Tuesday, July 16, 2013

It was a sad morning

This morning after I was done milking, I filled baby calf Penny's bottle and went outside the barn to feed her.  That's when I saw Suzie, the young female cat, lying there in the pasture crying piteously.  Another calf, Jenny, was trying to sniff her.  Suzie batted a paw at her, still crying.  
Cats don't willingly let cows get close enough to sniff at them; she should have run off.  

Something was wrong. 

When Penny finally emptied her bottle, I went to check.  I was almost afraid to reach out toward Suzie, because an animal in pain is liable to lash out at anything.  She attempted to get up, but couldn't.  I did finally reach down and stroke her head a couple of times, but she was in so much pain that I don't think she cared one way or the other.  
What to do:  She had, at the least, a broken leg.  If we took her to the vet there would be X-rays and a cast and lots of money spent.  We haven't even received the largest of Cliff's hospital bills yet.  I said a prayer and knew what had to happen.  
I came in the house and woke Cliff up.  He doesn't like to get up fast.  He would rather not do anything besides drink coffee for an hour or two after he's awake, but I said, "I have a favor to ask.  I need you to get a gun and go shoot a cat as soon as you can possibly get around.  She is suffering, and I can't stand it.  You won't have any trouble doing it, because she can't even walk."  
He threw off the covers, and was out the door in perhaps ten minutes, which is fast for a guy who can't wake up easily and has arthritis slowing him down first thing in the morning.  
The deed is done.  I cried.  Me, the person who doesn't even care that much about cats.  I'm tearing up as I type this.  
Cliff said her back was broken, so the prognosis wouldn't have been good anyhow.  We figure a horse or cow stepped on her.
Life, and death, on the farm.

Suzie, playing with her brother Jake

21 comments:

  1. That is so sad, Donna - but you did the right thing. Nothing you could have done for her. You'll meet her, whole, beyond the Rainbow Bridge.

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  2. Anonymous11:35 AM

    Poor kitty. I'm glad her suffering is over.

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  3. So sorry. I have shed many tears over pets and it never gets any easier.

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  4. it's still never easy..animals are people too! Sorry for the loss Donna

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  5. Sounds like a tough morning, as well as sad. Hard decisions to make putting down a living thing.

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  6. I hate the job of putting an animal down. I hate to see an animal suffer even more. You did the right thing. Sorry that it had to be done.

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  7. Very sad, but you did the right thing for the cat and that's what you have to focus on. xoxo

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  8. Very sad. Very sad.

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  9. The hard part of country living but it's part of it as we both know.

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  10. That is so sad! I'm sorry this happened. I remember when one of our kitties got run over, I cried for days. They get to be like part of the family.

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  11. it was a sad morning for sure. Sorry about the kitten.

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  12. So sad. I am sorry.

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  13. So sorry about your kitty. You and Cliff made the right decision. She was in terrific pain and scared on top of that.

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  14. I am so sorry. Cliff moved so fast because you were suffering. That deed is hard for Pat to do so it usually falls on me.... Suzie was a beautiful young lady. I am sure that Buddy or Big Yellow is showing her around.

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  15. Sorry for your loss but glad that you and Cliff know how to take care of those matters without racking up a vet bill. That's the way it's always been done until recently. Sometimes the old ways really are best.

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  16. This is too heartbreaking, but there was nothing else you could do.

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  17. RIP Suzie. It hurts my heart to see an animal in such pain. After 15 years in the countryside in Mexico I totally understand. Many of our pets then were called "solo vino" or came alone, just as your Mama Kitty and her kids did. I am glad you fell in love with them. Blessings, Penny

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  18. I am so sorry. We would have done the same thing. Just makes me sad... I do love my cats.

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  19. I cried a bit too. We've gone through the same thing, and you did what you had to do. It's never easy though.

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