Ragdoll Cat Forums

[attachment=50]How could I have gotten SO attached to this little furrball in such a short time?
All of the preparation, the excitement, and the meaning of it all.  This was the first time I did something extravagant for just myself.  Ivan was my 40th birthday present TO ME.  As a single mother of 3, I scrimped and saved.  Then I searched and searched.  I finally found him.  The blue mitted male I had been dreaming about for so long.  My Ragdoll. This was a huge deal.  I was so excited, and made such a production out of it.  I took a day off of work, rented a car, and drove 8 hours each way to get him, all in one day.  Everyone thought I was crazy, but I didnt care.  I was going to do whatever I had to to get him.
When I got him home, he was very (what we all thought at the time) VERY docile.  I took him to the vet the very next day...he just didnt seem like a normal, playful kitten, even considering new surroundings.  The vet said he was okay, but of course, no bloodwork had been done.  I even posted on this board how he seems to show no interest in things.  He didnt like to be held.  All he did was lay around and get up to eat or go potty.  I talked to the breeder after the first week, and she agreed...he just needs to get used to his surroundings.
Tonite, exactly 2 weeks to the day since I got him, I walked into the kitchen and saw him lying there on his side.  I picked him up and he just went limp in my hands.  He couldnt hold his head up.  I rushed him to the emergency room and $220.00 later learned that he had FIP and would have to be euthanized.  I felt sorry for the doctor and staff, I was sobbing so hard I couldnt even speak.  The vet asked me if I wanted to see him once more before they 'boxed him up' for me.  I couldnt even bear to do that.  I stumbled out of there somehow with my little baby in a box.  Its already after midnight, so I cant even bury him until tomorrow.
On top of it all, when I called my significant other (who had just moved out today so this was a harsh day all around), all he could say was 'I told you to just go to the pound and get a cat' - he thought it was a stupid idea to pay that much for a cat to begin with.
So here I sit alone, staring at a box...wondering how in the world I could have loved him so much in such a short time?

oh jypsea, i am so so sorry for your loss...i have no more words i can say... the tears are welling in my eyes as i read your story, my thoughts are with you.

jypsea Wrote:How could I have gotten SO attached to this little furrball in such a short time?
All of the preparation, the excitement, and the meaning of it all.  This was the first time I did something extravagant for just myself.  Ivan was my 40th birthday present TO ME.  As a single mother of 3, I scrimped and saved.  Then I searched and searched.  I finally found him.  The blue mitted male I had been dreaming about for so long.  My Ragdoll. This was a huge deal.  I was so excited, and made such a production out of it.  I took a day off of work, rented a car, and drove 8 hours each way to get him, all in one day.  Everyone thought I was crazy, but I didnt care.  I was going to do whatever I had to to get him.
When I got him home, he was very (what we all thought at the time) VERY docile.  I took him to the vet the very next day...he just didnt seem like a normal, playful kitten, even considering new surroundings.  The vet said he was okay, but of course, no bloodwork had been done.  I even posted on this board how he seems to show no interest in things.  He didnt like to be held.  All he did was lay around and get up to eat or go potty.  I talked to the breeder after the first week, and she agreed...he just needs to get used to his surroundings.
Tonite, exactly 2 weeks to the day since I got him, I walked into the kitchen and saw him lying there on his side.  I picked him up and he just went limp in my hands.  He couldnt hold his head up.  I rushed him to the emergency room and $220.00 later learned that he had FIP and would have to be euthanized.  I felt sorry for the doctor and staff, I was sobbing so hard I couldnt even speak.  The vet asked me if I wanted to see him once more before they 'boxed him up' for me.  I couldnt even bear to do that.  I stumbled out of there somehow with my little baby in a box.  Its already after midnight, so I cant even bury him until tomorrow.
On top of it all, when I called my significant other (who had just moved out today so this was a harsh day all around), all he could say was 'I told you to just go to the pound and get a cat' - he thought it was a stupid idea to pay that much for a cat to begin with.
So here I sit alone, staring at a box...wondering how in the world I could have loved him so much in such a short time?

Oh jypsea of course you were attached to him. Like jeszacs I was in tears as I read your story. I am so very sorry for your loss.

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. What a shock to come here to read such sad news for you and your family, and Ivan who will greatly missed. Give yourself time to mourn his loss, you fell in love with this little guy, and whether it was 2 weeks, or 2 years, his loss is just as great. ((Hugs)) He is with our boy, Old English Sheepdog, Jack, who passed in October, leaving a huge loss in our family.

Stormi

Hi All,

I am not sure if you have heard of the story of the "Rainbow Bridge", but i am a member of another forum, and they share this story with anyone who has loved and lost a fur baby. I am not sure the origin - but i do believe there are many links on the net to this story - it is a lovely story and sometimes helpful at times of grief. Hope you don't mind me sharing it - whether you believe it or not.......

**********************************************************************

THE RAINBOW BRIDGE

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who have been ill and old are restored to health and vigour; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing: they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; his eager body begins to quiver. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; you hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
(Author unknown)

**********************************************************************

Jypsea - think of the rainbow bridge as you find a resting place for Ivan - thoughts are with you.

Sharon

jypsea Wrote:How could I have gotten SO attached to this little furrball in such a short time?
All of the preparation, the excitement, and the meaning of it all.  This was the first time I did something extravagant for just myself.  Ivan was my 40th birthday present TO ME.  As a single mother of 3, I scrimped and saved.  Then I searched and searched.  I finally found him.  The blue mitted male I had been dreaming about for so long.  My Ragdoll. This was a huge deal.  I was so excited, and made such a production out of it.  I took a day off of work, rented a car, and drove 8 hours each way to get him, all in one day.  Everyone thought I was crazy, but I didnt care.  I was going to do whatever I had to to get him.
When I got him home, he was very (what we all thought at the time) VERY docile.  I took him to the vet the very next day...he just didnt seem like a normal, playful kitten, even considering new surroundings.  The vet said he was okay, but of course, no bloodwork had been done.  I even posted on this board how he seems to show no interest in things.  He didnt like to be held.  All he did was lay around and get up to eat or go potty.  I talked to the breeder after the first week, and she agreed...he just needs to get used to his surroundings.
Tonite, exactly 2 weeks to the day since I got him, I walked into the kitchen and saw him lying there on his side.  I picked him up and he just went limp in my hands.  He couldnt hold his head up.  I rushed him to the emergency room and $220.00 later learned that he had FIP and would have to be euthanized.  I felt sorry for the doctor and staff, I was sobbing so hard I couldnt even speak.  The vet asked me if I wanted to see him once more before they 'boxed him up' for me.  I couldnt even bear to do that.  I stumbled out of there somehow with my little baby in a box.  Its already after midnight, so I cant even bury him until tomorrow.
On top of it all, when I called my significant other (who had just moved out today so this was a harsh day all around), all he could say was 'I told you to just go to the pound and get a cat' - he thought it was a stupid idea to pay that much for a cat to begin with.
So here I sit alone, staring at a box...wondering how in the world I could have loved him so much in such a short time?

I'm so sorry Jypsea... what a tragic tragic loss. I pray for your peace and may you find lots of support from your friends here.

Hi Jypsea,

How are you doing?  I have been thinking of you, and really hope that you are finding peace.  I just wanted to say that it takes awhile, but with time, the grief will heal.  Just wanted to let you know there are many of us on the forum thinking of you.  
The Rainbow Bridge poem that was posted by Jessica, is one that I received when Jack passed, a beautiful poem.  Jack was a big lug that loved our Ragdoll cats and kitten, so I picture him up there playing and keeping a watch over his herd, but since he believed himself to be an Old English Ragdoll, instead of sheepdog, he is watching over his pride of cats, and I know that Ivan is being cuddled and having more baths from a big wet tounge.  May you find peace.  Here is a picture of Jack a couple of years ago, cuddling with a kitten, they found him to be a play park.

Purrs,
Stormi

I'm hanging in there. I cant believe how deflated I have been feeling. Plus we have been having constant rain and thunderstorms it seems like every day since. My parents brought me a kitty to cheer me up. It was kind of awkward, I wasnt ready for that, but their intentions were SO good. She is a 5 month old rescue cat and already quite large. She is a beauty. Black/gray medium to long fur with an almost white undercoat. When you ruffle up her fur, she looks just like a storm cloud. And, she came to me during a storm in my life. Hence, the name "Stormie".
Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers. I will still bounce in here for up to date Ragdoll news, even though Im not a current Ragdoll owner. Will go back to dreaming from afar for now .
Thanks again for all of your support!

Dear jypsea,
I am sooo sorry for what you had to go through. I myself have been through it twice in the past 2 years. I have a female seal colourpoint ragdoll now called Indiah, but before her I had a sealpoint birman named Chyna.She was sooo beautiful, but seemed to have problems with going to the toilet. she started not acting herself, not eating, not drinking and not using the toilet. She also started vomiting up pieces of soft rubber from her favorite toy.So we took her to the vets and she had to have an operation on her tummy to remove the pieces of rubber.She came out of it fine but she started to get all this smelly mucus cought in her trought and nose, so I asked if they could clear it out because the anti-biotics wasn't clearing it..........So they gave her a mild anisetic to put a tube down her trought to clear it.................... And thats when she past away.
My first ever purbread cat.My best friend and companion.....gone.
I found out from other breeders who knew chyna's breeder told me that they had interbread her kittens and were probly de- formed inside and might have had FIP.As well as alot of stools bound up inside her.
My ginger moggie Angel was best friends with her and didn't take her leaving very well either and because he greived sooo much for her, he started loosing a lot of wieght. One morning igot up and found angels back legs were going wobbly on him and couldn't walk proply.So back at the vets we go and the vet took an x-ray and thought he had a tuma and seen us back home over the weekend.I gave him anything he wanted to eat and just gave him all the hugs and attention.
He was still alive after the weekend so i took him back to the vet.He was opened up and one kidney was as small as a pea and the other kidney, liver and spleen was very very swollen. I was then told after his operation that he is suffering from FIP disease and thats why his legs went wobbly,he lost wieght and made all his insides soooo swollen that it killed one kidney and why he thought he had a tuma.So he gave him some very strong anti-biotics for ten days and now he has a powdered vitamin suplement watered down and he has 0.5 mils each day for as long as he lives. Right now you wouldn't know he had such a bad illness. he so far has lived 1 and ahalf years longer. My vet is sooo suprised at how he has bounced back cause he thought he wouldent live through the weekend.
So when you saw signs of him being not like a normale kitten acts even just comming to a new home you should of taken him back to the breeder because he sounds like he had FIP from when you got him. Lots of breeders have this problem and if they do they usily die within 8 weeks to 3 or 4 years and you can not have them imunised against fip and if they do survive past the 8 weeks without showing any signs, it can lie doorment in them like angel and it just shows up when somthing bad happens to show it's head. I HATE FIP!!!I don't know your cats symtomes it suffered from but maybe the vet was too quick to euthanaise him. Also i would tell the breeder you got him from about fip because she could have more ill kittens and not know it and sell them to someone else and they be sick too like ivan and suffer the same fate..... We wouln't want that .
I would have done the same thing but when i went to find chynas breeder she had sold all her cats and moved and knowone knew were to find her, so i couldn't warn anyone else of her pets having problems that could resolt in illnes or death.

My condolences 1000000 times over,
hugs,monica and Indiah

ragdollmonica Wrote:Dear jypsea,
I am sooo sorry for what you had to go through. I myself have been through it twice in the past 2 years. I have a female seal colourpoint ragdoll now called Indiah, but before her I had a sealpoint birman named Chyna.She was sooo beautiful, but seemed to have problems with going to the toilet. she started not acting herself, not eating, not drinking and not using the toilet. She also started vomiting up pieces of soft rubber from her favorite toy.So we took her to the vets and she had to have an operation on her tummy to remove the pieces of rubber.She came out of it fine but she started to get all this smelly mucus cought in her trought and nose, so I asked if they could clear it out because the anti-biotics wasn't clearing it..........So they gave her a mild anisetic to put a tube down her trought to clear it.................... And thats when she past away.
My first ever purbread cat.My best friend and companion.....gone.
I found out from other breeders who knew chyna's breeder told me that they had interbread her kittens and were probly de- formed inside and might have had FIP.As well as alot of stools bound up inside her.
My ginger moggie Angel was best friends with her and didn't take her leaving very well either and because he greived sooo much for her, he started loosing a lot of wieght. One morning igot up and found angels back legs were going wobbly on him and couldn't walk proply.So back at the vets we go and the vet took an x-ray and thought he had a tuma and seen us back home over the weekend.I gave him anything he wanted to eat and just gave him all the hugs and attention.
He was still alive after the weekend so i took him back to the vet.He was opened up and one kidney was as small as a pea and the other kidney, liver and spleen was very very swollen. I was then told after his operation that he is suffering from FIP disease and thats why his legs went wobbly,he lost wieght and made all his insides soooo swollen that it killed one kidney and why he thought he had a tuma.So he gave him some very strong anti-biotics for ten days and now he has a powdered vitamin suplement watered down and he has 0.5 mils each day for as long as he lives. Right now you wouldn't know he had such a bad illness. he so far has lived 1 and ahalf years longer. My vet is sooo suprised at how he has bounced back cause he thought he wouldent live through the weekend.
So when you saw signs of him being not like a normale kitten acts even just comming to a new home you should of taken him back to the breeder because he sounds like he had FIP from when you got him. Lots of breeders have this problem and if they do they usily die within 8 weeks to 3 or 4 years and you can not have them imunised against fip and if they do survive past the 8 weeks without showing any signs, it can lie doorment in them like angel and it just shows up when somthing bad happens to show it's head. I HATE FIP!!!I don't know your cats symtomes it suffered from but maybe the vet was too quick to euthanaise him. Also i would tell the breeder you got him from about fip because she could have more ill kittens and not know it and sell them to someone else and they be sick too like ivan and suffer the same fate..... We wouln't want that .
I would have done the same thing but when i went to find chynas breeder she had sold all her cats and moved and knowone knew were to find her, so i couldn't warn anyone else of her pets having problems that could resolt in illnes or death.

My condolences 1000000 times over,
hugs,monica and Indiah

Hi Monica,

I am so sorry for your losses. It can be horrible to lose our fur family. I just wanted to address that FIP is the most misunderstood disease that cats get. Respectfully, some of the information given about FIP are misguided. There is ongoing research regarding the corona virus which is estimated 80% of all cats have or carry, but it is not known why the corona virus mutates into FIP. The Corona Virus is contagious, but once turned into FIP, is no longer contagious. I haven't experienced FIP, as of yet, but I have studied up on it. FIP is often a common diagnosis, however, it FIP can ONLY be diagnosed during necropsy, (animal autopsy). You are correct that the FIP vaccine is useless, and can cause more harm.
This is a wonderful website regarding FIP, it is by accredited vet, Dr. Susan Little, President of the Winn Feline Foundation. There are many links at the bottom that may help understand this awful disease better. As of yet, there is still much more research needed to get a more fully understanding of this disease. Research is ongoing and donations are greatly appreciated.
http://www.catvet.homestead.com/FIP.html One of the links includes one to the Winn Feline Foundation.

Again, I am so sorry for your losses. I hope you share a long and happy life with Indiah.

Purrs,
Stormi