2019-2020 Angel Cats
Katie, 16, a beautiful tortie came to us in 2017 with Adam who still resides in the lower house. Affable Katie welcomed humans from the start and was a frequent lap warmer. She also got on well with the other cats. She loved being on the catio, relaxing and viewing the outside gardens, even reaching through the screen to eat some catnip. She loved going into the “cat scratcher” houses. She was diagnosed with lymphoma earlier this year and was stable for months. She began losing weight, and recently her activity and appetite declined. A few days before she passed, she stopped eating entirely and we began palliative care. On Monday, November 1 she let us know it was her time. Joyce held her as she passed. We will all miss this little gal who couldn’t help but be adorable in everything she did.
Dinky, 16, was with us since April, 2019. Her placer felt she could be traumatized by being separated from her Mama, but Dinky did just fine. She was diagnosed with lymphoma and did OK for a bit but it had progressed. In the days before her passing, she was still eating, active and affectionate. However, on the day she died she became listless. Joyce put a blanket over her and a heating disc under her bed, and put her bear next to her. She slept there for an hour or so and then got down on the floor. Joyce placed a blanketed box next to her and Dinky immediately went inside— hiding is often a sign of distress. Joyce then walked her around in the sunshine one last time and told her she'd soon be with her Mama and sister Inky. She passed over the Rainbow Bridge peacefully on the front seat of Joyce’s car on the morning of December 14, 2020.
Skipper,19, was with us just a week short of a year. He was a darling cat who almost seemed to be smiling. He was FIV+ and the disease finally took its toll. On Saturday morning, December 12, he wasn't his usual self and was barely eating. Caregiver Joyce took him out into the gardens. It was overcast and drizzling so she wrapped him in a blanket and walked around. At one point, he wanted to get down and as soon as he did, he made his final mark (literally) by peeing in the dirt in the Memorial garden then he did some exploring. Caregiver Jenna came to spend some time with him and they took him to our vet. They stayed with him while he passed. Afterward they went outside. The sun came out for the first time that day. Joyce told Jenna it was Skipper signaling them he made it across the Rainbow Bridge.
Sally, 19, was with us since 2014. She came with her brother, Harry, who pre-deceased her. Sally, petite and demure, was an adorable kitty who loved people. She loved sitting in her clear blanketed salad bowl on the patio, but would run into the house if someone arrived. She would then trade her bowl for a lap. Sally was generally healthy except for being treated for feline acne. In the end, her age finally caught up and she developed a gallstone which eventually progressed to liver failure. We lost her in August, 2020.
We lost sweet Maggie May on Friday, September 18. She was just a few weeks short of her 13th birthday. Maggie came to us when her Mama died and was with us almost a year. She had her own suite in the Anderson-Wentzel house as she was on a special urinary tract diet. She was diagnosed with metastatic cancer of the spleen just a month prior to her passing.She'd been doing well but declined rapidly. However, she was still her sweet self and did not “look” sick. She loved her covered cozy bed and sitting on her patio watching the wildlife. Her last meal was Wednesday night and even then, the only thing she would eat was sardines. Thursday she was still upbeat as Volunteer Christine sat with her on her little terrace. Thursday night Caregiver Joyce came to check on her and she wouldn't eat and just seemed off. She told Maggie to let us know if and when she was ready. On Friday, Maggie did just that. She was wobbly and had some muscle twitching. When Joyce went to get Maggie to take her to the vet for evaluation, Maggie could not be found, she had crawled way under the stairs that lead to her window. Dr Lysek examined her and her body temp was low—not a good sign. She was also showing signs of neurological impairment. There was nothing we could do to help her get better, and we could tell she was ready. Jenna and Joyce gave her lots of love and told her that her Mama was waiting for her and that there would be no more pain, and she crossed peacefully over the Rainbow Bridge.
Bella, 19 came to us in 2014 with Bubbe, who passed in 2019. Bella was an adorable round grey love bug who loved affection. She was our little greeter and loved to be held and snuggled. Months prior to her passing, her appetite had decreased and she had been losing weight, but there was nothing in her lab work to suggest anything was wrong. The Monday before her passing, she had a seizure-like episode and Caregiver Jenna took her to the vet immediately. Thoughts were it was asthma-related as she had recently been diagnosed with that. Days later she had another episode and was severely constipated. Back to the vet—they did four enemas that day and she was hospitalized overnight, and she returned Saturday. She did not jump out of her carrier as cats normally do—indicating she was still sick and depressed. On Sunday, July 19 she was not eating. She moved about the patio then finally came inside and fell asleep in her scratch pad. Joyce had some errands to run and just an hour later, she came to check on her. She was not in her scratcher, she had moved to patio just as she had been earlier in the day. It looked like she was sleeping, but she was gone. She had passed on her own. Bella was a little hunter who loved laser pointers and wand toys. She lived a long life and gave so much joy to all who knew her.
Penny, 16 a pretty tortie, came to us in 2013 with Grumpy (who pre-deceased her), and Cody who still remains. Penny took the loss of her owner very hard. Because of this and being uprooted and moved to a strange environment, she was extremely timid, angry, and obviously scared. She had a sequestered suite in the Anderson-Wentzel house where she hid in her condo and growl if anyone approached her. We started her acclimation with limited visits and lots of patience. Very gradually she started coming around, and she eventually moved to the upper house. However, she still spent much of the time in her condo wary of us. She started responding more favorably first with staff, then volunteers. One needed to gain her trust completely. After literally years, Caregiver Joyce finally was able to pet her belly, no small feat. She also let volunteers pet her while she purred and drooled—a definite sign of contentment and trust. She also became buddies with our wonderful kitty Indy. In 2019 she started with kidney failure, but rebounded when started on IV fluid treatments. On Monday, June 8 she was hospitalized again with renal failure and after 2 days of rapid decline and no improvement, we had to say goodbye to her on Wednesday, June 10. The picture of her was taken just the Saturday before her passing. Thank you, Penny, for finally letting us into your world. We all felt honored when you did, and are comforted knowing you found your place in happiness and peace.
Scarlett, 19, came to us with her brother Hunter in February of 2019 when their owner had to move to assisted living. He warned us she was a “golden retriever” cat meaning she was friendly and loved people. In the weeks prior to her passing, she started getting a little picky with food. She also had slowed down a little but nothing alarming. She still loved attention. On Saturday, June 6, Joyce noticed she refused to eat, was straining in the litterbox, and was shivering. She'd lost 8 oz in 5 days. Joyce rushed her to the vet and they felt a mass on her bladder. Her kidney cysts had filled back up and she was severely anemic. Dr. Brower, Susan and Joyce discussed her quality of life— she would decline quickly in the next day or two so they put her to sleep on a blanket outside the hospital. It had been a gloomy and rainy morning, but the sun came out for her and they let her walk around the plants outside. Joyce told her we would miss her and that we would take good care of her brother Hunter and her boyfriend Adam.
Keller, 15, and his 4 littermates were found in a dumpster in 2005. They came to us in 2008. Keller wasn’t a lap cat but loved belly rubs and chicken. Quite the hunter, he chased, captured and ate a moth a week before he passed. Keller had hyperthyroidism, kidney failure, and IBD/pancreatitis. Weeks before he passed he became anemic and diabetic. He was started on insulin and eating well and was active. He enjoyed supervised trips in the garden, drinking from the fountain and even peeing in the dirt! The night before he died he was having trouble walking. The next morning, Thursday, May 21 he could not walk at all—it was time. Rima and Jenna carried him around the gardens and sat with him in the shade. Joyce offered him tuna and he eagerly drank the juice. She took him to the vet, and he passed peacfully. He joins siblings Half Pint, Lil Teddie, and Pumpkin. Remaining sibling Snowball was adopted by a volunteer.
Beautiful Suki, 12, arrived May 30, 2014. She came from a local shelter-she’d been found on the street. Days after her arrival, volunteer Christine witnessed her having a severe asthma attack. She was rushed to the vet and put in a nebulizer chamber. She was put on asthma medication, and even had her tiny asthma rescue inhaler. In the beginning, Suki was temperamental. She would let you near her, but would sometimes lash out if you pet her. Eventually she mellowed and even started soliciting attention. Joyce noticed her usual breathing problem as well as an ear discharge. Dr. Hamil came and she was stabilized. The next day she could not breath and she collapsed. Her asthma was probably a factor. She died Saturday May 30, exactly 6 years to the day of her arrival and being age 12, spent exactly half her life with us. We will all miss this sassy little white tiger with the blue eyes.
Lady Bug, 17, was with us 5 years. She arrived after her owner was placed in a memory-care facility that did not accept pets. She had the coloring of a lady bug, but was a real “love bug”. She was very chatty and loved attention. In 2016 she had all her teeth removed due to severe stomatitis, a horrible painful mouth disease. She had been doing really well until January of this year when she started drooling, her tongue started hanging out of her mouth, and her appetite decreased. She was seen by a dentist and given medications for inflammation. They worked, but she then developed a mass on her tongue. She wanted to eat and would try, but it was becoming too difficult for her. She was suffering, so on April 17, we made the painful decision to have her put to sleep. On her last day, she enjoyed being in the sunshine on the bench in the middle patio. A biopsy diagnosed the mass as sublingual squamous cell carcinoma, an extremely aggressive form of cancer.
Mittens, 22, passed Wednesday, April 1 of natural causes after living with us most of her life. She was a kind kitty, to people and other cats. She loved her buddy Tiger, a feral kitty who was scared of people but snuggled with Mittens. He passed last year and she never left his side. Mittens was healthy most of her life. In December she had an upper respiratory infection and we worried this may be serious. She was showered with lots of love and rallied. She had lost weight but was really active and eating well. A few days before she passed, Jenna noticed her breathing was labored and rattled. Dr. Hamil examined her—her lungs were dry, but clear. She was anemic and had a low temperature. It was time to keep her comfortable. She was eating well for a few days but started declining— though comfortable, she was weak and tired, and we knew she was telling us she was ready. Joyce wrapped her up in her pink blanket and drove her to the vet. She held and kissed her and told her that we would all miss her, she would get plenty of shrimp and chicken and that she would see her "brother" Tiger again at the Rainbow Bridge. She passed quickly and peacefully in her arms. She loved her life so much at Blue Bell. Thanks to our staff and all of our wonderful volunteers who gave her so much love and attention. She loved you all so very much. You literally loved her to life.
Buffy, (almost) 17 Buffy originally came with her brother Tiger in 2017 from their Mama who had terminal cancer. Mama had a brief period where she was feeling much better, so Buffy returned to her in January 2018. Tiger remained because Mama could only care for one. Buffy came back to Blue Bell in May 2018. She was never a lap cat, but she loved being brushed, and playing. In June, 2019, a lump appeared. It was diagnosed as fibrosarcoma. These rare, very aggressive tumors develop in injection sites, mainly vaccines. The tumor had wrapped itself around her spine, so surgery was not an option. Occasionally the mass would be drained, but it would refill and the kept getting larger. It seemingly didn't bother her. She was eating great, and was active and affectionate, until Friday, March 27, Caregiver Jenna noticed she had not moved from her bed for hours and seemed uncomfortable for the first time. She was telling us she was ready. Rima came to say goodbye and Joyce took her to the vet. She told her we will all miss her but that she was going to be with her Mama again. She was in her pink bed with soft music playing, as she passed quickly and peacefully, over the Rainbow Bridge into her Mama's waiting arms.
Tz’u-his, 16 ”Shoo” left us too soon on Friday, February 21. She was fine for the 2 months she was with us—ate well, played, and was friendly to people and the other cats. When her “Papa" died, she was very stressed which she coped with by over-grooming and lost patches of fur, but it grew back. Several days before she passed, she became lethargic with bloody diarrhea. She was hospitalized and put on IV fluids. Tests showed high kidney values and low blood sugar, which caused seizures. An ultrasound showed a large mass in one kidney, and a smaller mass on the other. The prognosis was poor, there was nothing the vets could do and her kidneys had not responded to the treatment she had been given. Dr. Hamil humanely euthanized her —it was quick and painless. Joyce, Susan & Jenna said their goodbyes. Susan suggested she needed to be with her Papa and they are now reunited.
Angelo, 19, came to us in 2013 with his brother Spike after their owner died. Both boys were extremely affectionate with each other, other cats, and people. They would crawl all over us looking for hugs. On Sunday, November 17, we had a volunteer meeting and he was his usual self jumping between laps. Around 10:30 PM Caregiver Joyce was working and Angelo started vomiting, and within a few minutes started vocalizing and having trouble breathing. She and Susan rushed him to Central OC Animal Emergency . He was in cardiac arrest and in such distress he was immediately euthanized. Angelo was treated for multiple medical issues, but was stable. As many of us saw him that same day, we were shocked and heartbroken, but we were thankful he had the loving last day that he deserved. Angelo is now with his brother, Spike, who passed from intestinal lymphoma in 2015, and all his other cuddle buddies who have crossed the rainbow bridge.
Tiny, 13, As mentioned above, we lost our charming Tiny unexpectedly on Saturday, November 2. Caretaker Santiago arrived early in the morning and found him already gone. He immediately took him to Canyon Animal Hospital and the cause was hypertrophic cardiomyopathy—–a heart condition in which the first symptom is often death. Ironically the day before he had an eye discharge and was squinting so Caregiver Jenna took him to the vet and returned to Blue Bell with just an eye ointment. The vet even remarked how good he looked. Tiny had a good time with volunteers on Friday and received lots of love and treats. We never dreamed we would lose him so suddenly and soon.
Lucy came in June of 2016. Sweet-natured Lucy, a beautiful tiger kitty, lived in our Anderson-Wentzel house and was always there on view as you walked in the door. Two days before she died, she was taken to the hospital with a fever. She was very anemic and her hind legs were weak, not a good sign. Unfortunately, Lucy never came back to Blue Bell. In kidney failure she continued to decline and we had to say goodbye and she crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on Friday afternoon, October 18.
We lost Ruckus, 14 on Wednesday, August 21. He came in 2014 so gave us 5 pleasant years. Although a bit shy at first, he was always a friendly fellow. He became ill rather quickly with acute renal failure and stopped eating, his walk was very wobbly as he was very weak. He had lost that special spark in his eyes. Rima and Jenna took him out into the gardens and he sniffed the flowers and watched the butterflies. Christine and Michelle hugged and kissed him and said their goodbyes. He was then taken to Canyon Animal Hospital where he peacefully passed.
Sammy Palmer, 10, passed on Wednesday, August 14. This gentleman enjoyed head butts and chicken. In the months before he passed, he grew more accommodating to sitting in people's laps. He amused us by carrying around his toys in his mouth while simultaneously meowing up a storm. An ultrasound in January diagnosed GI lymphoma. He had been relatively stable and despite continued weight loss, he was active and eating well. Rima and Jenna took him out into the gardens, and he enjoyed exploring. As his time neared, he had no interest in food and just wanted to quietly sit outside on the patio. When his breathing became labored, it was decided that the kindest thing for him, would be to let him go. Our wonderful kitty Adam came and spent time with him, which he had also done with Fuzzy at the end. Joyce met with Susan and Dr. Hamil where he passed peacefully.
Fuzzy, 19, with us a almost year since July 2018. Handsome Fuzzy was a mellow guy and mostly kept to himself but a scratch pad infused with catnip would energize this active senior. He often sunned himself on the suite screened porches and outdoor patio. He would look adorable in his punked-out lion cuts of his long black fur. This picture was taken when we knew his time was coming. Several days before he died on June 19 of age-related illness, Joyce took him for a stroll through the gardens. She didn’t expect he would want to get down, and certainly was surprised to see him wander around, stop and smell the flowers, and sip the water in the fountains. Surely this took him back to when he was mostly an outdoor kitty. We were happy to see him enjoy himself in his remaining days.
Bubbe, 18 1/2 our sweet-natured black & white boy with light mint-green eyes came in 2014 with Bella who still remains. His owner was German and named Bubbe as “little man”, Bubbe being a German dialect for “boy”. He was diagnosed with liver issues in 2015, and nose cancer and pancreatitis in 2018. Still, he remained active— enjoying chicken, treats, love from everyone, and napping outside in the sunshine. He was hospitalized a week prior to his passing due to vomiting, poor appetite and weight loss. His liver problems progressed along with a possible blockage of his bile duct.. He did return to Blue Bell, however, he quickly declined and we decided the best thing for him, was to let him go on Monday, May 20. Volunteers gave him lots of love and said their goodbyes. Angelo snuggled up to him one last time. Rima walked him around the gardens and he walked on the dirt for a bit. Joyce took him to Canyon wrapped in a blanket and soft music was playing as he crossed peacefully to the Rainbow Bridge.
We lost Pumpkin, 16, Saturday, February, 22. Pumpkin was with us 11 years, having been admitted in 2008 along with 3 brothers and a sister. His brother Keller is the last remaining at Blue Bell. Pumpkin was a stunning orange tabby with deep blue eyes. You could hear his loud purr across the room. Despite losing weight and being very skinny along with several health issues, he had a good quality of life— eating well, cruising the patios, playing with wand toys and loving attention. The day before he died, he suddenly collapsed. Santiago rushed him to Canyon Animal Hospital where Susan met him. Pumpkin died shortly thereafter.
Tri-Tip, 20, passed on Tuesday, February 12. Her demise was quick. In January, Volunteer Christine noticed Tri-Tip had abnormal mouth drooling. We took her to the vet and they cleaned her teeth and she was back home. She had also lost weight so back to the vet she went and was diagnosed with an aggressive oral cancer. Shortly thereafter she was diagnosed with another tumor on her bladder and urethra. Urinating became too painful so she was humanely euthanized. An adorable tortie, TriTip was with us 5 years. She came to us with her sister, Little Girl, who passed last July.
Tiger, 22, Passed away Saturday February 16 . Tiger, a pretty tabby was with us 14 years. He had been placed from a feral colony and never became socialized so kept to himself and was very hard to treat. He was extremely attached to Mittens, who was placed with him, and they often cuddled together. Tiger most likely had agerelated illnesses like kidney disease. He had mouth issues and probably oral cancer. Even so, he was an enthusiastic eater until just a few days before he passed, but started slowing down significantly. He was closely monitored, but one day Rima came and noticed he was very quiet, unable to walk well and anorexic. We knew it was time, so she kept him warm and loved and he snuggled with Mittens for a few hours. Rima was with him when he was put to sleep, and he passed peacefully. Mittens has been wanting extra attention. We know she misses her pal. She is pictured above looking at Tiger, who has his head down.