I lost my sweet Sammy on Saturday, September 19, 2020. He was only 6 years old. I took Sammy to my vet the day after I noticed he was just licking his food and walking away. The vet ran tests and found out Sammy was anemic with an enlarged spleen. He wanted to do an ultrasound but the person that does that test was out, so we needed to wait until the next day. Sammy passed away that night. I keep thinking if I had taken him to another vet and had an ultrasound done, he might still be with me. I checked on him at 4 am on the night he passed and petted and brushed him. He loved to be brushed and would get so excited when we saw me get the brush out. He was purring as I kissed him and told him the vet will make you feel better tomorrow. When I checked on him at 5 am he was gone.
Sammy was one of many stray kittens in my neighborhood. I was working with a local rescue to get the kittens and find homes. Sammy was the last kitten and was caught during the month of August. The rescue did not have any more room and asked me to keep him for a week. He was so frightened and would not come out the night I set him up in my bathroom. I set his carrier, food/water, a blanket, and a small litter box in my bathroom and left him alone that night. The next morning when I went in, he was out of the carrier and ran up to me grabbing my leg and meowing. I already had three cats and really did not have room for another, but at that moment I knew he was going to join my family.
Sammy was such an energetic kitten and got over his fear of a new environment quickly. All my other cats had been calm kittens, so he was a new experience for me. I would play with him for an hour and he would still want to continue to play. Sammy was constantly running around my bedroom, climbing curtains or if I left the closet open climbing the clothes on hangers. I found so many shirts and pants with little holes from him trying to climb up. I quickly learned to keep the closets closed at all times. He would tear up any paper found. I found him happily tearing up my college class notes one day. His favorite game was me throwing a small balled up piece of paper which he would run after it and bring back to me.
I love all my precious cats, but Sammy was special. We had a closer bond then I had with any of my other pets. He was there every morning as I got ready for work, scratching at the bathroom door wanting to come in, and there as I walked out the door to go to work expecting a kiss and cuddle before I left. My roommate said he know the time I was coming home and waited at the door. The minute I walked through the door he wanted to be held. It was such a comfort to come home from a horrible day at work and hold him. He was frightened of all other people and never did come out if I had family and friends over. He did like my Mom and roommate and would allow them to pet him. Going to the vet was hard, he hated the carrier and would run and hide if he just saw it. I purchased a pet stroller thinking that would be better, but he would not go near it. I moved two years ago and did not think I was ever going to get him in the carrier. He provided so much comfort when my cat, Casper, had to be put to sleep during April of this year. I was in bed crying and Sammy climbed on top of me and stayed there for hours as I cried. Sammy slept with me every night. If he fell asleep on my bed and I left the room, I could always count on him coming downstairs a short time later to find me meowing loudly as if to say “Why did you leave me alone?"
I never expected him to be taken from me so soon. He was running around playing with Ginger, jumping up on tables, getting in my lap, and asking for treats on Wednesday and was gone on Saturday. I keep trying to trick myself into thinking he is in the cat tree sleeping and I will see him soon. I do not want to do anything but stay in bed and cry. My remaining kitty is now sleeping with me at night and every time I hear her move or jump on the bed, I think it is Sammy. The guilt of not taking him to another vet for an ultrasound will always stay with me. Although, everyone keeps telling me cats are good at hiding being sick, I still feel like I let him down, that I missed some sign and could have saved him if I had taken to the vet earlier. I miss him so much.
Sammy, you will always be in my heart. I love and miss you so much. Goodbye my sweet angel.
Sammy was one of many stray kittens in my neighborhood. I was working with a local rescue to get the kittens and find homes. Sammy was the last kitten and was caught during the month of August. The rescue did not have any more room and asked me to keep him for a week. He was so frightened and would not come out the night I set him up in my bathroom. I set his carrier, food/water, a blanket, and a small litter box in my bathroom and left him alone that night. The next morning when I went in, he was out of the carrier and ran up to me grabbing my leg and meowing. I already had three cats and really did not have room for another, but at that moment I knew he was going to join my family.
Sammy was such an energetic kitten and got over his fear of a new environment quickly. All my other cats had been calm kittens, so he was a new experience for me. I would play with him for an hour and he would still want to continue to play. Sammy was constantly running around my bedroom, climbing curtains or if I left the closet open climbing the clothes on hangers. I found so many shirts and pants with little holes from him trying to climb up. I quickly learned to keep the closets closed at all times. He would tear up any paper found. I found him happily tearing up my college class notes one day. His favorite game was me throwing a small balled up piece of paper which he would run after it and bring back to me.
I love all my precious cats, but Sammy was special. We had a closer bond then I had with any of my other pets. He was there every morning as I got ready for work, scratching at the bathroom door wanting to come in, and there as I walked out the door to go to work expecting a kiss and cuddle before I left. My roommate said he know the time I was coming home and waited at the door. The minute I walked through the door he wanted to be held. It was such a comfort to come home from a horrible day at work and hold him. He was frightened of all other people and never did come out if I had family and friends over. He did like my Mom and roommate and would allow them to pet him. Going to the vet was hard, he hated the carrier and would run and hide if he just saw it. I purchased a pet stroller thinking that would be better, but he would not go near it. I moved two years ago and did not think I was ever going to get him in the carrier. He provided so much comfort when my cat, Casper, had to be put to sleep during April of this year. I was in bed crying and Sammy climbed on top of me and stayed there for hours as I cried. Sammy slept with me every night. If he fell asleep on my bed and I left the room, I could always count on him coming downstairs a short time later to find me meowing loudly as if to say “Why did you leave me alone?"
I never expected him to be taken from me so soon. He was running around playing with Ginger, jumping up on tables, getting in my lap, and asking for treats on Wednesday and was gone on Saturday. I keep trying to trick myself into thinking he is in the cat tree sleeping and I will see him soon. I do not want to do anything but stay in bed and cry. My remaining kitty is now sleeping with me at night and every time I hear her move or jump on the bed, I think it is Sammy. The guilt of not taking him to another vet for an ultrasound will always stay with me. Although, everyone keeps telling me cats are good at hiding being sick, I still feel like I let him down, that I missed some sign and could have saved him if I had taken to the vet earlier. I miss him so much.
Sammy, you will always be in my heart. I love and miss you so much. Goodbye my sweet angel.