Home Very Sad News

[OUpearlgirl]

Some of you may have read back in October that I got a kitten named Rhett Butler in October. Since I''ve had him he has been sick multiple times. The most recent was inflammation of his eyes. He was tested for a few diseases, and came back with a very low score for FIP. FIP is kind of confusing, but his test results showed that he had been exposed to the initial disease, but that did not mean he would ever get full blown FIP (a fatal disease in kittens).

Last week I noticed him landing funny on his left hind leg. A few days later he started dragging it every once in awhile. I took him to the vet today and it turns out he has full blown FIP. He has lost 1.5 pounds since late January, his gums are white, and he is losing strength in his legs. I have to put him down, and it''s just making me so miserable. He''s the first real pet I''ve ever had.

I know I shouldn''t feel so bad because he got this disease before I ever had him and there is nothing I could have done to stop it. I know his short life was at least in a good, loving home. But I am just so sad that he will never be an adult cat. Here''s a picture of little Rhett..

 

[OUpearlgirl]

And here''s my favorite picture of us together

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Oh I''m so sorry. It''s awful when a pet you truly love gets sick. What a precious name, too. Rhett. I love that movie! My favorite cat passed away last year (in this very month) and it was so hard, but I still think about her often and look at pictures, that sort of thing. It looks like you have some very cute pictures to help capture memories.

Take it easy...

 

[Aloros]

*big hugs*

I''m so so sorry to hear about Rhett. My Amazu passed away from FIP at two years of age. It''s a horrible, horrible disease. And I know how much it sucks to feel so helpless and to know there is nothing you could have done or can do except to help them pass.

At least he''s had a loving home and a happy life. I hope that my Amazu is waiting for him on the other side of the rainbow bridge. He loved playing with other kitties...

 

[OUpearlgirl]

Thank you for your kind words. I just made the appointment for tomorrow morning. Sigh. This is hard.

 

[Kaleigh]

I'm so sorry. Know he had lots of love from you in his short life. Big hugs!!

 

[Gypsy]

Oh HONEY. That's heartbreaking. I'm so SO very sorry. ((HUGE ENORMOUS HUGS)).

He's such a beautiful baby, you've given him a lot of love, and even though his life has been cut short, it was a good one.

 

[sumbride]

Oh, I''m so sorry! He''s so precious and I know he has truly loved you and the home you gave him the short time he was able to be with you.

 

[poshpepper]

I am so sorry!!! I am almost in tears over here and I cannot even imagine how you are feeling. He is such a beautiful baby. Please take comfort in knowing that you gave him a wonderful home and a great life (even if it was cut so short).
{{{{{{MANY HUGS}}}}}}

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I am so sorry!

 

[isaku5]

I''m sending more hugs your way as I know how difficult it is to put a furbaby to sleep. Rhett was well loved and taken care of which should give you some peace of mind. Cuddle him lots if you can and wish him a safe journey. ((((HUGS)))

 

[PrettyBlues]

I''m so sorry ((((Big hugs)))

 

[portia]

I''m so sorry about Rhett. Reading your post made me tear up. I never knew about FIP until I read Aloros'' thread about her beloved Amazu. It''s so very sad and scares me every time one of our cats gets sick. My thoughts are with you and Rhett.

 

[Deelight]

OUpeargirl I am so sorry to hear you have to put down your kitty

He is a beautiful little thing.

As hard as it is at least he had a happy time with you and was being looked after well.

sending big hugs your way

 

[pennquaker09]

I''m so sorry.

 

[OUpearlgirl]

Thank you all. He was so sick the final days that I''m glad he''s now in a better place.

Boyfriend surprised me with a new kitten for my birthday last night. She is quite cute and even though she won''t replace Rhett, she has made this a little bit easier.

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Happy Birthday!!

What''d you name the new baby kitty cat girl?

 

[OUpearlgirl]

My birthday isn''t until the 17th, but thank you! I named her Pearls! She is a black, long hair with bright green eyes. I don''t get to bring her to my house for a week or so, just to make sure all of the virus is out of my house.

This weekend has already been a roller coaster of emotions. I didn''t know it was possible to have your throat hurt from crying so much.

I want to say thanks again for everyone''s kind words. Even though we are all strangers, you all really made me feel much better.

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

I am so sorry. In a way you are lucky, when they get FIV they can linger for a long time and suffer which makes it harder for everyone. You''re right that nothing will replace him and that it hurts like hell, but in time you will be able to look back and see you did all you could and more than many people.
Use this weekend for Rhett and then bond with your new kitten, its what Rhett would want.

 

[sumbride]

I''m glad you got a new kitty! Sharing your love with a new cat will help you heal from your loss of Rhett. It''s in no way a replacement, of course, but Rhett would understand and be glad that you''ve given another kitten a loving home.

 

[Deelight]

That was really sweet of your BF even though nothing will ever replace Rhett you will love this new kitten for a 1000 new reasons.

I love the name Pearl very sweet

 

[Haven]

I am so sorry. This is terribly hard. I hope you enjoy this weekend and cuddle him every single moment. He is a gorgeous little guy, I''m crying for the both of you right now.

 

[Lynn B]

Oh, I am so very, very sorry.
Always remember that you gave Rhett a wonderful life, and the priceless gift of your love. And you did the best thing for him, even though it hurts so much.

And congratulations on your new baby. Of course Rhett can''t ever be "replaced", but it''s nice that you can now have a new kitty to love, and be loved by.

*hugs*

 

[bee*]

I''m so sorry to hear about Rhett. You definitely did the right thing for him.

Happy birthday by the way, and glad that you can give another kitten a great home.

 

[AmberGretchen]

Oh honey I''m so so sorry to hear about this. FIP is absolutely devastating, and my heart goes out to you and to the poor little kitty. It sounds like you absolutely did the right thing for him and you are right - the best he could hope for was the loving home he got while he was with you, and you are a wonderful person for giving him that and then being able to let go and give him a dignified end when the time came.

I''m sending healing thoughts and prayers your way - I can only imagine how tough this must be for you.

 

[AmberGretchen]

Also, I wanted to say also that I think its wonderful that you have a new kitty to love. As you said - it won''t ever replace Rhett, but you''ve saved another little soul and given that kitty a loving home, and, as Lynn said, that''s exactly what Rhett would have wanted.

 

[Lorelei]

I am late to this, but I am also so sorry. Rhett may have not been given much time here, but he has left his own unique legacy, and now you have Pearl to love, care for and learn from also. It will take time, but know that little Rhett knew love and warmth and concern in his short life, and that would have been by far the most important thing to him.

 

[Cind11]

I am sorry about poor little Rhett. But you gave him a good home. It''s so hard though to lose a sweet, little creature.

A new kitty to love should help. I know you mentioned waiting a week to bring him/her home so the virus is out of your house. I know there are precautions you should take as far as cleaning things that Rhett came in contact with, but I assume your Vet has already told you about this. I think maybe you''re not even supposed to use the same food dishes (probably new litter box), but I could be wrong about that.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Very sad--we also lost a beloved pet to FIP, so I know how you feel.

I hope your new kitty brightens you day!

kind regards--Sharon

 

[fisherofmengirly]

That is such a precious name. Pearls. Cuteness!

Good thinking on letting the house air out... it will be a nice homecoming when she comes. And she''ll never be a replacement, she''ll be a new baby kitty to love on and fall in love with.

Hope this birthday is great!