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Description
December 24th, after a short illness, I had to say goodbye to my sweetest little buddy.
All pet parents say this, but he was special, truly one of a kind. Affectionate and funny, demanding and adorable. A purring monster, with not an inch of meanness in him.

My mother and I got him out of the animal shelter in '99 when he was estimated to be 6 months old. Together with Pumbaa, who was 6 at that time, also an adorable cat, but she was more reserved. After I moved out in dec 2005, they stayed with my mom, until she suddenly passed away in jun 2007. Pumbaa was put to sleep in nov 2011 due to severe complications of cancer at the age if 18,5.

I told Timon back then that he was supposed to stay happy and healthy for a looooong time. 8 months later, after thinking for a while that he was getting obnoxious because he might be missing his sisfur (who he hated), I found out that he didn't have ADD, but hyperthyroidism.

We treated this by giving him meds twice a day.

Slowly but surely, he became his old self again. Now only meowing like an idiot if he disapproved of his food.

Little over a week ago, we noticed him becoming slower, and sleeping a lot. So initially thought he finally turned into a normal, relaxed, lazy cat. But after a while he didn't show any interest in his food.

So I took him to the vet, and after a two day observation and tests they figured he was most likely fighting a (virus)infection. And on Friday I could take him home, ready to start my Christmas week off from work.

I monitored him closely and when he didn't start eating, I force fed him. That didn't go down well either. He clearly did not want food. But I persevered... Still, I called the vet to check if I was doing the right thing. And on Monday I took him back, to find out he had rapidly lost a lot of weight. Which I of course had noticed! The vet was worried and said that he had to start gaining weight again, or I might had to make a decision on Friday after Christmas to do what's right for him.

Thus I kept force feeding, but by the end he didn't even swallow it. And he stopped drinking.

Late Tuesday afternoon, he seemed to be in so much pain. So extremely tired, that it would have been too cruel to keep shoving food in his mouth. He only showed some energy when I tried to feed him, give him his meds or water. He resisted, kept his mouth shut.

With a breaking heart, I knew it was time to say goodbye. Although the vet says I've done everything possible, it still feels like I have let my best friend down. He went from happy and normal to depressed and sick so quickly, I'm basically in shock.

I know, he was 'just' a cat, people go through worse when they lose a child or other close family members. I've lost my mom at an age where she wasn't supposed to die, and he was a connection to her. This sadness will not last as severely as it is now, and it will not remain as prominent as the loss of my mom. But right now, it hurts a lot.

We had routines and sweet snuggle moments. He gave the best massages and nose nudges.

People without pets will not understand and even people with pets may think I'm insane.

It is what it is and I can't change it...

Description
December 24th, after a short illness, I had to say goodbye to my sweetest little buddy.
All pet parents say this, but he was special, truly one of a kind. Affectionate and funny, demanding and adorable. A purring monster, with not an inch of meanness in him.

My mother and I got him out of the animal shelter in '99 when he was estimated to be 6 months old. Together with Pumbaa, who was 6 at that time, also an adorable cat, but she was more reserved. After I moved out in dec 2005, they stayed with my mom, until she suddenly passed away in jun 2007. Pumbaa was put to sleep in nov 2011 due to severe complications of cancer at the age if 18,5.

I told Timon back then that he was supposed to stay happy and healthy for a looooong time. 8 months later, after thinking for a while that he was getting obnoxious because he might be missing his sisfur (who he hated), I found out that he didn't have ADD, but hyperthyroidism.

We treated this by giving him meds twice a day.

Slowly but surely, he became his old self again. Now only meowing like an idiot if he disapproved of his food.

Little over a week ago, we noticed him becoming slower, and sleeping a lot. So initially thought he finally turned into a normal, relaxed, lazy cat. But after a while he didn't show any interest in his food.

So I took him to the vet, and after a two day observation and tests they figured he was most likely fighting a (virus)infection. And on Friday I could take him home, ready to start my Christmas week off from work.

I monitored him closely and when he didn't start eating, I force fed him. That didn't go down well either. He clearly did not want food. But I persevered... Still, I called the vet to check if I was doing the right thing. And on Monday I took him back, to find out he had rapidly lost a lot of weight. Which I of course had noticed! The vet was worried and said that he had to start gaining weight again, or I might had to make a decision on Friday after Christmas to do what's right for him.

Thus I kept force feeding, but by the end he didn't even swallow it. And he stopped drinking.

Late Tuesday afternoon, he seemed to be in so much pain. So extremely tired, that it would have been too cruel to keep shoving food in his mouth. He only showed some energy when I tried to feed him, give him his meds or water. He resisted, kept his mouth shut.

With a breaking heart, I knew it was time to say goodbye. Although the vet says I've done everything possible, it still feels like I have let my best friend down. He went from happy and normal to depressed and sick so quickly, I'm basically in shock.

I know, he was 'just' a cat, people go through worse when they lose a child or other close family members. I've lost my mom at an age where she wasn't supposed to die, and he was a connection to her. This sadness will not last as severely as it is now, and it will not remain as prominent as the loss of my mom. But right now, it hurts a lot.

We had routines and sweet snuggle moments. He gave the best massages and nose nudges.

People without pets will not understand and even people with pets may think I'm insane.

It is what it is and I can't change it...