to go through my physical pictures. But I found two more of Cabbie.
View attachment 348327
I had a friend who worked in a photo shop (as in actual film) and made the wallet size photo for me for free from a roll I dropped off with her. It shows all the wear of being in my wallet for years. Now I can merely set my phone lockscreen photo.

What a beautiful house panther princess Cabbie! And Sage a beautiful rabbit.
Yeah, I know all about pre-smartphone pix -- I've got several packing crates full of envelopes of 35mm photos (with negs) and from even before that, photos going all the way back to my beloved "big brofurs" from my birth onward.
Aren't we grateful for technology! although the traditional style is really cool, too.
I wonder if many more people might not go through their allergies to the place where they are not allergic, via that method. It would be amazing. I see ads for some kind of dry cat food formulated to lessen allergens, but I'd much rather the onus be on the humans, not the cats.

 

[daftcat75]

I didn't have a choice on getting over the allergies. My housemates didn't know I was allergic. Even still, I was just a summer boarder. They weren't going to take their precious kittens back for me. Worst case scenario would have been a summer of antihistamine drugs and hiding from those kittens. Thankfully, it didn't have to go down like that. Otherwise, I likely would have never known Krista.

 

[FeebysOwner]

I didn't have a choice on getting over the allergies. My housemates didn't know I was allergic. Even still, I was just a summer boarder. They weren't going to take their precious kittens back for me. Worst case scenario would have been a summer of antihistamine drugs and hiding from those kittens. Thankfully, it didn't have to go down like that. Otherwise, I likely would have never known Krista.

Neither did my husband. I knew Tawny before I knew him. If he was overly concerned about being around Tawny, well I guess we would have both ended up marrying other people!!

 

[tarasgirl06]

That's how it's always been for me, too -- my cats are my FAMILY and we're a package deal. But it is so wonderful that, for whatever reasons and by whatever means, you were able to overcome the allergic reactions! There are people out there who love cats but cannot live with them due to allergies. Others have allergies and get Rx/OTC for them. So this is the best case scenario!

 

[daftcat75]

That's how it's always been for me, too -- my cats are my FAMILY and we're a package deal. But it is so wonderful that, for whatever reasons and by whatever means, you were able to overcome the allergic reactions! There are people out there who love cats but cannot live with them due to allergies. Others have allergies and get Rx/OTC for them. So this is the best case scenario!

I had a girlfriend who wanted me to clean my apartment top to bottom for her because she wanted to invite an allergic friend over. I told her, "It's the cat's apartment. I just pay the rent." And that with 1100 sq ft to clean (my old apartment), I'd rather not be responsible for her friend's allergies and suggested we go to her friend's instead. Because I know this cat. And the one not paying attention to her would be her favorite for the night. And anyway, I liked the cat far more than her friend. Which is usually the case.

 

[tarasgirl06]

I had a girlfriend who wanted me to clean my apartment top to bottom for her because she wanted to invite an allergic friend over. I told her, "It's the cat's apartment. I just pay the rent." And that with 1100 sq ft to clean (my old apartment), I'd rather not be responsible for her friend's allergies and suggested we go to her friend's instead. Because I know this cat. And the one not paying attention to her would be her favorite for the night. And anyway, I liked the cat far more than her friend. Which is usually the case.

*YEAH!!!* on all of the above.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

Oh my gosh, daftcat75 . I literally gasped when I saw this thread. I am so very sorry for your loss of your beloved Krista I followed her thread on and off for the past 19 months and could see how devoted you were to her every need.

For her ashes, if you decide not to spread them anywhere, have you heard of planting trees or shrubs or even just plants using ashes as part of the potting process. It's a wonderful thing to do that also help the environment. Then you have a living testament to her. The companies that do it send the plants that grow best in your own zip code, and send all the material needed . Something like this: https://www.thelivingurn.com/

Again, my sympathies.

 

[daftcat75]

I noticed this last week and forgot to mention it here. Her ALT, the liver enzyme that went all the way to a high value of 1400 at the start of the Krista Care thread, it was 58 the other week. That value was always high or high normal last year. I used to tell her vets that as far as I understood it, ALT was a ghost of inflammation elsewhere--that as long as her IBD and teeth continued to remain issues, I expected her ALT to remain elevated. So it was a small comfort to see that her ALT was once again normal. For whatever it's worth, she didn't go out with the liver or teeth troubles that started her thread.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Rest you gentle, Krista, dream you deep. Your pawprints are on more hearts than ever you knew existed! And your human's heart is COVERED with them!

I am SO sorry about Krista, and SO sorry that I was laid low by "a" virus (not "THE" virus) when this happened. You and Krista fought the good fight together, and she left This Adventure for her Next Great Adventure with your love beside her to guide her way Home. What more can any of us ask in this world than that?

I agree with the advice not to make a decision about her ashes too soon. You may, in time, decide to scatter them, but once scattered, there are no options. Wait. Heal a bit, knowing that you always can, if that is truly right for you.

I almost forgot. This is something that I did for my Callie when she died earlier this year, I got a touchstone so even if I later decide to bury or scatter her ashes I'll still have her with me.

http://[URL]https://memoryglass.com/

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A dear friend who lost her cat earlier this year ordered from them and received the most beautiful tribute make from just a tiny bit of Kitty's ashes. They do excellent work. I have their website bookmarked for the Day that I know will come.

My heart with yours.

 

[Mia6]

The pics are so beautiful!! The one of bunny and Cabbie is award winning!!

 

[tarasgirl06]

Hoping you are recovered and feeling better, Mamanyt1953 and appreciating your thoughts.

 

[daftcat75]

Even with barf paws, you were a beauty! If I could have held your paws back while you were barfing, I probably would have.

Thank you Bissell for making the last year easier on us. Knowing her barf would come right up made it easier to treat the problem with compassion rather than anger and frustration.

And while I’m sad and guilt-stricken that it took so long to achieve remission and I never did get you to turn the corner to recovery, I’m so pleased and proud that your last weeks were spent without any barfing or poop nonsense that plagued the three years before.

 

[tarasgirl06]

View attachment 348398
Even with barf paws, you were a beauty! If I could have held your paws back while you were barfing, I probably would have.

Thank you Bissell for making the last year easier on us. Knowing her barf would come right up made it easier to treat the problem with compassion rather than anger and frustration.

And while I’m sad and guilt-stricken that it took so long to achieve remission and I never did get you to turn the corner to recovery, I’m so pleased and proud that your last weeks were spent without any barfing or poop nonsense that plagued the three years before.

Yes, tech makes our lives easier, cleaner, and more convenient, especially when dealing with loved ones who are ill.
And yeah, don't we wish we could hold those paws, hold those little heads, and take that sickness ourselves rather than have our beloved ones deal with it?

 

[daftcat75]

Yes, tech makes our lives easier, cleaner, and more convenient, especially when dealing with loved ones who are ill.
And yeah, don't we wish we could hold those paws, hold those little heads, and take that sickness ourselves rather than have our beloved ones deal with it?

In general, yes. But she was so much better at barfing than me. A couple wet coughs and done. Meanwhile every time I barf, I have those panicked moments of not being able to breathe thinking “this is how I’m going out.” Also thinking, “if I do, Krista better eat me. No sense in this taking us both.”

I tried to help her clean her barf paws with grooming wipes. But she never liked her paws handled.

 

[tarasgirl06]

In general, yes. But she was so much better at barfing than me. A couple wet coughs and done. Meanwhile every time I barf, I have those panicked moments of not being able to breathe thinking “this is how I’m going out.” Also thinking, “if I do, Krista better eat me. No sense in this taking us both.”

I tried to help her clean her barf paws with grooming wipes. But she never liked her paws handled.

Yeah. It's not fair, either. They have these irresistibly cute little (or big, in Elvis' case) paws and they don't want us touching them. Tar's were tiny and pointed, reflecting what I believe was her Burmese or Siamese ancestry. She was pretty good about letting me touch.
I've had to give cats hip baths when they were older and incontinent, holding them and lowering them into warm water with cruelty-free shampoo mixed in. That would maybe have worked for Krista? with her front paws.

 

[daftcat75]

Yeah. It's not fair, either. They have these irresistibly cute little (or big, in Elvis' case) paws and they don't want us touching them. Tar's were tiny and pointed, reflecting what I believe was her Burmese or Siamese ancestry. She was pretty good about letting me touch.
I've had to give cats hip baths when they were older and incontinent, holding them and lowering them into warm water with cruelty-free shampoo mixed in. That would maybe have worked for Krista? with her front paws.

Meh. Honestly, she always minded her barf paws more than I did.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Meh. Honestly, she always minded her barf paws more than I did.

Yeah, well, of course. Krista being a CAT, after all...

 

[daftcat75]

Yeah, well, of course. Krista being a CAT, after all...

Them being her paws after all...

MOD NOTE: An ongoing thread remembering Krista can be found here.