R.I.P. Charlie 2000-2015

Today I had to say goodbye to my dear, sweet Charlie. He was taken by a fast-moving cancer. It all happened so fast. He had been starting to look older and thinner lately, but I thought he was just becoming a senior and entering his twilight years! Plus, the robbery and the introduction of Felix to our household were both stressful events for him. I thought he was just having a rough year. I did not think that he was dying!

I took him to the vet a couple of weeks ago to get bloodwork done, fearing for the worst. I was relieved when it came back okay!

Then he stopped eating and lost another pound in a week. I took him back to the vet on Friday, and this time they could feel the lump in his intestines area. An x-ray showed a mass, and barely any body fat.

We gave him some anti-nausea meds, some steroids and some saline. I was hoping that if we could get him eating again, maybe we'd figure out how to treat him and he could have some more happy days, weeks, months? The medicine made him feel temporarily better, and we had a GREAT weekend together, with lots of purrs and belly rubs.





But by yesterday he was doing poorly again. Tracey suggested we take him to MedVet in Columbus to get an ultrasound done, so I made an appointment for this afternoon. There was a slim chance that the cancer could be limited to an isolated section of the intestine, in which case we could have removed it and he would get better! At least we would have some answers. My amazing mother in law Cheryl drove me there and supported me throughout the day.

Unfortunately, the ultrasound showed inoperable lymphoma throughout his intestinal area. I made the tough decision to have him put to sleep so that he wouldn't suffer another day. I got to hold his little marshmallow as he drifted away.



He was my little one!!!! My marshmallow paws, my prancy pants, my Charlie Warley. He would hop on the bed with a chirp every morning as soon as he heard us awake. He would go BONKERS when I whistled. He spent hours on the bed every day, and when you would lean in for a kiss, he would bonk you so hard with his head. BONK! He was gentle, patient and sweet. He was my best, and I miss him terribly.

Here is my little one when we first met. LOOK at his little face and his little pink nose!!!! Man, he was the cutest little guy. I had just graduated from college, so a cat would have been a huge responsibility to undertake. My mom called me from the vet and said, "I probably shouldn't tell you this, but the cutest kitten I have ever seen is available at the vet right now." I scooped him right up!



Of course, Emma came too.






My friends had this beautiful portrait painted of him for me. This will be nice to have on the wall, nice to see his sweet face.



R.I.P. my sweet Charlie. 2000-20015.