You’re not going to believe this. I still don’t, but for all you Positive Pollys out there who wished for a happy outcome, you rock! Thank YOU! Trooper is home! Alive even!
We now think that Trooper went out that morning, three long weeks ago and something either interested him and he followed pursuit- or he got scared by something and took off. Then got lost. He’s down a few pounds from his 7lb body, he’s dirty and hungry but MAN, WAS HE PURRING! He doesn’t do that normally either. I got the call this afternoon from a woman who lives around the corner saying they found him 2 days ago in their yard. She takes care of cats and recognized the signs of the cancer and his advanced age and realized maybe his owner would be looking for him. She brought him to the shelter and saw my flier and called me. We are soo happy he’s home!
It’s crazy emotions today because we had just reconciled the fact that he “died like a cat” and here suddenly is the grieving renewed, mixed in joy, mixed in with guilt (how could I given up hope?), mixed in with sadness at his three weeks of homelessness and then right back ’round to JOY he is home, purring with us. We also know we’ll have to put him down soon, but we’re so grateful to have a few more days with him. Thank you for not giving up hope when I did – you all have made an impression on me that I won’t soon forget.
Paula
May 31, 2010 at 11:20
So happy for you that you found him! I hope you enjoy this last little bit of time with him. Hugs.
Denise Hinton
June 1, 2010 at 19:17
Thanks Paula- we have been spoiling him as much as possible!
Estivalia
May 31, 2010 at 12:09
Yay! I’m so glad he found his way back home and that you get to spoil him for a while
Denise Hinton
June 1, 2010 at 19:16
Thanks Estivalia! We’re so happy too!
shutterboo
June 1, 2010 at 05:28
Welcome home, Trooper. :)
Stacie
June 3, 2010 at 00:55
Yay! Congrats! Hold him, cherish him, love him….every moment with these guys is so precious. Your update made my eyes tear up. Enjoy your time…… :)
Denise Hinton
June 3, 2010 at 10:21
Thanks Stacie- We are definitely enjoying him right now – he isa real trooper!
Kay Gregory-Clark
June 16, 2010 at 06:54
Reading this brought back memories! I had Heidi-Cat for 20 years and she was tiny like Trooper and looked just like his picture! I can’t believe it. And, being old and with kidney disease (which the vet diagnosed and gave her a month or two to live–with his treatment, she lived 3 more YEARS), she became even smaller than her normal 7 pounds, too. I’d had her through some very turbulent times in my life and she was my only stable thing, so when she finally went to Kitty Heaven, it was so so hard. I did a little scrapbook tribute to her when I was able to eventually start on it and it helped immensely. Enjoy and pamper Trooper while you have him! (How old is he?) Just writing this is bringing tears.
Denise Hinton
June 16, 2010 at 07:26
Awwww- hugs to you and your little Heidi-Cat. Aren’t they amazing? She sounds like a Girl-Trooper!
I haven’t updated on Trooper because I was so happy we had this extra time and wanted to keep it there, but we put him down 5 days after he came home. It was too hard to see him try to eat his food, even after we bought the special kind with lots of gravy and pureed it. The day we took him to the vet, his mouth was bleeding. As hard as it was, it still wasn’t as hard as that day he left and the 3 weeks of wondering. Last night in bed, I swear I heard him eating his kibble like the good ol’ days (he was pretty loud!).
It was5 very happy, grateful and bittersweet days and we know Trooper was so happy to be home with us. It’s a crazy story that fits his crazy, long life.
d:)
Mari
June 22, 2010 at 13:25
OMG, you’re story brought me to tears. I know what it’s like to lose a cat/kitten pet. Even the first one that ever died while in my care. It was my husband’s cat when we first met and he and I never liked each other. My husband was out of town at the time. I called him and told him his cat was dying. Which he replied, “You’re going to have to take care of it, cause I can’t bring myself to do it.” I was mortified. Well, he died before I could have him put down. I cried like a baby. Enjoy your time with your pet. Mari
Lauren
July 5, 2010 at 09:15
OMG Denise!!!!
I’m so sorry for your loss. Thank goodness Trooper got home safe. I’m glad he was able to spend his last days happy at home with you and Keith.
Hugs!!!!