2011-2012 Angel Cats
Badger arrived at Blue Bell in September of 2012. This handsome black and white boy was 17 years old and came to us with several existing health issues. Originally he was a stray cat who "adopted" his owner in 1996. She started traveling extensively and could no longer give him the quality time he deserved and being alone was very stressful for him. So she arranged to have him come to Blue Bell. Being a local resident, she could still come visit him so he was able to get the daily attention he deserved from the staff and volunteers as well as loving visits from his original rescuer!
At first he was a bit shy, however he had just had two teeth extracted at the vet and was a little woozy! Plus, this was such a new environment for him. But by his third day he was settling in well to the Lower House. He loved all of the different people he got to meet and he responded to all of the attention. And the fact that he could get as many Temptation treats as he wanted. J
In December, he developed a terrible upper respiratory infection and with all of his other medical conditions, his body just started shutting down. We were all saddened we did not have more time with him. Even though he was not with us long, he left a lasting impact on us all! We miss you little buddy!
Callie, estimated age 17, came to Blue Bell as a stray in 1998. A classic calico, Callie was quirky gal (shall we say moody?). Most of the time she was pleasant and bonded with many people. Although she had a benign tumor in her ear, most of her 14 years with us she was healthy. She, too, declined rapidly from kidney failure. In the last few weeks she was very vocal—her meows seemed forlorn, but could have been “senior vocalization”, common in older kitties. Finally she stopped eating and spent her last days in the office and began hiding, and we knew it was her time. Callie died Friday, October 19.
Josette , 15, came to Blue Bell at 10 yrs. of age, already afflicted with hyperthyroidism and colitis. She loved hanging out in the kitchen area. She did quite well with medication and diet therapy. In the months before her death, she lost weight. Her condition deteriorated and the weeks before her death, she developed a sore on her right eye. It was biopsied, along with a mass in her intestine, and both were diagnosed as cancer. She stopped eating and, she too, started hiding in the office, indicating she was dying. On Thursday, September 27, the decision was made for euthanasia and it was very quick and peaceful.
Princess , 11, died Thursday, July 26, after a brief but serious illness. She was diagnosed with lymphoma and just over a week later she rapidly declined. She lost control of her bowels and bladder, and when she hid in the “cattage” and cried, we knew it was time. Several volunteers held her and said their loving goodbyes before she was humanely euthanised while being gently held in Annie’s arms.
SAPPHIRE, died just one week shy of her 20th birthday, April 1, came in 2003. She was a gray Persian, always healthy having never received medication. She simply lived her long life and died of old age. She purred until the very end. We will miss her cute little sweaters which she wore after her adorable lion cuts, the last one received just 2 weeks before her death on March 25.
Baby Bow, 17, died March 13. Be-Bow, a beautiful long-haired gray male with spearmint green eyes, came in December 2007. He had an abusive start to life. Originally he was a stray who lived in a laundromat, where unkind people threw bleach on him when he got trapped behind the dryers. He was saved by a kind woman who was devoted to him. She would walk him on a leash to Petsmart. Sadly, she died in her bed with Be-Bow next to her. Her wish was for him to be placed with us. Last year, he developed cancer in his leg, along with some lung problems. In his final weeks as his condition worsened, he enjoyed being in his box in the sun on the patio. He died March 13.
Bandit, approx. 11, was a feral brown & white tabby who came around 2002. He died with very little warning. He always appeared very healthy and just several months ago was caught with a lizard tail in his mouth! Cats in general will hide illness, a defense mechanism to hide weakness, and feral cats in particular are very secretive. In addition, they are extremely hard to catch and treat. Sometimes the stress of being caught exacerbates a condition. Bandit enjoyed his time on the patio with the other ferals. The day before staff noticed him weakening and not eating. The next day, February 8, he died. He had a good 10 years with us, he was happy, and we hope he is still catching those lizards now.
We lost Scooter, 20, on Friday, February 3. She was a beautiful diluted calico. Not exactly a gregarious gal, she accepted small doses of attention, but let you know when “enough is enough”. She was also moved to the upper house, which ironically, opened up her personality and she was much more eager for company. As she declined, she became thinner and more frail. In her last days she lost the use of her back legs, a dire sign. However, Scooter enjoyed turkey and some hardboiled egg the day before she left us.
MAX aprox. 12-14, was with us for a little over a year. He was a “door dump” having been placed in a box at a local shelter. Max was anemic, among other health problems which his lab work indicated. Since it was evident was not a strong candidate for adoption there, we stepped in to provide his final home. He held his own, a few times we thought we were losing him but he would turn around and improve a bit. He started declining late 2011, and struggled, but hung in for a couple months. When it was clear he was beginning to suffer, he was compassionately put to sleep on Thursday, January 26 at 5 PM at his Blue Bell home.
Roofer, 20, Grey and white with unusual human-like deep brown eyes, passed unexpectedly Sunday, January 22. Roofer, was the 1st you would see as you walked in. He would grab your leg to be picked up, and when successful, cling with his paws around your neck. Nobody could resist. Sickly with hyperthyroidism and kidney failure the last few years, he endured through his decline with the help of fluid treatments and tons of attention. His seemingly quick death was a blow to us.. He acted normally—having eaten until just before he died— with none of the usual warning signals of impending death.. until the very end when he started bleeding from his mouth. Then an interesting thing occurred as staff member Joyce relates: “Domino, a female cat who does not like other cats and who has never had a relationship with Roofer, came and crawled into my lap and snuggled her body against Roofer and immediately started purring very loud! She would nuzzle his head and lick the side of his face as if to comfort him. She stayed there for over 30 minutes until the vet arrived” Most likely, what claimed our affectionate copper-eyed Roofer was either a cancerous mass in his throat or a bleeding disorder. He passed peacefully in Annie’s arms, in his room, with all his friends
BOY, 17, was already a “senior” kitty when he was admitted in 2004. White with black tabby stripes, he was sweet and humble with soulful eyes—always welcoming with a meow for attention. (You can see and hear him as he ends our video on our website). Boy was one of our evacuees moved to the upper house. His was hyperthyroid and ended up with kidney disease. Through his demise he had a quiet dignity. He was the last kitty to pass in 2011 when he died on December 18. It was a sad start to 2012. Within 3 weeks, we lost 4 kitties, including two kitties who were admitted together. Roofer and Scooter arrived June 4, 2003, along with their sister, Tuna, who predeceased them.
Mittens, 21, our wonderful polydactyl, was born at Blue Bell in 1990 to his mother Lisa. Mittens and his littermates all had "extra toes". They were all adopted, however, Mittens returned to Blue Bell in 1997. This lovely orange & white medium-haired kitty was friendly to his housemates and could often be seen cuddling up with someone. He was hyperthyroid, and did quite well for awhile, receiving fluid treatments. However, the disease and age caught up with him, and he went blind. In his final days, Mittens became disoriented and agitated, but peacefully passed on August 5, in the home in which he was born.
Dynamo, 17 3/4, a big handsome orange kitty, our "little lion", came in 2003, after his elderly owner could no longer care for him, though she would occasionally call to check on her beloved “Dyna”. Dynamo also had his own suite in the lower house since he was allergic to fish and thus could not be fed the same diet as the rest of the cats. He also loved sunning himself on the terrace. A few months before he died, he began losing weight and an abdominal mass was found. Dynamo died on June 17.
Tami, 16, died June 10. Tami was our pretty little gray "Valentine". She was a re-admit to Blue Bell, having been adopted out and returning to us on February 14, 2008. Tami was diabetic, so she had her own suite in the lower house so we could monitor her food and insulin intake. She loved sitting on her little terrace. Her final months she resided in our upper house special needs area, having been displaced by the floods. In that time, she began losing weight, and blood work indicated some liver dysfunction. Though no mass was found, this likely led to her demise. Tami was a shy girl, but toward the end she welcomed more loving attention.
Houdie, 19, our adorable tortie. Houdie was unique with a spicy personality. With us since 2000, she loved chasing and retrieving toys, while she chirped away. In recent years, she often had special privileges in the kitchen while meals were prepared. Most notably, she was an "angel cat", a sweet soul who would lay next to sick and dying kitties. She was hyperthyroid, but did well for several years. Recently, she became paralyzed in her back legs. For her own safety, we had to put her in a large cage. Though she received frequent visits and was allowed out if held, it was obvious she missed being able to roam freely. Her paralysis is thought to have resulted from spinal fluid cancer.
Stripey, age unknown, also a rescued feral, came in 2006. She was a “pure” feral, as she would hide in her condo and hiss if you went near her hideout. Eventually she would appear around staff she recognized, but never fully joined the population. Yet another displaced kitty, a volunteer noticed pus from her nose. She had come out of her “safe haven”, evidence she was very ill. Later that day, she died.
Mojo, 17, came in 2008. He was hyperthyroid, and had several respiratory infections, which he was prone to. What finally claimed him was a mass in his stomach, which we discovered when he stopped eating. Mojo was low-key, but loved sitting next to you on the sofa in the main house, where he received much comfort.
Spanky, 16, came in 2000. From the start he was a joy. He was diabetic and had several rough health bouts, but always rebounded. He loved visitors in his suite, and he would immediately begin eating when one sat with him. He was also a displaced kitty. Spanky fought so hard to stay with us, but his age and disease caught up with him.