Melisande - R I P

Alas, a few days at the vet's brought no improvement. Neither the
medications (which they managed to administer) nor steroid injections
had any effect on the bloody stools. It was a hard decision to make,
since she remained in good spirits (although sleeping a lot more than
usual) and eating well. The vet shared my distress in making the final
decision, but said there really didn't appear to be anything else they
could do for her, so it seemed the better choice, and she would make it,
if Meilsande were hers.

Judith's suggestion was correct - they brought her home, so I could say
"goodbye" and hold her while she went to sleep. (So peacefully - with
the furor on the news about human death penalty drugs not functioning
well, I wonder don't they just use the same ones with which they
euthanize animals?) One second I was holding her, sort of snuggling
against me, the next she was gone - no twitching or signs of stress,
still cuddled in my arms, but without a heartbeat. I hope she really
was ready to go, but one can only do what seems best, since they can't
tell us.

I didn't realize how much Melisande ate - Although Cendrillon comes when
I bring out the catfood, she eats very little of the moist food, but a
reasonable amount of the Cat Chow. Apparently most of the litter-box
clumps (even when she was healthy) were Melisande's, also. Not sure
about getting another cat - it remains to be seen whether Cendri appears
to miss Meli. (After all, I'm eighty-four years old, so I have to
consider what happens to my pets when I go.)