RIP Hermoinie, The Library Cat....
I am very saddened to announce that Hermoinie, the 2nd of the two mad sisters in Boss's library passed away yesterday.
She had been going downhill for the past week, and after long talks with her vet yesterday, I decided the kindest thing would be to let her have a peaceful end, and not prolong her suffering.
Our vet came to the house, and she was able to go in her own place, with me holding her head and telling her she was loved.
She was 17, and missed her friend Pod badly. It's always hard when we have to make that call for our kitty friends, but it is the best thing we can do for them when it is time.
There would have been no chance for her to recover to a point where she would have been well for anything more than a few weeks, and I felt dying peacefully at home was the right call.
We will miss her.
Hard call tho, never had to do that before. The kind of job that sure isn't covered in the job description.
Love and RIP,
Lorraine
She had been going downhill for the past week, and after long talks with her vet yesterday, I decided the kindest thing would be to let her have a peaceful end, and not prolong her suffering.
Our vet came to the house, and she was able to go in her own place, with me holding her head and telling her she was loved.
She was 17, and missed her friend Pod badly. It's always hard when we have to make that call for our kitty friends, but it is the best thing we can do for them when it is time.
There would have been no chance for her to recover to a point where she would have been well for anything more than a few weeks, and I felt dying peacefully at home was the right call.
We will miss her.
Hard call tho, never had to do that before. The kind of job that sure isn't covered in the job description.
Love and RIP,
Lorraine
96 Comments:
Aw. As a kitty lover I know you did it with a bit of a wounded but loving heart.
All pets should have such a long. happy life. And be able to go peacefully, at home, with the people and things they know and love.
That's definitely a hard call to make, but it sounds like it was time. I'm glad she could go at home with you making sure she knew she was loved.
Kind thoughts for the library empty of its cats, and for you and the other people who loved Hermione and Pod.
I was afraid the Mad Cat Sisters wouldn't be long parted.
Poor you, and Maddy, and distant Boss, and all.
:(
I hope Hermione and Pod are now sharing a sunbeam in that great daisy field in the sky.
My condolences. It's going to be such a lonely library now, without the two ladies strolling along the shelves.
It is such a hard thing to do, but the one time we had to, for Caitlin's old lady Sophie, we both knew it was the kindest thing for her.
I'm happy for her that she can be with Pod again, hopefully they've found a suitable celestial library together. And sad for you that you had to let go, but you made the right loving, compassionate choice, hard as it was. Sympathies to you and Boss and Maddy.
Never an easy decision to make, but you did the right thing for Hermione. She had a good, long life in a happy home. xoxo
Sympathies, indeed. A hard thing to have to do, but she was lucky to have been loved until the end, and to have you with her.
“...has been a most precious pleasure to have temporarily strolled in your garden.”
Crazy hipster Lord Buckley
You are probably the best cat keeper in the world, and I'm sure you made the right decision. Although, I wish you hadn't made me cry at work...
So sorry to hear about Hermione. She was loved and she knew that she had you and Maddie and Boss.
Rest well, little friend.
Sad to hear. And yeah, that comes under "other duties as required"...
I'm sure that Hermione is in a better place now.
No kidding ... and I'm sorry. I hope Boss and Maddy are feeling okay.
Our pets depend on us to make the right decision for them and it sounds like that is exactly what you did.
Add to job description :-(
so sorry to hear that. Know boss is going to be heartbroken also. But, you're right, at that age loosing Pod was probably too much to bear.
I've had to have a couple of furry friends put to sleep, one caught fe-luke at the vet's & another was too badly injured. You cry and cry...and year's later it'll hit you just right and you'll cry some more.
At least she was home, comfortable & loved.
((Quiche)) Sorry to hear this. And the right decision is not easy to make. So glad she was able to be at home and have you there, so she wasn't stressed and upset by a trip to the vet, at the end.
You did the kindest, most loving thing for her. You are to be commended for being so brave yourself. Hope you day and weekend improve...
Thank you, all. I know I made the right choice, and she is at peace, and it was her time, but it's still hard, just missing her.
Boss does know, I wasn't going to say anything until he got my e-mail, which was why I didn't mention it yesterday.
He said he was glad he wasn't there and sad that he wasn't there.
We buried her beside Pod, of course, and Woodsman Hans has made them a headstone.
I am having cold chicken for lunch, so , this not being my first chicken lunch, I gave Venus and Mim a can of tuna, so they could eat that, and not be after my chicken.
They loved the tuna and are now enjoying chicken with me.
Oh dear. It sounds like you gave her a good, loving end.
That's a nice thing. They belong together.
Heh! Of course the girls are eating your chicken. Cold chicken rocks.
I've had to make that decision three times. And now, with three old ladies in the house, (11, 14-15 and 18 1/2), I know I'm going to have to make it again sooner rather than later, though right now, everyone is healthy.
It never gets easier to make that choice, but I've never regretted it, either. It's the final loving thing I can do for them.
That is what you did for Hermione. And you made it as easy on her as possible. She was home and knew she was loved. That's the most important part.
The most painful, important part of having an animal companion. It sounds like you made the most compassionate decision for her.
May her spirit be at ease. May you be at ease. Many blessings to you for your willingness to greet her life's end with fearless compassion.
Just thought about how nice a fire would be today, cold, rain, sleet turning to snow...
Then I thought maybe I didn't want a fire after all.
Venus and Mim are under blankets, Merry Housekeeper is painting the bathroom. Lear and Mab are NOT hiding, Magic IS hiding under his ottoman...Horsetrainer Mel is coming over to look thru Haunted Clothes and Props.
All is right in the Spooky House.
Bless you for having the courage to do it, and for doing it in such a loving, caring way. I have no doubt she knew exactly how special she was and how much she was loved.
She was a lucky cat to have a home and people to love her.
That's such a difficult decision. Sorry it came to you to make it, but it sounds like it was the right choice.
Fire would be nice with the snow (but no explosions, please). But snuggling into your house with tea and feeling at peace with the world is best and you don't need fire for that.
We would all be lucky to live out our last days surrounded by books and people who love them and be lovingly guided into what ever comes next.
So nice to think that she and Pod could be reunited.
So glad to hear that all is well in the Spooky House, especially after such a sadness. On a lighter note, is Skelly going to get a spooky costume as well? Maybe a pumpkin seed necklace or something shadowy black?
So sorry about Hermione for you and Boss. It is never an easy thing to do, had to do it 5 weeks ago today for our beautiful orange tabby Tyson.
But the powers that be brought me Sakura and Sakura has chosen Mars to be her man, so we made the decision today he will be joining our family too. Mainly because we fear it would break her little kitty heart to lose him. But I DO need suggestions for a new name for him.
In time more kitties will come to heal Bosses heart too and romp his library, joyful to have found a home.
Thinking of a good Skelly costume... Top hat and tails, and a monocle!
So sorry about Hermione - that's always a hard thing. But not as hard, I think, as watching them suffer, in the long run.
Baked brownies today. Still waiting for the cable guy, who was supposed to be here by 2. Hmf. Don't know if I'll get my walk in today. The bastards.
And we had temps in the 40s for the first time last night. Yesterday I saw a bunch of Gulf Fritillary caterpillars on my potted passionvine so I untangled it from the fence and put it on the back porch where it should stay warmer. We might have to turn on the heat tonight. Or not. You never know here.
sympathy and tears for Hermione and her peeps. and tea to go with the sympathy for the peeps.
and: what is with this week?!?
I am not sure that I have the capacity to actually hold a loved pet as that happened. I have known several people that have, and I find it most honorable. I send you love and hugs. ~Cecily
You did the right thing, and that was above and beyond the call. Boss is a very lucky man to have an assistant he can trust absolutely to handle these important life things with such compassion and responsibility.
I will second that Artful Lawyer. That seems to me to be above and beyond the call of duty and just goes to show what a remarkable person Lorraine is.
Holding a pet while they go on is hard. I think it helps ease their way, but still hard.
My yoga teacher's husband (and he is our friend as well) was diagnosed with colon cancer yesterday and though I don't know any of the details yet, have been feeling sad all day...
Another friend had her cancer come back as stage 4 ovarian cancer in her lungs, learned that yesterday.
And then there is Calvin and his cancer...jeez, feeling a bit overwhelmed here.
so sad and also glad for the whole thing. hopefully she is chasing lasers in kitty heaven now, and sending love to your heavy heart.
Skelly is going to a haunted house for halloween, where he will help scare children. No costume needed.
SNOW SNOW SNOW. Good thing the rain is not changing to snow until AFTER MIDNIGHT. (2:00pm apparently)
It's bad when the snow is covering the ground before the leaves have lost their colour and fallen to the ground. AH well, no raking now until spring...
Hugs to you and boss and maddy. I knew something was going on last night when you were looking for chatting...i had a feeling something bad had happened :(
It is for the best but doesn't make it easier.
There was a cat-lady on the radio today telling people how to get along w/ their cats (let them come to you, hold out a finger, give them treats). Thought I was listening to someone read Q's blog about Magic ;-)
Meanwhile, I've been costuming all day. Ventress is just about done. Just waiting for the fabric paint to dry so I can stitch the belt together. I haven't seen Clone Wars, we're watching it tomorrow, and I will probalby hate it but this costume is looking really cool! She's wicked and has TWO red light sabers :) The geek in me is happy.
Sorry to hear about Hermoinie. She had a long life and will now be with Pod. It is a difficult thing to do but it is something we can lovingly do for our pets that we cannot do for our own kind when they are suffering.
They are together, I am sure of it.
Meanwhile SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW.
Out damm snow!!!!!!!!!!
Way too early for this. I have a Haunted House to do next weekend! We have Plans, and Things. I bought rats and eyeballs today. It's not snow time!
Sympathy and hugs to all who need them. What a rollercoaster of a week this keeps being.
So glad Hermione was able to go in her place, surrounded by love.
*Sympathy* and *hugs* as needed. Hard thing for everyone.
Wish you had a working fireplace to enjoy tonight, but at least everyone is warm.
I, too, am glad you were there to hold Hermione at the end. I did that with my Fred, and it was the only thing that made it all right.
Sympathy and hugs!I hope Hermione and Pod are now together!
I almost had a heart attack today.
I came home from work and my mom told me her dog, a Rottweiler (Kyra) got my black cat (Trinity).
Both are fine,Trinity sakes every time she hears the door...
Mom says Kyra thinks Trinity is her baby...
anyway... what a scary thing to happen after a tiresome Halloween party with my pupils!
I want to dance to Michael Jackson. Stupid plague.
I'm so sorry to hear this, I know it must be hard for you and the family.
It was a kind and loving way to help her move on, and back to Pod. I found a vet to come to the house the last time I had to do this, and if I have my choice it's the only way I will do it, so they know they are safe and loved the whole time.
*hugs*
You do well Q, and you do good.
*whinge time*
My stupid fecking neighbor is burning very smelly stuff in his incinerator...highly illegal. I've had to shut all doors and windows in the house. Bad luck that its a beautiful spring day and my back yard is covered in acrid smoke.
{{Lorraine}}
I've never regretted a decision to relieve endless pain. I'm sure that Pod was waiting for Hermione, and that they are back up to their pain free mischief.
My thoughts are with you, Maddy, and Boss.
I'm thinking about you, too, Jane. Sometimes all you can do is just get through one day at a time. {{{Jane}}}
{{Hugs}} to Hermione, now Home with Pod.....
{{Hugs}} to both your Houses, and the folk left behind....
Poor kitty! She was such a loud purrer.
Such a sad thing to wake up to.
my heart breaks over this girl. When i was visiting, i went downstairs and held her for awhile, she purred her Hermoine purr funnily like a ticking motor and accepted all affection. Her eyes were so so green and clear. I cried then, and i cry now.
I'm so sorry Q..you did the right thing and the hard thing.
I like to think that she and Pod are chasing catnip mousies madly through the Library in the Dreaming, while Lucien rolls his eyes at them.
My sympathies to you and the Boss, and Maddy too.
Why am I up at 6 ???? Not sure I get this, but here I am...Huge day coming,many house guests for the Boss, 3 rock stars, a birder, some bird banders...And me up at 6.
I think I need to go back to bed...
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The hardest part of loving is the letting go. It's the trial we take on whenever we give our heart to a pet. My worst fear is that I will go before Neri and that she will be left alone.
Woke up feeling absolutely positively awful this morning. Noooo ... Saturday ... can't ... fail ... the weekend ...
When I had to put my beloved Tommy down, I typed up this poem and framed it, set it among photos and memories of him. It makes me cry even now, and it's been four years. I hope it might bring you some comfort, Lorraine. Thanks for giving your precious kitty wings. Peace and comfort from Jill in MN.
If It Should Be
Author unknown
If it should be that I grow frail and weak,
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then you must do what must be done.
For this last battle cannot be won.
You will be sad - I understand,
But then don't grief let stay your hand,
For this day more than all the rest,
Your love for me must stand the test.
We've had so many happy years,
What is to come holds no fears.
Take me where my needs they'll tend,
Only stay with me until the end.
And hold me close and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you too will see
It is a kindness you've done for me.
Although my tail it's last has waved,
From pain and suffering I've been saved.
Please do not grieve that it was you,
who had this painful thing to do.
We've been so close we two these years
Don't let your heart hold any tears.
Why was I up at 4:30? Because Mars now Mischa told me loudly from 2 rooms away it was his breakfast time even on a weekend. Why was I up again at 7 on a weekend? Because the dogs were crying to go out again! Worse than raising kids this! Watching Mischa and Sakura thunder around the house playing was my reward. And COFFEE.. always COFFEE.
(((Jane)))
and
(((Erin)))
No words.
When I saw the title of this post, I thought, I must be getting the wrong site, this has been here before...
It hasn't. It is Hermione, not Pod. And it reminded me of Mia, our first cat, who wasn't so lucky, because she had to be taken to a veterinary hospital... and she was only one year old.
Hermione was lucky. And she's had her good share of happiness, too, I'm sure.
It's already been said but you're a pretty special PA for you to take on this responsibility and my condolences on the loss to all who knew and loved Hermione.
I also hope the snow melts well before next weekend!
ACK! Totally went back to bed for WAY too long....At work now and it will be a day. A fun one, but a day...
Saturday should not be a day.
Of course I just realized that that sounded really really wrong. I just meant Saturday shouldn't be one of THOSE days, you know, a Day day. But we want you, Saturday, yes we do.
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Many wonderful things have been said about this post... but the one that I love most of all was Aleta's...
"We would all be lucky to live out our last days surrounded by books and people who love them and be lovingly guided into what ever comes next."
Hugs to Jane, for trying times, Emilylady for the plague, and anyone else who needs 'em.
Fiends, I need an idea.
This year's annual Halloween party is structured around the letter 'S' and I have not yet come up with a good costume idea... My usual goal is a reasonably clever costume (thus somewhat difficult to guess) which is nonetheless comfortable to party in for several hours.
As examples, the Q year, I was a q-tip, and last year 'P' I was a one horned, one-eyed, flying Purple People Eater.
But this year, I'm just not getting excited about the things I can think of... (oh...can't go as a 'shrink' cause it's too close to what I actually do, and thus, disallowed.)
So wind up those spicy brains and give me some help here! Please.
S?
Snail.
Severus Snape.
Smoke.
String.
Skull or Skeleton (too easy?)
Spooky. Or Slug. Either would work...
Just had a talk with some Rock Stars about dinner. Apparently they wish Grilled Cheese at 10:00pm.
My job is weird, but never dull.
Ummm - Dabbler - isn't the obvious answer Spicy Brains?
Oh grilled cheese sounds great. Maybe with some soup. Yummy! Hope you are having fun with the Rock Stars and Bird People.
Helloooooo, nobody's said SPOCK ...
Serial (insert something that starts with S)
Salt shaker (obviously boring but worth mention anyway)
Spine or something to do with a spine
I'm tired, there is no way I can make rational suggestions. But S is a big letter! Come on, you can do it!
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Not to mention Sally Sells Seashells by the Seashore.
sandwich
stockbroker
Sting
A siren (either kind)
slacker
sacred cow
Saint of your choice
Sloop John B
Silly putty
I'm with Siri on the Spicy Brains. ;)
Of course, you could always just be Spice.
"The Spice must flow!"
That is a beautiful poem, Jill in MN (Anonymous). Thank you for sharing.
Hi, JustKristen, merlin513, Brenda Stratton, Jill in MN (anonymous), Hana - Marmota, and adelheid! Welcome to the company of Fiends! Here are your white, buckled jackets; we each have one. Over there you can find just about anything you need to personalize your jacket. :)
Oh boy! What a great lot of suggestions...thanks! You've got my creative juices flowing...
Spacecraft?
Satellite?
Shrew?
Stone?
Sow?
Saucepan?
RIP Hermoinie
It is a comfort for her to go peacefully at home. As hard as it is, no matter their age, it is a kindness and act of love to not prolong their suffering.
Dabbler==
Has someone already said Soup??
Perhaps a Campbell's Soup Can (Tomato...mmm..mmm...good!)
And you can carry around a grilled cheese sandwich. Everyone who should, will get it :) (soup and sandwich elitist that I am :) )
*hugs*
It's quiet here. (looks around nervously) too quiet. . .
Well...
It's official.
We've moved. House was bought; stairs were rebuilt. Movers moved (took two days...but no-one works past five around here :) )
Cats are in residence. Angus has already staked out his preferred sunning zones both upstairs and down, and figured which door to stand at, vocalizing, until someone lets him into the back yard for an out.
So NOW winter starts. No snow....but COLD....and turns out the pilot lights on the heaters were all turned off. Luckily, we have a fireplace in this house my mother wisely chose.
And it isn't gas. So hopefully will NOT explode :)
Sunday. Microwaved tomato soup. Grilled cheese sandwich. Cat curled up on couch. And fireplace.
Comforting.....
We're here, Marjorie. Been a bit distracted with nerd things on my Sunday.
Wow, Lys, that sounds wonderful. Lovely.
Wow, Lys, that sounds wonderful. Lovely.
Oh, double-post, sorry. I would remove one but it always annoys me when I see a new comment and it's really just one that's been thrown away.
Emily--think of it this way: lovely and wonderful are words it is just nice to see twice.
*g*
It is just such a relief to be moved; midterms were last week as well. Of course, we still have to clean the old house (landlord is famous for not returning his exorbitantly high cleaning deposits if houses are not literally cleaner than when you moved in.)
Sunday love to every one....
Glad the move have been sucessfully accomplished, Lysandwr, and that the cats approve!
Emily, I assume eveyone is busy and/or having fun, when it goes quiet. It will liven up in due time, and in the meanwhile I shall imagine everyone is having adventures!
What really happened last night...
New post is UP!
Oh Lorraine, I just saw this post as I wandered over to read about last nite's shenanigans. I'm so sorry. :(
Virtual *hugs* now, and real hugs tomorrow.
~other Sharon
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