It is with great sadness and with great difficulty that I write you to let you know Charlie left this world on the 1st of July. I was not able to write anything until now. Even now that I'm writing it, I'm having much tears.
In Oct 2006, my ex wanted cats and I wanted a dog. She saw two cats in a local RSPCA rescue and we got them back. Charlie was constipated the first day he arrived and one week later, he was diagnosed megacolon and had a manual evacuation. Since then, I had managed his condition daily. Sometimes he was incontinent due to the various laxatives my vets gave us but I always made sure he felt accepted and I just put throws over the house and carpet and clean it.
Since Charlie started to show symptoms of constipation, my ex girlfriend was not very kind to him. A few times she threw Charlie away from her laps. In mid 2007, I had to leave her.
In 2007, Charlie had a very good time with me. He had complete trust in me. In that whole year, he was probably unwell for 3 days.
In Jan this year, he was diagnosed hyperthyroidism. I also took him to specialist centres for check up three times... The medical management for his constipation became refractory in Feb. I consulted several specialists, including feline specialists, both in the UK and in the US... We decided to have the surgery done in late April. Since then, he had deteriorated gradually. He also developed recurring constipation after a subtotal colectomy. He was back to the hospital twice after his surgery and the hospital was three hours away.
In June, he started to feel uncomfortable and he also had diarrhoea. He didn't have any appetite. He was diagnosed cholangiohepatitis, pancreatitis and IBD. After a few chats with other specialists, including our surgeon, other professors in the US, my college tutor Herrtage and feline specialists, I decided to take him back from ER and put him down. I was completely shocked as that was my first euthanasia..
I've never felt so painful in my life, despite some family members' passings. I've also never felt so close to any other animals, including my two previous beloved German Shepherd and Labrador. And this is my first time having cats and I must admit I am quite traumatised. I cannot believe the rescue did not even know he had problem defaecating and they were in the rescue for 5 months. I made me very bad that these oriental breeds crave for human contact and attention and I don't think they got much in the rescue.
It is not fair at all. Their previous owner had the chance to spend 8 years with them and I've only got 20 months and Charlie was not that well. But I know from my heart, I gave them everything I can. I'm now even 20k in debt due to weekly vet check on bowel, surgery etc.
But I know Charlie loved me very much and that he was grateful for my acceptances and care of his condition. He also had a very happy time in 2006 and 2007 and three months in 2008. I love him very much.
I had him individually cremated and I miss him very much.
Baxter had a difficult time too.. He went to Charlie and groomed him 20 seconds after his death. Then Baxter made a very long sigh and he was looking at Charlie and then he looked at the floor. He spent three days eating nothing.. He then started to eat. But he was very sad until last weekend. He still has that sadness from time to time but he is doing okay. I'm lucky to have the chance to take care of Baxter for Charlie.
I made three youtube video clips of charlie and Baxter two days ago. Sorry the quality isn't that good. But it gives you a glimpse of what they were like..
I received great support in this group from Teresa, Wizz Cat etc.. And I'm sorry that due to daily management, I was not able to come to this forum as I only wanted to spend more time with Charlie.
Charlie Feb 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYgJBJdhON8Charlie after surgery May 2008 and the last bit was taken last year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZi3qkMoFYIBaxter this year
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnTGunwuvN0Rest in peace, Charlie.
