Goodbye Sookie. . . Sniff. . . Sniff

As many of you know, My kitty Sookie has had litter box problems starting September-ish in 2010.  She ended up having calcium oxalate stones that had to be surgically removed the following January.  She did fine for an entire year after that but then around October this year she started having problems again.  She had a urinary tract infection that we treated with Clovamox.  Well, I had been very diligent with Vinegar, animal enzyme cleaners, baking soda - - you name it - I used it to try to get any and all residual smell and stains out of our carpet (mostly in our basement - yes - the brand new one we finished in Oct. in 2010.)  She seemed to be doing fine, but started having trouble again the first week in January.  She didn't seem to be urinating enough as seen in her litter box so I took her to the vet to get a urine analysis to be proactive - - well, it came back normal and so the next step would be blood tests to see if she has a kidney problem which is likely since she's already had stones and crystals in the past.  But this would mean long-term health issues - add this to the fact that she is already overly anxious (probably was marking out of stress from the basement being done the first time, and then again this time when we had lots of company for the Holidays?  In addition to medical issues?  Who knows.)   I came home from the vet and put her in my bathroom to quarantine her for a few days to see if she would use the litter box.  She did - just fine....So we let her out.  The next two days she peed again in the basement.  'J' said he felt the time had come to find her a new home.  I knew he was right, but I was heartbroken.

'B' & 'C' followed Sookie around with the camera because they wanted to catch pictures of her to 'help them remember her and to put in their rooms.'

Bye Sookie - Online Slideshow Creator

So - despite how beautiful she is...Sookie has serious problems - probably medical AND behavioral since some of it is marking and some of it is just urinating on flat surfaces.  I had planned on taking her to the Humane Society but found out from a program called C.A.W.S. (where I had applied to adopt another kitty after we made the decision for Sookie to go) that she might be euthanized if she wasn't adopted fast enough.  I had asked them if they'd just give her to anyone or if they'd explain her issues, they said she'd go fast because she was a Purebred Ragdoll and they would tell them her problems so people knew what they were getting into.  But, after talking to the lady from C.A.W.S., I felt I couldn't take that risk.  Our regular vet couldn't help but the vet where we had her surgery done said they'd keep her there in their office and put her up for adoption and make sure she went to a home who could afford the costs of the ongoing problems.  So last Thursday I took her there and said good-bye.  What a heart-wrenching experience!   I was a basket case though - - I was very attached to her and have had a lot of tears over it.  I won't bore you with all the ups and downs of it all, but let's just say that it has been a rough weekend since dropping her off and saying good-bye.  My mom and sister sent me a bouquet of flowers together to send their condolences because they knew how upset I was.  Sookie was basically my 3rd baby since I got her when 'J' told me he was done having kids.   

I pray Sookie will find a home with someone who can take on the cost of her ongoing health problems.  I didn't take her to the Humane Society because I wasn't comfortable being responsible for the possibility of her being euthanized.  So I paid the $35 required by the vet to do a Feline Leukemia test so they'd keep her there and put her up for adoption.  At least I know she'll still have attention, food, water, a warm place to sleep and not be surrounded by tons of other cats since she is a 'fraidy-cat.'  I think they'll probably do more testing too since they immediately liked her - (we're all sucker for gorgeous animals aren't we?)  Maybe they'll be able to tell the next owner how serious her health issues are. I've had to just let go and know I did the best I could and ultimately had to do what is best for our family.

Friday, I rented a Rug Doctor Vacuum.  OMG-osh!  I found other places she'd peed in the basement I did't even know about - - I was surprised nobody could smell it!  I can't believe how long it must have been going on to have vacuumed up what I did!  (Poor 'J' to have this problem in our 'new' basement (only 1 year old) and to have 3 weepy females attached to the culprit!)  It was very cathartic to watch the water from the vacuum turn clear after a couple rounds.  (Trust me - I'd already used my Bissell wet-vac on these spots before.  I'd used a black-light to find places on the baseboards she'd marked that can't be seen in daylight.  I thought I'd got it all before!)   But with this extra effort of really deep suction etc. I feel so much better that my house is cleaner & it was confirmation that I did the right thing.

I took my girls to a few shelters on Saturday (that was the only way they were able to accept that Sookie was being given away - to know they'd get a new kitty.  I had to comfort them a lot too.)  I hadn't planned on bringing home any new kitty right away; but we found an adorable Mackerel Tabby (11 months old) that was soooo friendly, affectionate and playful that I realized we needed the happy distraction.  I drilled the shelter worker about his history and health etc. She told me he'd been neutered at only 9 weeks which means he never experienced the hormones of puberty that can create the territory marking problem, he was living with a boyfriend/girlfriend before which meant he wasn't a stray, and he was very healthy and had  a clean bill of health.  The girlfriend had mental health issues and just took off - and left the boyfriend with the kitty.  He took him to the shelter.  So we kept him in our bedroom all Saturday to help him feel safe and adjust.  He warmed up to us really quickly.  He used his litter box and ate and drank in a few hours and by the second day, he was comfortable with the girls too.  Last night we let him roam throughout the rest of the top and main floors (I'm waiting till my basement floors dry perfectly before letting him explore down there).  We're still deciding on a name - - but it has been a very nice distraction to have such a different cat in our home.  'J' told me I did a good job in finding a cat with a nice personality.  It has been good.  'J' mentioned we might think about getting 2 cats for the time I go to work part-time when the girls are in school all day.  I may eventually try and see if this new kitty will be OK with another kitty friend to keep him company since 'B' will start Kindergarten this coming Sept. and he's still pretty young and energetic.  The lady at the shelter said he is so friendly with other cats and shows no aggression so there's a good chance we'll be able to add a friend in the future.

New Kitty - Online Slideshow Creator


Here is a video of some time spent with our new kitty: