Sunday 25 September 2016

Owl always love you

Now that I have stopped making Christmas Cards for a moment I have a card to share with you that was made using my Cameo Silhouette.  The design was downloaded from the Silhouette store and then resized accordingly.  The background was created using one of my favorite Tattered Lace embossing folders that has a woodland theme about it with owls of course.

Owl always love you

Wednesday 21 September 2016

Hepatic Lipidosis

I have been making Christmas cards over the last month by the dozen so I haven't been blogging as I am not ready to share these with you just yet.  It is surprising how long it takes to photograph, capture details of my cards by logging them and finishing them off with card inserts and cello bags to keep them fresh.

It has also been a tough month or more looking after our very poorly cat.  I have often been up more than once in the night when he has felt poorly or hungry and encouraging him to drink.

But just over a week ago we said goodbye to our cat Zorro who had been ill for the last four months with a failing liver condition they call Hepatic Lipidosis, known commonly as fatter liver.  Apparently it is one of the most common liver diseases in cats. The condition affected our cat's joints and produced muscle wastage and made him jaundice.  His hind legs became unstable when he walked.  He had an appetite but eating just made him feel sick.  In the end we had narrowed his diet down to tuna, chicken and prawns which were less likely to make him feel poorly. 

In the beginning he had more good days than bad but this gradually switched around sometime mid August.  A few weeks back we had booked him in for a visit with the vet thinking this was it but before the appointment came round he picked up again and we delayed the inevitable.  That was was until last Monday.  I returned to work that day having spent a fortnight at home with him.  He had not eaten or drank since breakfast and the signs were there that he had had enough.  It was clear he wasn't looking after himself and his coat was knotted in several places and he seemed exhausted.  That evening we rang the vets and asked for an appointment to have him put to sleep.  

Well that was just over a week and it has been a hard week.  I am still listening out for him and feel lost without him.  I miss all the lap cuddles we enjoyed together.  I miss his calls to me and him following me around the house. I bonded so deeply with Zorro and feel he will always have a special place in my heart.  

He was cremated yesterday by a pet crematorium in Christow and my husband collected his ashes today.  We had a tiny pouch of ashes to put alongside his sister so they now share the same casket.  

I am grateful to have enjoyed three weeks annual leave with him recently, making the most of the time we had together. Its strange that we both feel that he hasn't left our side even though he is no longer with us.  

In memory of Zorro born September 1999 and died 12th September 2016.