Yesterday I received the sad news that my Dad had to say good-bye to his kitty, Suzie. Even though this is primarily a blog about brown dawgs, I wanted to tell you about Suzie, (or “The Suz” as my Dad called her).
My Dad bought Suzie from a pet store in a small town in Canada 20 years ago. She cost $19.95 Canadian. The store did not actually sell animals, but Suzie ended up there when her mom and a sister were killed by a car and she alone survived. 20 years ago there were no shelters in the town so the pet store took her in and took care of her. I supposed the $19.95 was to cover some of their costs.
We always had a cat or two in the house when I was growing up, but a few months before Suzie came into my Dad’s life, we lost my childhood cat which left his house cat-less. On the day that he found Suzie, my Dad had gone to the pet store to buy food for my Grandmother’s cat. He spotted Suzie and that was it. Suzie had a new home.
Wasn’t she a cute kitten? Unfortunately she came with worms including ring worm, which she gave to me. :/
To help my Dad out, I ended up taking kitten Suzie to the vet for her shots and general vet care. I will never forget the day that the vet listened to her heart and heard a murmur. I think she was about 6 months old at the time. It was a significant murmur so Suzie was referred to a heart specialist.
The heart specialist scheduled an echocardiogram. It showed that one of Suzie’s heart valves had not closed at birth like it should have. The vet said this was not common, but more common in dogs, and very uncommon in cats. If Suzie did not have heart surgery, she would not survive long past her first birthday.
The surgery was expensive and required a 6 week recovery with no running, jumping, or playing. Really? No running, jumping or playing for a kitten! That should be interesting.
My Dad did not want to lose Suzie so he scheduled the surgery. The specialist told us that while she had done this surgery before on puppies, she had not done it on a kitten because it was so uncommon. We were told that they took several photos during the surgery so they could use them in future instruction.
The plan was for Suzie to have the surgery and then spend a couple of days at the vet and then come to my house where I would take care of her during her recovery. Well I think Suzie spent one night at the vet and they called and said: “come and get her”. She was a terrible patient and not happy at all. She would probably do better at home.
So her convalescence at my house began. I had to keep her crated and could not handle her too much. Of course after a week or so, she felt better and wanted to do kitten things but I had to resist the urge and keep her shut in the crate. Eventually she fully recovered from that surgery and went back to my Dad’s house.
She came back to my house one more time to recover from being declawed. For whatever reason, Suzie’s nails used to grow and curl right into her pads. She would not let me clip or file them and she would not let the vet do it either. They had to sedate her to do it, but with her heart issue, (her heart remained enlarged throughout her life), that was not a good long-term solution.
She recovered from that surgery and had a fairly healthy life until she became a senior. As a senior she suffered from high-blood pressure and a thyroid condition which were managed by medication. At 20 she had been in declining health for a few months. She was at the vet this week and the vet discovered that her stomach was very swollen. The vet (who has been seeing her for years), said she could refer her for tests, but she feared it was cancer and that there would be no good treatment and it would be kinder to let her go. My Dad appreciated the vet’s honesty and agreed it was for the best.
I didn’t spend much time with Suzie in the last several years because my Dad spends winters in Florida and Suzie went along. She would fly with him in a pet carrier right under his seat. She was a great traveler except when it came time to take her out of the carrier to go through security. Then she turned into demon kitty. Somehow they got through it every winter and spring, (my Dad figured out that it was smarter to wear gloves for this part of the trip 😉 ). But she loved Florida where it was warm and she could spent time on his screened porch.
So good-bye to Suzie. You will be missed.
Today is also the 70th anniversary of D-Day. When I look at pictures from that day, I am still amazed at the bravery of the men who stormed those beaches. Between the sheer cliffs and the enemy guns, it looked like an impossible mission, but they did it. Many died, but some who are still alive today are there to remember this anniversary. It is important to remember.
On Memorial Day I posted this picture of the cemetery at Omaha Beech.
I would like to thank LivG for the picture, (if you click it, I have linked to the source). It is a fabulous picture which she took with a little Canon PowerShot A3350 IS. Just goes to show that you don’t always need a fancy camera to get a fabulous picture!
Have a nice weekend!
It’s so sad to say good bye to friend. I’m so sorry for Suzie and your dad. After all those years they are more than a part of the family, I think they are family. Thanks for remembering those heroes today who were there for our country.
17 years ago Jazzpurr the one year old cat wondered into our house one cold November day. She was such a good pet that two other cats, two dogs, several fish, and a spiny lizard have since joined our family.
May The Suze have a great life everlasting.
So sweet despite all the set backs Suzie lived to such a good age and enjoyed her homes. Airport security, yikes who likes it and so don’t blame Suzie turning into a demon.
We remember too all those brave men who stormed those beaches and for the lives lost to give us so much. We salute them all.
Have a fabulous Friday.
Best wishes Molly
So sorry for your dads loss of Susie, what a beautiful kitty and what a life she had. Heart surgery on such a young cat, glad she made it and lived a long great life. She was one strong girl! You think your dad will get a senior cat to keep him company? Have a great weekend.
I spoke to him about that yesterday. You never know. I don’t think immediately, but maybe in time.
Suzie was feisty. As a vet tech, I am sure you understand. I think her feistiness enabled her to overcome a lot. The vet staff said she was by far the feistiest cat they ever had as a patient. They said they liked it…lol.
Losing a pet is always incredibly difficult. I hope your dad is able to find comfort during this time.
It’s always hard to say goodbye to a beloved companion. Suzie was a beautiful girl.
Thank you for remembering D-Day! My Dad served in the Merchant Marine during WWII, so was not among the troops who went ashore at Utah or Omaha; but I am proud of his service regardless. I am proud of ALL the men and and women who have served before and since WWII. Sometimes it seems to be a thankless job, but without their service we wouldn’t have the freedoms they fought (and still fight) to preserve. God Bless them All!! I fear that the youngsters today are not being taught to appreciate history’s lessons or to value the freedoms they have because of those brave men and women.
20 years is a long time and she will be greatly missed. Mom’s first cat lived to be 19. That is a wonderful story. What will your dad do now?
that was such a beautiful story. Your father was blessed to have Suzy for 20 years!!! You are an Angel also for helping the way that you did. I am so terribly sorry. Cody and I decided to comment today in honor of Suzy but Dakota sends his condolences too xoxo
I’m so sorry for the loss of this beautiful companion and friend. Why can’t they live as many years as we do… I’m sure she’s happy where she is now though, having been loved so much.
I am so sorry about Suzie’s passing, I’m sure she had a wonderful 20 years.
I’m sorry to hear about Suzie…
I am so sorry for your dad’s loss. 20 years is a long time to share with a cat, but it feels like no time at all.
What a wonderful friend Suzie was to your dad, and vice versa. We are so sorry that she had to fly off to the Bridge, and send purrs and prayers of comfort.
I am so sorry for your dad’s loss. I lost my cat when she was 20 due to a stroke. That is a lifetime with a cat. I know she was deeply loved and will be missed the same way. Give your dad our sympathy.
Such a wonderful life your Dad (and you) gave Suzie. I know she’ll be missed!
I am so sorry for your dad’s loss of his beloved Suzie. 20 years is a good long life yet it must make it that much more difficult after all those years together. It’s kind of amazing she lived that long in spite of all those health challenges…what a tough girl she was.
About a dollar a year. Best twenty bucks, ever. RIP Suzie
What a sweet story – 20 years is a great long time for Suzy to share her life with your dad. They were lucky to have each other.
Thanks for sharing your lovely story. 20 years is such a long time, though it doesn’t really matter does it once they are part of the family it is so tough to deal with. Sending our love and thoughts to your dad (and you ofc).
Hugs, Carrie and pups x
First of all, I’m so sorry for the loss of what seems a truly remarkable cat. It did my heart good to hear of all the kindness your dad showed to “The Suz” as I’m thinking 20 years ago people didn’t invest that kind of money in their pets. (At least not the ones I knew.)
Run fast, run free Suz.
What a great life she had. How nice to pay tribute to her.
Oh, so sorry to hear of this loss but so glad she lived such a long, happy life. Thank you for sharing a bit of her story with us. I really enjoyed it. So glad she got to travel with your dad all those times. I’m sure she got tons of attention and I can tell she was very, very loved.
We are so sad for your dad and you, I know Suzie will be missed. It is just so hard to see them go and she was with your dad a long time. Keeping him and you in our thoughts and prayers. Hugs
Hi Y’all!
It is so sad your Dad and Suzie were parted and he must feel very lonely without her. Paws crossed for your Dad.
Hawk aka BrownDog
Sorry to hear about Suzie, it’s hard when they pass on. Thanks for sharing the picture at Normandy.
I’m so sorry to hear the sad news…but wonderful turn of events that Suz ended up with your family and lived such a long life after the surgery. I’m sure she will be dearly missed.