2021-2022 Angel Cats
Matt the Cat, estimated age 17-20 Matt's owner passed away and he was placed with us by a friend of his former owner. He was an indoor/outdoor kitty before coming to us but is adjusting well to the safety of indoors and loves the enclosed catios to get that outdoor feeling. He is a sweet and affectionate gentleman with a very distinctive meow that sounds almost like a howl! He still has some spunk for his age—playing and biting his toys. He loves catnip, brushing and can be found in the strangest sleeping positions!
Sally, 10 was one of the seven cats (Sammy, Baby, Big Boy, Boots, Little Guy and Suzy) who came to us in March of 2016 after our friend Dorothy Palmer passed away at age 102. Sweet-faced Sally loved to play with wand toys, crinkly balls, mice and especially the laser pointer. Several years ago she was diagnosed as having Cryptococcus, an airborne fungal infection that invades the nasal cavity and can eventually eat through bone and enter the sinuses, brain and other areas. Medication did not eliminate it completely. She also had IBD and hyperthyroidism. She began having nosebleeds from one nostril and we worried it might be due to the fungus advancing. One day Caregiver Karen noticed swelling on one side of her head. Jenna took her to the vet. They administered antibiotics and we brought her back to Blue Bell to see if it would improve in the next few days. She was still alert and active, but not eating well. The swelling did not improve, and bleeding started again from both nostrils. Jenna took her back to be examined. The pressure in one of her eyes was five times what it should have been, and after discussing the limited options and quality of life, we decided to let her go. Jenna was with her and gave her lots of love before she passed quickly on November 15th.
Kitty, 19, died on August 8. He came to us in December, 2020. He was driven here all the way from San Jose by his owners, who could no longer care for him due to his twice daily medical needs and their work and travel schedules. He was used to being inside/outside so they knew he would love it here with access to our fresh-air catios and patio. Kitty quickly let us know that he was not going to be a lap cat, but he did enjoy being talked to and sometimes playing. He integrated into the lower house community quickly and let us give him his meds. Joyce and Jacob could pick him up and sometimes he let Joyce brush him just a bit. In addition to being hyperthyroid and in kidney failure, he was recently diagnosed with tumors on his liver, thyroid and mediastinum (the area between the lungs). Despite all of that, he continued to eat, drink, and be mobile. The Caregivers joked that handling Kitty was like handling an alligator, you had to be prepared for him to turn around and bite at any moment! A volunteer noticed he was having trouble walking. Jenna took him to Canyon right away and the tumor on his liver had grown to be softball size. He could not stand or walk and there was nothing that could be done. Jenna held Kitty and he passed quickly. We will miss our spicy boy. We were happy to have him for 2 1/2 yrs.
Big Boy, 22 We lost our quiet giant, and the patriarch of the “Grey Cat Club” on July 1. He belonged to long-time friend and benefactor Dorothy Palmer, who passed in 2016. Dorothy took in many strays over the years and at the time of her death had 7. Of course she had planned that they all retire with us. Big Boy joins Baby (2021), Sammy (2019) and Dorothy at the Rainbow Bridge, and is now watching over the remaining 4—his BFF Little Guy, Suzy, Sally, and Boots. He had several chronic health Issues, but had been doing well. Recently he started coughing and he had major weight loss in a short time, despite being an excellent eater. We took him to Canyon and x-rays showed defects in his heart. It also revealed a BB pellet near his kidney, evidence of his hard life as a stray before Dorothy rescued him. The day he was to return for a re-check,his breathing worsened, and he started to decline. X-rays showed fluid around his lungs and heart, and he was most likely going into congestive heart failure. We did not want him to suffer so we decided to let him go. Jenna and Joyce were with him and promised him we would take good care of Little Guy for him.
Julian, 13 We lost Julian too soon on June 1. He had just arrived from Arizona in early March 2022 with his biological brother Bleys. They were placed here after their owner went into assisted living. When he first arrived, Julian spent most of his time hiding behind sheets and in his cave beds. He was a gentle and timid cat with a soft purr and very soulful eyes. However, in the weeks prior to his passing, he began seeking attention and affection. Then his appetite waned, he became quiet, his weight dropped significantly, and he was dehydrated. Lab work showed he was severely anemic, and xrays revealed substantial changes in his lungs. He had a history of asthma but had been doing well. He was calm during an ultrasound, but immediately after went into respiratory distress and needed to be kept in an incubator on oxygen. Jenna went to see him at *Canyon that afternoon. He perked up and responded when she called his name. He purred when she opened the incubator to pet him, but it was clear the efforts made to stabilize his condition were having little effect. We decided not to let him suffer and he passed quickly while Jenna held him. RIP sweet Julian. We will take good care of Bleys until it’s time for you to be together again.
D.J., 12 Our sweet DJ passed suddenly on May 24— heartbreaking as he had just joined us in January after his owner died. A week before he passed, he started vomiting and not eating. He was hospitalized at our vet. Unfortunately, he did not improve during his time there and they recommended we transfer him to a 24-hour care facility for more diagnostics and continuous care. An ultrasound revealed his GI tract was free of obstruction, but an examination of his throat revealed some lesions that were restricting airflow. The emergency doctors treated his condition with antibiotics and steroids while we waited for additional results, but he did not improve. Despite receiving 24-hour supportive care, Jenna received a call that DJ had very bad gagging episode which he did not recover from. We will miss your high pitched, bird- like purr and silly snoring. We wish you were part of our family longer, but know that you are at peace now in the arms of your beloved owner.
Adam, 16, came to us in November 2012 with his housemate Katie after their owner passed away. Katie passed in 2021. Extremely good- natured and affectionate (to humans and other cats) Adam spent his entire 9 1/2 years with us living in the Lower House. This is because he had an incredible ability to bond with other felines, and the ones he chose were often the shyer, older or sicker cats. He was a true comfort cat to many of his feline friends at the time of their passings. Over time, Adam had slowly accumulated many of the ailments common to older cats: stomatitis, kidney disease, pancreatitis, diabetes, high blood pressure, and GI lymphoma. The stress of these multiple chronic conditions led to him slowly declining until he needed to be hospitalized on May 4 with severe anemia and an enlarged heart. We thought we would have to say goodbye to him then, but he rallied after one night in the hospital. He was able to spend one more week at Blue Bell saying goodbye to all his human and feline friends before his body finally gave out. On May 13, Volunteer Kat, with whom he had a special bond, and Jenna kissed him one last time and Joyce took him to our vet and held him as he peacefully passed. Just as Adam had done, another sweet kitty, D.J. groomed and gave Adam love during his demise. Within weeks, D.J. too would pass.
In January, Sugar had been diagnosed with cancer and a mediastinal tumor. In addition to kidney failure and high blood pressure, the prognosis was not good. With medications she did remarkably well and lived longer than this diagnosis' average life expectancy. She recently became an office cat, snacking and sleeping throughout the day. She had been doing well up until Easter Sunday. She ate well in the morning, but started to decline in the afternoon. Susan and Dr. Hamil came down late that night to examine her. Monday morning, April 18, she continued to decline, and there was nothing more we could do for her. We said our goodbyes, we brought her sister Honey into the office to say goodbye and they shared a head-to-head snuggle. Joyce took her to Canyon in her favorite cubby bed.She told her we would miss her beautiful blue eyes, her big poofy tail, her cute raspy greeting, and promised her we would take good care of Honey. She got lots of love and chin scratches and kisses, and she passed peacefully over the Rainbow Bridge. Honey didn't eat dinner and wanted in the office again that night and walked around as if looking for Sugar. They were independent but still very bonded, often sleeping in adjoining beds, and she misses her. Though her time with us was short-lived, it was a happy one full of love, attention, treats, exploration, and activity, which surely contributed to lengthening her life. She loved the staff and volunteers. Honey is getting extra love and attention.
Cody, 18, came to us in 2009. His siblings Penny and Grumpy, who predeceased him, came first by the executors of their owner’s estate. Cody was taken to the shelter he was originally adopted from in the hopes he would be adopted. After 30 days he wasn’t, so the executors then placed him with us. Caregiver Rima followed Cody here, as she had volunteered at same shelter and loved him. Several years ago Cody was diagnosed with lymphoma. With medication, he thrived. In the last year, he’d had a few serious bouts but rallied. Then his appetite waned and was having trouble breathing. Friday, March 18, Jenna, Rima, Joyce, and the vet decided to let him go. Jenna took him out into the gardens and he laid in his bed and got some fresh air and sunshine. Joyce was with him as he peacefully passed. Cody would use his paws to scoop food from his bowl without even getting up! He was our “mascot” at fundraising events. Everyone took his passing very hard. He now joins his siblings, his owner, and a few “BFF’s” he made at Blue Bell. His most recent BFF was Diamond. They even appeared together in the March/April ‘21 Catster magazine that featured us.
We lost our lovely Buttercup, 22, on Friday, November 12. Buttercup arrived in 2014. Her owners had taken her to our vet to be euthanized for peeing outside the litterbox. Our vet convinced them to relinquish her to spare her this death sentence, and we agreed to accept her via our Community Cat Fund. She never once peed outside the litterbox. She had asthma, early kidney failure, high blood pressure, and stomatitis (painful gum inflammation), so we syringe-fed her and gave her pain meds until her teeth were removed. The disease is very hard to treat so extraction allows complete resolution of symptoms. It was a success and she never missed a meal. Eventually she developed cancer. As it progressed she had difficulty breathing and it continued to worsen. Nothing could be done so the decision was made to let her go before it became an emergency. Jenna and volunteers said their goodbyes with love and kisses. Caregiver Joyce took her to our vet who gave her a sedative to calm her. Joyce played calming cat music on her phone as she cradled Buttercup and told her she was loved and we would miss her, and there was chicken and catnip waiting for her as she peacefully crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. Buttercup had the sweetest disposition. Overall she was comfortable, happy, and loved being petted and brushed. Her 21st birthday celebration was featured in the Summer 21 Mews. We are going to miss that sweet blue-eyed/cross-eyed girl, with the softest fur and the loudest purr, and we are happy to have given her those 7 more years she may not have had.
Handsome Hunter came to us in 2019 with his sister Scarlett who passed in 2020. Hunter lived in the lower house and made special friends with Adam. Shortly after arriving, he was diagnosed with high blood pressure. He also had severe stomatitis, advancing kidney disease, and a biopsy revealed a mast cell tumor in February 2021. Despite all of this, he was relatively stable until October when he began to lose weight. We added new medications, and he bounced back and was feeling better. Two weeks prior to his passing his appetite decreased significantly. He turned away from the chicken he used to enjoy. His weight was stable, but he became quieter. On Tuesday morning, November 23, Jenna noticed Adam sitting almost on top of Hunter in a bed—as if he was trying to keep his buddy warm or get in one last snuggle. By Tuesday afternoon, Hunter was very weak and volunteer Terri noticed he was having difficulty drinking and then laid down in a litter box. Jenna took him to our vet who saw fluid in his chest and abdomen. His limbs were also swollen with fluid. Given the fluid buildup, his multiple other health issues, and his rapid decline, we decided it was his time. Jenna held him and kissed his head gently as he slowly drifted off into his final slumber. She told him how much everyone loved him since there wasn’t much time for others to say goodbye. He is now with his sister Scarlett and owner who passed before him. He had a loud “goat-like” meow. Excerpts from the note that arrived with him describe Hunter perfectly: “He enjoys a sunny window with fresh air. He enjoys poultry. He will continue meowing until I feed him. He is a sweet boy who enjoys being close to people.”
Katie, 16, a beautiful tortie came to us in 2012 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.
Tiger, 18 1/2 Came to us in 2010. He was very scared as this was his first time in a carrier. He hid and wouldn’t eat. He slept with his favorite toy monkey. It took him a month to settle, but he did and blossomed. We would have never predicted he would become our “office cat”. In 2015 he developed hyperthyroidism and eventually chronic kidney failure and high blood pressure. He was recently diagnosed with anemia. Tiger was a mellow fellow. The last couple months he was losing weight and his time was nearing. The week before he died he was eating less and sleeping more and on Thursday, October 28, let us know it was time. Jenna and some volunteers comforted him with head scratches, and Caregiver Joyce came and took him to Canyon for his final journey.
We lost Jack, 18, a classic tuxedo, on July 5, one month shy of his 19th birthday. Jack was an extremely loving, albeit needy kitty. He would howl loudly for attention until someone came and held and rocked him. This just endeared everyone to his sweet nature. He had pancreatitis and a mass on his liver, but had been fighting a good fight on and off for the past couple of years, up until about 2 weeks prior to his death. We started him on a couple new meds to keep him comfortable. He rallied, but his body just couldn't keep up. He was making his typical "wowwwws" for meals 2 days before, but stopped eating the next day and let us know it was time. Three staff—Jenna, Tom, and Joyce were with him as he crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. Jack was certainly popular and many were very attached to him as he was to us. The parking lot was full as volunteers came to say goodbye. Says Michelle: “Today was a very sad day. I visited with Jack for a few hours before he was sent to heaven. He perked up in the garden and went for a nice stroll, even talking a little bit, like he was thanking us for letting him outside. When I left at 1:00 he was resting on the path in the shade. He looked very much at peace in the garden.”
Baby, 16, left us on May 18. He was placed with us in 2016 with 6 other kitites when our great friend and benefactor Dorothy Palmer passed. He had pancreatitis and suspected lymphoma for a number of years. We thought we were close to losing him a couple of years ago, but as many Blue Bell cats do, he rallied, and was doing well until one month prior to passing. He visited the gardens and enjoyed exploring and eating plants (all safe for cats). His mind was still alert, but his body was failing so we decided it was time to let him go. Jenna and Tom took him out in the gardens one last time and then took him to Canyon, and were with him as he peacefully crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. As Joyce relates, “He was such a sweet boy...Baby Boy is what I called him. He liked to be held like a baby, and I always wondered if that is where he got his name. He was clever...learning to open his enclosure door in the first week by standing on a chair and pulling on the handle! And he knew I always kept treats in my pocket... grabbing at my pocket over and over until I finally gave in.”
Onyx, 18, was placed with us in 2016 by her devoted former owner. She had lived her whole life with them, but she became incompatible with the other pets and had litterbox and behavioral issues. For most of her time with us, she had no major health issues. Then she developed seizures. In the week prior to her death on Saturday, January 9 her seizures became more frequent and each one took its toll. We knew her time was nearing the end. Volunteer Michelle E. and Joyce took her out in the gardens the Wednesday before and Onyx enjoyed that. She walked all around, sat in the sunshine, and even did some investigating in the bushes. Thursday, her owner came to visit and spent a few hours with her. Jenna took her out in the gardens again on Friday for more exploring. On Saturday, Joyce carried her around the gardens one last time before taking her to the vet. She passed quickly and peacefully.
Sammy, 20, left us too soon. He came to us in September 2020 as part of our Community Cat Fund. He was rescued from a shelter where he had been surrendered and most likely would have been euthanized due to health issues and his age. He acclimated to Blue Bell almost immediately. He was in poor shape when he arrived with an upper respiratory infection. Shortly after, he was diagnosed with a mass in his ear. In February a CT scan showed that it was not just in the ear, but down the jaw into the neck. In addition, he had a bone infection. Multiple strong antibiotics were ineffective. Surgery had helped for a brief time, but the holes had sealed so the fluids were unable to drain and the right side of his head started to swell. His prognosis was poor, so on Friday, February 12, the decision was made for humane euthanasia. Jenna, Joyce, and Volunteer Matt accompanied Sammy in the gardens. He still had some spunk—he explored, drank from the 3-tier fountain, sat in the sunshine, and even chased a lizard! Joyce then took him to the vet and he died in her arms on his final journey. Thanks to Joyce, Rima, & Jenna for giving him the best hospice care in his remaining months, and to our caring volunteers who always made a point to give him extra attention. Sammy was able to live his last months in comfort and love.