Update on Lightning, the stray cat...

[sumbride]

To update this post: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/update-on-lightning-the-stray-cat.63901/


Well, I caught Lightning this morning. He was here for breakfast and I wrangled him into a box without too much trouble. He struggled, but luckily wasn't able to scratch or bite me. I was excited as I dropped him off at the vet and had a conversation with a person there about the rescue process who thought it was great.

But they just called me and he tested positive for FIV. Since we can't keep him, we had to agree to euthanasia. I'm sad, but I'm glad there will be one less sick cat making kittens in the alley. I just wish he could have had a better outcome. And now I know that the other male cat out there probably has it as well so I'm going to send a note to the neighborhood user group about it.

Not all rescue attempts are happy outcomes, but they still need to be done. Poor little Lightning. I'm going to miss him!

 

[door knob solitaire]

Sumbride...

You did everything you could do to facilitate a happy ending. I realize it would feel better knowing there was a loving home at the standby...but in this situation-it really is the "happiest/best" for this little one who would have suffered. Since it was homeless it would have had to forage for food...and in that it didn''t feel well, it may not have gotten satisfied...so there it would be alone, hungry and sick. It would have left this world in terrible misery, and never having known of the human kindness you bestowed. A critter life gone, and having never been noticed. Far sader, dont'' you think?

The willingness to be compassionate in the very value of life...that defines RESCUE. That is what you accomplished. Thanks for taking the time to step in and help. Please don''t let this discourage you.

DKS

 

[Lynn B]

Awwwww, Sumbride... I am so sorry. So sorry for Lightning, and sorry for animal lovers everywhere... we were all pulling for him. But you did your best, and you did make a difference. In more ways than one.
xoxoxo
Lynn

 

[sumbride]

Thank you! It''s so sad, but true that this was best.

M just reminded me that it''s better than having somebody pick him up and use him in a dog fight. We''re having a rash of dog fighting problems in our city right now and that would have been far worse. This was humane, in the true sense of the word, and indeed was for the best.

 

[AmberGretchen]

Oh sweetie....that is so hard. But I completely agree that this is a much better end - it was quick and painless and peaceful for him, and he didn''t have to suffer a slow decline because of the disease or, as you said, a worse fate if he''d fallen into the wrong hands. I know its hard, but you truly did the compassionate thing, the only humane option you had in this case. Rest in peace Lightning...

 

[sumbride]

It''s been a couple of days and I am feeling a little bit more at peace with it. I''ve also been in touch with other people in the neighborhood who are feeding strays and want to know how to go about rescuing them. That feels good. For a minute, a lady up the block thought we were feeding the same cat, but hers is a different color. Hopefully more cats will be vetted and that will be a positive outcome to this whole situation.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Oh Sum, I''m so sorry to hear this. But you have done absolutely the right thing and Lightening will be in a better place now.

 

[Selkie]

I''m so sorry, but like everyone else has said, you did everything you could for him, and you did some good for the cat population as a whole. Thanks, from another cat lover.

 

[sumbride]

Thanks ladies. I don''t think I''m done yet. An orange cat showed up for dinner tonight and now I think I know who Lightning was fighting with. It''s amazing how word gets around re: the lady who feeds cats among the cat population.

 

[FireGoddess]

Ditto to what AG said....

 

[moremoremore]

I''m so sorry

But as stated above, I still think the outcomeis "happy"....My Scotty was FIV and they suffer horribly at the end...and life on the streets is just so hard....so in that respect, it is a very positive outcome....Head bonks....