Our dear outdoor kitty, beautiful orange boy who was FIV and FeLV positive, passed away on August 15th. I wanted to post the day after, but too much going on the board so I decided to wait. But yes, our beloved boy became quite ill and we had to let him go. I am not sure what exactly happened really.

Opie was doing pretty good this summer for the most part. He kept getting these abscesses on his side, they would get a little infected, then drain, heal and sometimes come back. I would put peroxide on them and it seemed to help. This went on and off for almost a year or so. But mostly he didn't have them. A couple months ago, they came back. I took care of them and yet they seemed to come back faster. Also, we noticed he was limping. Something going on with his right front paw. He had mitten paws, a poly, and one of his nails grew into his skin I believe. It became infected and well enough was enough. We brought him to our vet. I did not want to, because I knew they would want to give him convenia. I know many swear by convenia, but my SIL's cat passed from convenia. We are pretty sure that's what killed her cat. So I was always leery from then on of using it. Unfortunately, with Opie being outdoor, I kind of had no choice. He would show up sometimes a few times a day, or sometimes once. He lived mostly in our garage, but would go to areas where we had storage and sometimes didn't come out. Or he'd take off somewhere for a bit. So we did the convenia.

Within a two days, Opie seemed like a new cat. He was already healing, his abscesses, and he was actually walking well on his paw the next day. We couldn't believe it. He had a sparkle in his eye and seemed happy and no pain or anything. This went on for almost two weeks, but oddly, right after the 2 week mark, when the convenia supposedly ends, (not really, it can stay in the body for up to 65 days), but after the two weeks, he started to act tired. Slowing down. Wasn't acting the same. He stopped eating after about 3 more days, and was lethargic. Tom and I knew he needed help desperately. We never wanted to bring him in with our cats being that he was not just FIV positive but also FeLV. But we did. We brought him in the 2nd bedroom, in a huge dog crate and he just layed there for the most part. I would force feed him. We would bring him outside for an hour and a half everyday because he perked up and loved it. But by the 4th day of being in, he really went downhill. We even gave him sub Q's, as he was so dehydrated. By Monday afternoon, I knew he wanted to go. It was such a hard decision. One of the vets thought maybe he had hemobartonella, and thought we should try antibiotics. I did not want to put him through anymore. He had enough. He had pain in his abdomen, and was getting worse. So Tuesday morning we let him go.

It was probably hardest on Tom. Tom and Opie had such a strong bond. Gosh that cat loved my husband so much. In the winter, Tom would come home from work, and he would put a blanket on himself and let Opie come in our SUV and get a good 20 minute or longer warm up. Opie would lay on his lap, or on the dashboard for warmth. We of course also had a heating pad in the garage covered with some fleece for him, and two other warm beds and blankets and so on. He and his daughter/lover, yes they had kittens, we have two of them. Well he and Misty his daughter would hang out in there and cuddle in the bed in the winter. Come spring, Opie was so happy all the time. He would stay in our backyard alot and sun himself. And when Tom and I would come home from somewhere, Opie would run from the backyard down the pathway all the way to see his Daddy Tom. He really loved Tom so very much, and Tom and I loved him so so much. He was such a sweet boy. I always wanted to find him a forever home, but not many people wanted a cat like him. And I think it would have broke Opie's heart to be away from Tom.

Now Opie has his forever home, in heaven. We miss him so very much. I miss seeing his sweet face peering through our slider every morning and night for his meals. Or the front door. Or just running to see us whenever we would walk outside. Tom used to go for walks in the back where we live, and Opie would walk with him like a dog. Lol. I think almost all the neighbors loved that cat. We all did.

Fly high my sweet boy. Your in heaven now with our other beloved babies that went before you. And we are so glad to have 6 of your babies that are a part of you we will have as your legacy. You will live forever in our hearts Opie. God bless you. We love you and always will.