Farewell Cottontail
This post is delayed. There is no excuse for the tardiness. We did not prioritize writing this update.
Cottontail died on 21 Dec 2009. He contracted FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus) and was not able to fight the aggressive virus. I had to make the difficult decision of putting Cottontail down after almost 2 weeks of medication, intravenous nutrition and vitamin supplements. Cottontail had already stopped eating, drinking and grooming himself on the day that he passed on.
The doctors treating Cottontail also told us that he had also contracted jaundice. Given his current condition and inability or unwillingness to eat, his organs would start to fail and he would eventually lapse into a coma. The recommended course of action would be to humanely put Cottontail down. The alternative was to allow Cottontail to waste away slowly and painfully.
Cottontail came into our lives on 31 Aug 2008 as a kitten. We watched him grow into a handsome young cat. He was strong but gentle. Unlike most feral cats, he had not yet learned to fear humans and trusted us to care for him. He was playful and cheeky like his namesake in Beatrix Potter's stories. Cottontail was the most beloved member of the Alley Cats. He was the favorite.
But we did not do justice to his memory. We do not have any photographs of Cottontail as a kitten or in the prime of his health. All I have is a photo of Cottontail taken two weeks before his demise. It is not a picture that I want to remember. I offer no excuses for not documenting his life and times. I am guilty of not making Cottontail an important part of our lives.
I held Cottontail on that fateful moment. He was happy to see me. It seemed as if he knew what would happen to him and accepted it. I told him that he would be sleeping soon. He would not have to suffer anymore. I apologized to Cottontail, for not taking better care of him and not being able to help him overcome the virus. He responded by purring loudly. He was content to rest his head on my hand and to allow me to stroke his long emaciated back.
Cottontail died in my arms peacefully, happy and contented. We buried him in front of the house so that we can always remember how he had touched our lives.
Cottontail died on 21 Dec 2009. He contracted FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus) and was not able to fight the aggressive virus. I had to make the difficult decision of putting Cottontail down after almost 2 weeks of medication, intravenous nutrition and vitamin supplements. Cottontail had already stopped eating, drinking and grooming himself on the day that he passed on.
The doctors treating Cottontail also told us that he had also contracted jaundice. Given his current condition and inability or unwillingness to eat, his organs would start to fail and he would eventually lapse into a coma. The recommended course of action would be to humanely put Cottontail down. The alternative was to allow Cottontail to waste away slowly and painfully.
Cottontail came into our lives on 31 Aug 2008 as a kitten. We watched him grow into a handsome young cat. He was strong but gentle. Unlike most feral cats, he had not yet learned to fear humans and trusted us to care for him. He was playful and cheeky like his namesake in Beatrix Potter's stories. Cottontail was the most beloved member of the Alley Cats. He was the favorite.
But we did not do justice to his memory. We do not have any photographs of Cottontail as a kitten or in the prime of his health. All I have is a photo of Cottontail taken two weeks before his demise. It is not a picture that I want to remember. I offer no excuses for not documenting his life and times. I am guilty of not making Cottontail an important part of our lives.
I held Cottontail on that fateful moment. He was happy to see me. It seemed as if he knew what would happen to him and accepted it. I told him that he would be sleeping soon. He would not have to suffer anymore. I apologized to Cottontail, for not taking better care of him and not being able to help him overcome the virus. He responded by purring loudly. He was content to rest his head on my hand and to allow me to stroke his long emaciated back.
Cottontail died in my arms peacefully, happy and contented. We buried him in front of the house so that we can always remember how he had touched our lives.
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