We Interupt this Blog …
… My Dad’s visit is awesome. Unfortunately, I have some news I have to share then we can move on, but never forget …
My life was changing. It was becoming my own. J & I had been dating for a few months, when I saw him. So sweet and totally gorgeous. I knew I had to have him.
J was not so convinced (although came to love the little beast), rambling off all the reasons not to have him. I was relentless, went ahead and adopted Charisma.
Charisma was a shelter kitten. Dropped off in the middle of the night with his littermates. I feel for him the moment I saw him. He was an evil little kitten but grew up to be an amazing friend, to all of us.
He came to work with me in those early years. He provided much needed affection and therapy to a brain injured youth at the group home. Later, others with disabilities would come to see him. Charisma always demonstrated such patience and affection for the individuals that came to visit him.
Charisma snuggled with J all those crazy nights I would work, endless hours away. He helped us be foster parents to cats on death row in our home. Charisma showed the homeless cats what it meant to be a pampered house cat. Every single cat that Charisma helped was adopted to homes.
He traveled with us from one side of Canada to another then to yet another country! He put up with our crazy dog herding him constantly and then welcomed our babies.
California was good to Charisma. He spent endless days sunning himself and being a constant companion to Becca. They were inseparable. Becca claiming that they would be together forever and ever. They watch tv, read books, played with her animals and Charisma even supervised while Becca would splash around in her pool!
For whatever reason, I guess we will never know for sure, moving to Los Alamos was hard on Charisma. Was it the altitude change? The lack of furniture in the beginning? Too much change? His people were stressed and busy and did not see how little he was eating.
When we did notice the lack of food consumption and the weight loss we were worried. We took him to the vet but without spending an obscene amount of money to determine the cause of the anorexia all we could do is try to entice him to eat and hope. Hope that he would recover.
Charisma has had a few rebounds eating a little the last two months. But he has suffered. Unable to eat on his own, we have been feeding him by syringe. His lust for life dwindled slowly.
He stopped coming to us when we called (something he always did before) and rarely spoke anymore. Finally his kidneys started to go forcing him to spray on sadly Ethan’s bouncey chair. He became dehydrated the last week and really lethargic.
We tried to feed him and he just could not keep it down anymore.
Today we took him to the vet.
He was too sick to live. Hanging onto hope meant he would suffer more.
Charisma was too good of a cat to endure a painful, drawn out death.
We love you Charisma.
I could feel Becca’s heart break with every scream of pain when he died. She understands that he is gone but wants it to be different.
“He is my friend, my Cat. Charisma Forever, Forever”
Becca came home tear filled eyes and placed Charisma’s collar on Skippyjon Jones. Now a piece of Charisma will live on with Skip.
I miss my cat.
Her best friend.
I am so sorry for ya’ll. Losing a pet that means so much to the family is hard. Thinking of your baby girl.
I’m so sorry you’ve lost your beloved Charisma…what a heartbreaking post this was to read. My prayers go out to all of you during this difficult time.
BTW- enjoyed the pics below of Ethan! He’s such a cutie! Glad to hear your dad is there visiting now, especially for a little more support, and that J’s interview went well. Keeping my fingers crossed!
Aww poor Becca! At least you did the right thing putting him down like that and not telling him suffer. I have had to put down several beloved pets and it is heartbreaking every time.
I’m so sorry….
I am so so very sorry.
i’m so sorry for your loss. it’s hard to lose such a beloved part of the family.
Aw, I’m so sorry you guys. He was so sweet and such a great friend to you all.
Oh I’m so sorry
I have tears for you & Becca right now because I know what it feels like to lose a pet all too well.
Nate was too young to understand but he sees pictures now & he knows Chewy is in heaven.
Charisma was very lucky while he was here to have you & your family as his. (((HUGS)))
I’m so sorry. I realized when I commented last time you talked about your kitty that you didn’t want her to lose weight…of course I realized it too late. Sorry for my dummyness.
I can’t imagine what I will feel when my cat is gone. I try not to think of it.
Hug.
That is so sad. So sorry ……
Oh I am so sorry
Hugs to you guys! It is amazing how these pets of ours fit themselves so well into our lives.
Oh dang Chelle. I remember when I was a kid and my first pet, our cat “Mus” (?) died. I was HEARTBROKEN. And my family never talked about him. Screwed me up. I know, and you know, that you will do better and will keep Charisma’s life in your family’s hearts.
Oh man.
So sorry for your loss! Losing pet’s are so much like losing family!
I’m sorry about your cat. I know what good friends animals can be.
(((Hugs)))
Nancy
Damnit. I am so sorry.
I so didn’t want to read this…I was hoping Charisma was doing better.
I know how you are feeling! I am so so sorry.
We always had cats in England. When we came out here [temporary] we resisted because of the rabies/immigration. Eventually we capitulated and adopted a brother and sister from the shelter. They both died within the year from a rare form of Leukemia. One of my children was so distraught that he’s had a thing about death ever since.
We left it a couple of years and now we have two gorgeous brothers from the shelter. I’m so glad that we gave in, again. They’re not replacements they’re different cats entirely. When one of them does something or other, it prompts us to think about their forebears, who did or didn’t do the same thing.
The death of any pet is particularly hard, but we all have it in our hearts to reach out and try and help another one.
Best wishes
I so sorry Chelle. I’ve sent you an e-mail. Hugs.
I’m so sorry for your loss to you and your family. It’s so sad to say goodbye to a part of the family.
I am sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. It is so hard to lose someone so special. We just were given a cat in May, and she is Brendan’s best friend. I am already dreading the day when we lose her too. It is amazing how much a pet can bring happiness to your lives.
Hugs to you all!
i’m so sorry.
big hugs to all of you.
amy
I am so sorry hun, I know how it is to loose a pet… I can only imagine how Becca feels…xoxox
Oh, I was so sad when I saw where this was going! Having a blog is so helpful on difficult days like this. I hope writing about it helped!
Oh, I’m so very soory to hear of the death of Charisma. We just lost an old time friend of ours too…our cat, Luis, who was about 15 years old when he died. My husband was there with him the day he died, petting his head and speaking gently to him. He buried him in our front yard. We miss him.
I’m glad you have good pictures with Charisma. Hopefully that’s a comfort.
Oh mate, I am so sorry to hear about Charisma passing. It is always really sad when a pet dies but the fact that Becca loved him so must make it doubly hard for you to deal with it. Will be keeping you guys in my thoughts. xx
I’m so sorry to hear about Charisma, I totally feel for you!
I’m so sorry about your beautiful cat. I’ve been out of town or I would’ve posted condolences earlier. My favorite childhood pet was a wonderful Siamese cat named Katie. My parents bought her with S&H green stamps before I was born. Then I was lucky to have her until I was 13. She changed our lives with her spirit and love. I know you feel the same.
sorry babe……i havent been online for awhile…too much going on….I will miss that cat and how much he bit me when i first met him…..and then the constant cuddles when i was there last…….