Stainz
Member
Jake (8/01-4/7/15):
Jake and his brother Samson were two of four kittens we found near a local shooting spot on the Sunday after 9/11. Their two other brothers had been shot and were kindly put down by the local 'Good Samaritan' vet. He also checked Jake's runt brother, Samson, for a host of diseases. As he was clean, it was a good bet that Jake was as well. Still, we quarantined them for two weeks before introducing them to our other indoor-only cats. Jake became a 'Gentle Giant', clearly, the largest, never fat, cat I had ever seen - with a huge tail. He never bit or clawed a soul - and was scared of his own shadow, retreating to the safety of his lair - under/in our bed - at the first doorbell ring or knock - even faster at the sound of my grandkids voice. He was my lap cat. He slept under the covers with us. He had no desire to go outdoors, leaving the house only in a pet carrier. He loved to play.
Jake started losing weight last June, getting under ten pounds and showing signs of dehydration - an expensive trip to a new vet yielded no information - ended with us re-hydrating him with IV's at home - not fun. He seemed to improve - then got worse - back to the vet end more IV's for us to administer. We had spent over $800 in two visits - and were told to take him home and make him comfortable - at 13 years, his days were numbered. We were able to eek out almost eight more months of good life for him. Last Monday, he even sat on his haunches, as in the picture, and raised and dropped his front paws in unison, 'begging', albeit a bit weakly. Tuesday would find him unable to keep anything - including water - down. The new young vet looked sad as she poked around his abdomen. He had a massive tumor that blocked his gut and stomach. It was inoperable. His last act - as she sedated him - was to reach up and lick me on my nose. She gave him the heart-stopping shot and he passed peacefully. My in-laws prepared his grave for us, and, after enlarging it (He was a large cat!), we buried him as night fell.
My second wife can't have children - the cats are 'our' children. Jake is survived by his runt brother, Samson, and friends Delilah, Bob, Steve, Elmer, and Chester. He was a great pet - and a Blessing to me - and I miss him.
John (aka 'Stainz')
Jake and his brother Samson were two of four kittens we found near a local shooting spot on the Sunday after 9/11. Their two other brothers had been shot and were kindly put down by the local 'Good Samaritan' vet. He also checked Jake's runt brother, Samson, for a host of diseases. As he was clean, it was a good bet that Jake was as well. Still, we quarantined them for two weeks before introducing them to our other indoor-only cats. Jake became a 'Gentle Giant', clearly, the largest, never fat, cat I had ever seen - with a huge tail. He never bit or clawed a soul - and was scared of his own shadow, retreating to the safety of his lair - under/in our bed - at the first doorbell ring or knock - even faster at the sound of my grandkids voice. He was my lap cat. He slept under the covers with us. He had no desire to go outdoors, leaving the house only in a pet carrier. He loved to play.
Jake started losing weight last June, getting under ten pounds and showing signs of dehydration - an expensive trip to a new vet yielded no information - ended with us re-hydrating him with IV's at home - not fun. He seemed to improve - then got worse - back to the vet end more IV's for us to administer. We had spent over $800 in two visits - and were told to take him home and make him comfortable - at 13 years, his days were numbered. We were able to eek out almost eight more months of good life for him. Last Monday, he even sat on his haunches, as in the picture, and raised and dropped his front paws in unison, 'begging', albeit a bit weakly. Tuesday would find him unable to keep anything - including water - down. The new young vet looked sad as she poked around his abdomen. He had a massive tumor that blocked his gut and stomach. It was inoperable. His last act - as she sedated him - was to reach up and lick me on my nose. She gave him the heart-stopping shot and he passed peacefully. My in-laws prepared his grave for us, and, after enlarging it (He was a large cat!), we buried him as night fell.
My second wife can't have children - the cats are 'our' children. Jake is survived by his runt brother, Samson, and friends Delilah, Bob, Steve, Elmer, and Chester. He was a great pet - and a Blessing to me - and I miss him.
John (aka 'Stainz')
