GrumpyOne Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I'm out of town for work (like usual ) and my wife calls me, sobbing her eyes out, cause she just had to put our cat to sleep...Well, my cat to sleep. Shadow was a Russian blue female, a huntress, not afraid of anything, and as friendly to us as the day is long. She caught a virus from a tick, and it kills within just a few days. There is no cure. But the only ticks that can infect a domestic cat comes from a wild cat (bobcat or panther, etc.). The virus/disease is called Cytauxzoonosis. "Cytauxzoon spp infect ungulates in Africa while C felis is a natural parasite of wild cats (bobcat [ Lynx rufus ] and the Florida panther [ Felis concolor coryi ]) of North America. C felis is transmitted by the Ixodid tick Dermacentor variabilis ; as a parasite of wild cats its pathogenicity is unknown. Tick transmission to domestic cats results in an acute and almost always fatal disease. Most cases occur in the south and southeast states of the USA and are usually associated with access to wooded areas." Unfortunately, this is not the first cat we've lost to this disease. We lost another almost 5 years ago.... While Frontline/Advantage or any of the other flea and tick treatments offer some degree of protection, they do not stop the tick from biting, only from holding on, and it's the biting that does it..... So, those of you living in the affected areas, be warned! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ima45dv8 Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I'm sorry to hear of your loss. While I'm primarily a dog-person, I've had a couple of cats that stole my heart despite my best efforts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wgnoyes Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I unfortunately know what that's like, and I'm sorry for your loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitedog Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I am sorry for your loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Round_Gun_Shooter Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 Very sorry for your loss. I know the feeling only too well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted June 17, 2011 Author Share Posted June 17, 2011 Cats have a different type of personality than dogs (I have 3 dogs as well), and to me, they are much more "You don't own me, I own you.", and that's what I find so cool about them...And she was the epitome of that type of personality.... She's gonna be sorely missed...Thanks guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OpenDot Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Oh man, sorry for your loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CocoBolo Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Grumpy sorry for you loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdwilliams Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Sorry Grumpy but kudos to your wife. That's the most unselfish, loving thing we can do for our pets - remove our personal feelings and simply do what's best for them. I sometimes think it's a shame we can't do that for our fellow humans. Sherry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvanz Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 I just read your post. Makes me feel better someone else feels sad about their pals. I'm not alone. The morning I was leaving for the WI sectional a couple weeks ago to shoot and RO I made the decision to end my furry buddy's suffering. I was in the middle of packing my gun bag and suitcase and I couldn't ignore the fact the time had come. To say it was the worst match I had shot would be an understatement! And it was my birthday. But, it was good to be with friends for two days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDHunz Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Grumpy - Saddened by your loss as I, too, am the daddy of a beautiful Russian Blue female who has warmed our hearts for the last 6.5 years after we rescued her. I had to put down my 16-year-old Seal Point Siamese many years ago and it still makes me sad. We almost lost our Russian a few months back from an intestinal problem, but she pulled through. Wasn't sure how I would explain it to our 4-year-old twins as Cleo is my daughter's "baby." I feel for ya! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SauerGrapes Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 This seems like a good place to make my first post. We all love shooting, but we all know there's more to life. I too know all to well what it's like to loose a pet{s}. I feel your pain. Sorry about your cat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin Orr Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 Sorry for your loss........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youngeyes Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 Over the years I've had several cats go to a better place. Each one hurts. There is, however, nothing likely to melt your heart faster than the first look in a new kittens eyes. Just sayin... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JThompson Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 I feel for you Andy... JT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neomet Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 Really sorry Grumpy. Losing a loved pet is losing a part of your family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renzo808 Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 Sorry for your loss Grumpy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Burtchell Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 (edited) Sorry Grumpy . As you can tell by my avatar I'm pretty fond of the rascals. I had an Orange Tabby for 12 years. I sure miss him. Edited August 21, 2011 by Paul Burtchell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted August 21, 2011 Author Share Posted August 21, 2011 Well, thanks everyone! As it turns out, the only other female cat we have, a young scrapper named Rocky, was pregnant and gave birth to 5. Three of them almost totally black, one gray/black striped tabby, and an Orange tabby. This was a couple of months ago, like w weeks before Shadow died. We have given 2 of the black ones away to a very good home (brothers), and kept the rest. Their names are Spot, Sass, and Snow. I'll post a pic of them when I can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catwrench Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 very sorry for your lose ,last winter my german shepard past on ,only good thing was it happen in her sleep, god bless her Gabbey. catwrench Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gadgetech Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 Our pug is our 'child' and we lost our last dog a couple years ago. It's a very sad time for sure and being away makes it especially hard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted March 7, 2014 Author Share Posted March 7, 2014 Yet another of my cats has fallen ill to the disease...But, in the time since our last cat that was infected died and this one, the veterinary school at UF has taken a keen interest in this disease, and now has a treatment. The treatment is not a 100% thing, they "think" that he has a 60% chance of making it, but as there are so few cases that come up, there is no real data yet. We'll know tomorrow whether he's gonna make it or not...but no one knows the long term effects of the disease, because so few have ever survived... What they found to treat it with is a Human malaria drug....I have to go to Walgreens in the morning and pick it up...They keep enough at the vets to start the process, but not for the 10 day doses it takes to treat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youngeyes Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 (edited) Good luck and prayers for the cat. Are they using Atovaquone ? Edited March 8, 2014 by Youngeyes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted March 8, 2014 Author Share Posted March 8, 2014 I have no idea what they are using.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted March 8, 2014 Author Share Posted March 8, 2014 This is the little bugger they are trying to save...His name is Joey...Coming home from work one day, stopped at a Kangaroo gas station for a cup of coffee...he was running around the parking lot, maybe 3-4 months old at that time...the girls working in the store were trying to get someone to take him, cause the store manage had already called animal control.... He's absolutely fearless...guess it's cause he spent so much time in that parking lot.... Joey....the offspring of a Kangaroo.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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