I don't know if it will be any consolation but like you my friend had a soft spot for strays, well more like she is a soft spot for strays
She found Bashi scavenging for food outside a chinese resterant and after passing her a few times, one rainy night she gave in and took her home.
She was old, thin, vocal and very affectionate with long fur that was desperate to leave her body and stick to any other surface, but she never seemed to run out of more to give away, she was very giving like that
She couldn't put on weight and the vet discovered a thyroid problem, £1000 later the largest thyroid the vet had ever seen was removed and he wanted to send it to a vet museum.
Lots of teeth had to be removed but she had pils every day and put on weight.
After 3 years of food comfort warmth and love she was enjoying her last days with someone who cared for her.
Then one time when I visited I noticed her behaviour, she seemed to be navigating by whiskers and memory
I checked her eyes with a torch and there was no reaction from her pupil at all.
More trips to the vets to establish that she was now almost totally blind.
For months she still managed to potter around but couldn't jump or climb at all, and most telling she gave up on the litter tray, going to the toilet whenever and wherever she needed to
Again she lasted for another 6 months in this condition before another trip to the vets when the advice was she had little or no quality of life left with lung and kidney trouble which would never get any better.
At which point the decision to put her to sleep was made
She like your tiptoes spent the last part of her life in a loving environment with someone who cared deeply, and that is always something to cherish.
Hopefully, he was still active and fit until the end and didn't loose his faculties or his quality of life in a long slow decline, I know given the choice I'd prefer to go quickly than linger.
It's hard to loose a person from your life, and however much we shouldn't cat's always seem to become small four footed furry people, with their own personalities and unconditional love for you with a tin opener in your hand
Cherish the memory of him and know he's up there now, guiding another stray toward you, and one rainy night you'll get the call and know he's managed to sneak another one of his extended family past your guard.
Take care
Wayne
Thank you for calling the Mental Health Line. If you are Obsessive-Compulsive please press 1 repeatedly. If you are Co-dependant please ask someone to press 2. If you have Multiple Personalities please press 3,4,5,and 6. If you are Paranoid-Delusional we know who you are and what you want. Stay on the line
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