Spot

When I started working at the Blue Bell 2 1/2 years ago, Spot was one of the first cats I met. She was 16 then. We used to have baskets with frilly lace on them before the hammock beds and she rarely came out of them. She would be under the covers sleeping - you had to hunt to find her. She would urinate in them and lay in it so she would be damp and smelly. She looked so frail I honestly didn't think she would make is to my second weekend, but she did, and from there we bonded. Maybe it was because I felt sorry for her - she just seemed lost in the big house with many other outgoing cats who sought out attention.

At the time we were allowed to give treats and I started feeding her Greenies cat treats and she would just inhale them! She did not like being held but she loved her chin and head scratched, so that's what I would do. We replaced the baskets with hammock beds and she settled right in although she still loved to be covered up!

She was one of the first cats I had to learn to give subQ fluids to and she was so good about it, despite my initial nervousness and having to re-poke her several times.

In those first couple of months, it really was week to week but she began to thrive on the love and attention... and oh yeah, the Greenies and chicken - Spotty looooved her chicken! She gained weight and became more active.

Over the past year, when her body should have been failing more, she maintained her weight and had a hearty appetite. She would wait for breakfast and dinner on top of the barrel bed just inside the door and always got the first plate which she would finish and then get down for more from the community plate. At the end of the day when it was quiet, she would sometimes jump up on the couch and sit next to me for a bit and let me scratch her chin. I remember the first time she did that - it was so un-Spot like and it made me happy she trusted me and felt well enough to do that.

She had been doing really well in November/December with no hint that her end was so close as with most kidney cats who slowly decline. She had a seizure on December 19 and Sarah took her to Canyon. She was treated and spent the night. Her bloodwork actually looked pretty good and did not show anything that would cause a seizure and they thought it could be something neurological.

The next morning she was eating but she was having trouble maintaining her body temp which was not good so they were going to keep her another night and see what the next day brought. I went to visit her in the afternoon and she was sleeping. When I opened her cage and called her name, she looked up, give one of her little meows and walked towards me. I gave her lots of head and chin scratches and she responded and gave head butts. I put extras towels in with her for padding. She setteld into the corner and I covered her with a towel for warmth - the ultimate cave girl. She fell asleep with her chin in my palm. I stayed liked that for a long time as I did not want to disturb her, but finally rested her head gently on the towel and kissed her goodnight. I told her I would miss her but if she needed to go that it was ok and that I loved her. I honestly thought she would be there the next morning but God had other plans for her and she passed away that night.

The Upper House will never be the same without her but I am so glad we all had extra time to spend with her. And I rest assured knowing she is in a better place."