I know that most of you know me well enough to know that I am not very fond of cats.
although 5 years ago I was "chosen" by a stray feral cat. That was hungry enough to jump in my car to get my hamburger
while I was in class taking a final. He has pitiful that night, he was skinny, his ear was torn open and had pellets in his
site, he also had been caught in something and one of his toe nails was completely turned sideways. He was nasty at first
and attacked us all the time. We took him to the vet and went to get him fixed and shortly after got a phone call stating
that he had tested positive for Feline Leukemia. I was immediately told that he would live NO longer than 6 months and that
I should put him down then. I can not do that, special needs animals have just as much right to live in a loving home as any
other. We decided to keep him until he started showing signs of being ill. We were told that he would fade slowly and we would
know when it was time to let him go.
Church lived with us for another 4 1/2 years and lived to torment me and
just be a grouchy old man. But I loved him that way. I am not fond of the lovey cats that always want to be on you, and
that was definitely how Church was.
Sadly Church did not slowly fade he became very very ill and he was rushed
to the vet and were told once again that they could do all kinds of painful tests on him to see what could be done for him,
but it looked like he was going into kidney failure, and he was very jaundice, and the prognosis was not good.
The hardest thing that I ever had to do was to tell the vet that Church
had had enough and he had been picked and probed at his whole life and he deserved to pass away in peace. I bent down and
kissed him and told him that I loved him very very much while I was still scared that I was making the wrong decision, and
he kissed me for the first time in 5 years. I know now that he was ready to go and loved me too. I always thought he tolerated
me and did not really care one way or another, but now I have realized that was no where true.
My first reaction was that I will NEVER have another
cat. But after thinking about it not only did Church help me realize how much love a cat could give, I would never have rescued
Meisha if it were not for Church, like most people you do not go looking for a Feline Leukemia positive kitten especially
when you are not fond of cats. I think when I am ready (definitely not right now) I will definitely ALWAYS have a feline Leukemia
cat, in memory of Church.
In Memory of Church
1998- December 5, 2004
You will always be in my heart.
I Love you!!!!
