Ragdoll Cat Forums

Usagi is pronounced oo-SAH-gee (gee as in "geese")

First, let me first say this: please keep in mind that I'm very upset right now and am having a hard time writing this for two reasons...
Its 4am right now... and I've been crying.

Usagi was the 2nd baby born from Shylo's litter. She was the smallest with the most spunk ever. The first 3 days, she was fine! Nothing SEEMED to be wrong with her, and all was good. She was gaining weight well and her temperature was steady. She was so healthy... or so I thought. Two days ago, I first noticed her acting a little off, but didnt think too much about it as it was a little cooler than usual in the room, and because all she was doing was laying in a weird position, with her head at an odd angle, but again, I thought nothing of it as she was obviously eating (nice and fat.. and most importantly, she was quiet). Yesterday, I was not home! I wasnt even in town, I was visiting my mother. I got home late, and pretty much immediately fell asleep. Today, I was so busy with work and plans that I had made 3 weeks ago... and I was late in getting to both work and to said plans that I was out the door within a few minutes of waking up. I got home late, and unwound before first checking in on my kittens. Well... Usagi was in terrible condition. She was so cold and lethargic that I didnt know she was alive at first. I called my partner who came home as fast as he could and off to the vet we went.

We found out that she had water on her brain, and the weird position she layed in, with her head at an odd angle was her way of trying to alleviate the pressure. She was dehydrated, and very weak.

She was in such bad shape that the vet told us that she had less than a 1% chance of making it through the night. The vet was so kind that she waived our fee and just asked that we put her down and take her home. She crossed the rainbow bridge at 3:30am tonight.

R.I.P my Sweet Usagi...
you left us too soon
we never got to see you grow
I'll always love you
my sweet Usagi.

-Blue Sky.

Pic was taken before we went to the vet.

Sorry for your loss. It's always hard to loose a little one.

What a sad day! I am so sorry.

That's just so sad, I'm so sorry.

Mandy sorry to hear about your loss, I hope that the other kittens are all doing well and wish them all the best

Thanks everyone for your kind words. I really needed the pick-me-up.

I realize that sometimes there are kittens who dont make it and that its kind of the "dark side" of breeding... but it still hurts.

The other kittens are absolutely amazing, Shylo's kittens are starting to open their eyes, and Angel's kittens are becoming very alert and a lot more active. It was just Usagi that had the problems. She had the most difficult delivery, and has pretty much always been the smallest of the litter. Its really hard when they die so young. But I'm okay, I guess I'm kind of relieved that she IS gone because I wouldnt have wanted her to suffer, and not only that but kittens with water on their brains rarely live anyways, and when they do manage to survive, its pretty painful for them. She's in a better place now. So I'm more okay than I was when it first happened.

Bluesky,

I am so sorry for your loss. I know how it feels to lose something so precious. Although my first ragdoll loss was at 11 months, it is still hard to imagine a life without them, no matter what the age. Your sweet Usagi is resting in a better place, waiting for you on the rainbow bridge, no more suffering. Give your kittens as much love as you can, you cant take anything for granted. When I lost my Rocco last October, I held on to my Taz tighter than I had anything, he helped me through the loss more than my fiancé had! No one understands the bond you can share with a raggie, young or old, until they are an owner of this wonderful breed themselves. Take care of yourself and I wish you the best of luck with your kittens!

Carly, Taz and Rico


Just a side note:
(Rocco still lives in my heart and always will. He also lives in body, somewhat. Rico shares the same parents as Rocco, he just came a year later. The breeder had given me first pick of her second litter because I had lost my Rocco and still wanted a friend for Taz. It is incredible how similar they are, it keeps me going. I cant say I feel the same way you do as a breeder, because I am not, but you are the first to share the bond with our kittens and by the looks of it, you care a great deal and it is because of people like you we are able to create our own bonds. )

So sorry for your loss. My daughter just got two shiz-zu puppies Saturday and yesterday she had to take Lola to the hospital. She was lethargic and they put her on iv`s right away. They are running test and xrays and kept her. Two days with them and they are heart broken. She is 6 weeks old.

So Sorry to hear about your loss. I'm still waiting to hear about how Dolly's surgery went... So I don't even know what to say right now but I'm so sorry.