Sorry for the time distance between posts. I have been busy and sick, which is no fun at all. Sick is ending, busy is not.
Two weeks ago tomorrow we lost our little Oscar (kitty) to a rattle snake. He came home to die, which in my experience, cats go off to die. This was a bit hard. I woke up at 5 am. When I went outside to check on everything, I saw Oscar standing in the yard walking my direction really slowly. I called him to me and once on the porch he collapsed. I checked him out and found the bite on his belly. It didn't take long to overcome his little self. I spent the rest of the morning on the porch unil it was over for him, Knowing that a vet trip would be in vain, I comforted and stayed with him until the end. Nathan took this really hard, and finally got through the crying every time he hears his name, stage. This is good. He asked me to print out a couple of pictures of him, so that he would not forget what he looks like. I did, and it took a while, but the pictures finally made it to being taped up on his bedroom wall. They are strategically placed so that when he lays in bed at night with the door open he can see him. Oliver (the other kitty) has finally stopped looking for Oscar. He senses that Nathan is hurting and so I caught him asleep on Nathan's bed snuggling. Nathan told me the next morning that he was awoken to Oliver squeezing his self under Nathan's arm so that Nathan was hugging him. This made Nathan smile, which began the road to recovery. Needless to say, Oliver spends the majority of his days inside now. Richard has been told by Nathan that this was something that he was just going to have to get used to. Richard surrendered. Oliver is a happy purring machine now. It was sad, but all involved are doing better. So since everything is a lesson in our home, the boys know that they do not go outside without an adult. And so this was explained. If only the nightshade incident had the same effect on cats. They too would not be outside playing with things without asking me. Oliver is a home body, so his trips outside consist of running, squatting, shoveling, and running back inside. Quick and simple. I did make him stay outside a bit today. Where was he? On the grill until the door to the nice cool happy place was opened and he was invited back in. :o)
Cousin Delma used to say that where cattle ran, you didn't find snakes. Makes me want a herd!
Posted by: ol Doc | August 11, 2008 at 03:23 PM
Oh, that is so sad to hear. Bless your hearts, all of you.
Posted by: Ranger | August 11, 2008 at 11:31 AM