RIP, Frankenstein

[robert4301]

Had my 18 1/2 year old female cat, Frankenstein euthanized today. She was the perfect cat for me. Very quiet, a total lap cat and a wonderful companion. She was a small tuxedo, never more than six pounds. But in the last year, she developed kidney failure and lost weight. In the last few months, she became blind (detached retinas) and near totally deaf. In the last two days she had lost interest in food and could no longer rest comfortably. When I got home from work today, she was facing into a corner of the room and was not really responsive. I had known for a while that her time was coming.

I decided to call the vet clinic at 3:45 this afternoon and asked if they could see Frankenstein today for a possible euthanasia and, although booked for the day, the vet said to bring her on in. Ten minutes later I walked in the door. They led me into an exam room right away. The vet came in ten minutes later and examined Frankenstein. He agreed that it was time. The cat was calm and even purring a little and didn't flinch as the vet clipped a small patch of fur off her inner right rear leg. He then put a little iv in and slowly at first, injected a single shot of some barbiturate that quickly relaxed her then the rest of it which stopped the heart. The whole thing was maybe 30-40 seconds and totally peaceful. I held her head throughout and am so glad I decided to be with her to the end.

The exam room had plenty of tissues which was good since I forgot to bring any. It also had a door directly to the outside. That was good because I didn't have to take an empty carrier through the waiting room where two little girls with their mother had looked at Frankenstein while I was checking in. They were still there.

[Meezer_lover]

I'm so very sorry that you lost your Frankenstein. It's so incredibly hard, and not many understand.

Please know that I'm thinking of you and your baby.

[marie73]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Making that decision is the hardest, but also the most loving, thing to do. I'm glad I was with my baby, too.

There must be an interesting story behind her name.....

[cooncatbob]

Few things in life are more painful then losing life long special friend.
I'm glad you were able to be there for her as she passed from this world to the next.

[robert4301]

Originally Posted by marie73

I'm so sorry for your loss. Making that decision is the hardest, but also the most loving, thing to do. I'm glad I was with my baby, too.

There must be an interesting story behind her name.....

Thanks for the kind words. I got her name from a sci-fi book I was reading when I found this kitten. A character in the book was trying to get booted off a space ship he was working on. He found out that bringing an unregistered animal aboard was a serious enough offense. He found a really ugly, foul tempered cat, named it Frankenstein, and put it in his cabin where it was sure to be "found". But it escaped. The story moves on while Frankenstein is in the cargo hold ............having kittens!

I just find it impossible to keep a straight face when naming a cat.

[Valentine's Heart]

I'm so sorry for your loss today. One year ago today, I lost my Valentine. It is so hard to say goodbye to those special ones....

[cooncatbob]

Originally Posted by Valentine's Heart

I'm so sorry for your loss today. One year ago today, I lost my Valentine. It is so hard to say goodbye to those special ones....

My very first kitten when I was about 5 was named Valentine, I don't even remember if it was a he or she it died while still quite small, I got another Kitten Blackie from the next litter.
I had not thought about these childhood pets for ages until this past May when I lost Samantha shortly after her 16th birthday.
Then it seemed the memories of all the pet I owned and my families pets came flooding back, dogs and cats, rabbits, rats. parakeets and canaries.
So many pets, I feel fortunate to grow up in a family where we had lots of pets, I have a friend with major allergies and he didn't grow up around animals and he's never had a pet, kinda sad.

[tarah44]

I'm sorry for your loss.

[tghsmith]

very sorry for your loss,its never easy but its what has to be done. take a look online for the series "red Dwarf" one of the best scifi comedy series ever.. I wanted to call one of our cats "smeghead" wife wasn't going to let that.. happen clip of with happened to fankies kittens after many years of evolution ..

Red Dwarf - Two Minor Drawbacks - YouTube

Red Dwarf - Two Minor Drawbacks - YouTube

[robert4301]

Originally Posted by tghsmith

very sorry for your loss,its never easy but its what has to be done. take a look online for the series "red Dwarf" one of the best scifi comedy series ever.. I wanted to call one of our cats "smeghead" wife wasn't going to let that.. happen clip of with happened to fankies kittens after many years of evolution ..Red Dwarf - Two Minor Drawbacks - YouTube

I'm busted! I never saw the series and never actually finished the book. I hope my basic recollection of the story is correct about "Frankenstein". I adopted a cat today from Austin Pets Alive. It is a black female, 8 1/2 months old. They called her Xemena but you have given me an idea to mine the book or the show for a name! Some may consider it odd to get another cat the day after losing a cat but a cat-less home is not for me.