In Loving Memory

Critter

1988 - January 7, 2005

Critter became ill shortly before Christmas and we took her to the vet right away. He checked her thoroughly and performed blood work, but everything looked normal, except her white blood cell count was high so he placed her on antibiotics. We thought perhaps she had an infection in her gums. However, over the next 3 weeks, she steadily grew weaker. We had her back at the vet's office 3 different times, and had to begin feeding her a special high-nutrition food, in hopes of getting her strength back.

There were days that she showed improvement, and days that she didn't. Then on January 7th she went into convulsions and we rushed her back to the vet's office immediately. He said that she was having a major stroke, and she was already beyond knowing what was happening. We had our vet give her a shot to end things quickly, rather than see her go through any more pain. She was a wonderful cat, and she had a long and full life with us. The vet said it had been her heart all along, growing weaker from age, and there was nothing we could have done for her. His office sent us a card with the following poem:

If I Should Grow Frail

If it should be that I grow frail and weak

and pain does keep me from my sleep,

then will you do what must be done

for this, the last battle, can't be won.

You will be sad, I understand.

But don't let grief then stay your hand.

For on this day, more than the rest,

your love and friendship must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years,

you wouldn't want me to suffer so

when the time comes, please let me go.