The sad farewell I never wanted to make

It’s taken me several weeks to be able to come to my website and be able to write this entry. My heart is heavy with unbearable sadness. My dear, darling incredible Noodle was PTS on June 18th 2023.

I’d been thinking for several months how her snoring was louder and wondering how long I’d have with her. She had lost none of her chutzpah and still very much the diva until the end but she was looking older.

June was crazy hot and she was nagging me to take her outside, how she loved being out on the patio when I lived in Andover. How she missed the quiet and the warmth of those stones. In Chandlers Ford we don’t have the same privacy or safety and it’s noisy, but during the week, I’d harnessed her and taken her out to trot around the tarmac car park. She was so happy chatting away as we looked about. I promised myself to do this for her more as I videoed a minute or so of her adventure, footage I’ve not yet been able to watch. I never dreamt of course that it would be the last I made, or her last foray in the sunshine she so loved. I’m so very glad I gave her that time as just days later having found her paralysed on my bedroom floor and struggling to breathe. As I called frantically to find the Sunday vet service I knew this was the end of the road, yet hoped I was wrong.

Scooping her up, it was a 20 minute journey by sat nav to an area I’d never been to, alone. Every traffic light was red. Every Sunday driver in all of Hampshire in our path. Arriving and with nowhere to park, I abandoned my car and ran to the door pressing repeatedly on the buzzer to please please let me come in. As I did so, her bladder went, urine over me, the floor, her blanket and the counter. She was taken away immediately then just minutes later I was called in to speak with a vet. He didn’t need to say it was an embolism, however the fact that she was in end stage heart failure was painful to know. Immediately I said I understood and could I go to her as he said they were about to cannulate her. I assured him I was fine with this and was allowed to go in. She was injected with methodrone which took a minute or two to settle her and I was given consent forms to sign which would allow them to deliver the overdose of anaesthesia which would allow her to be free of her suffering. Within 15 minutes of our arrival, as I held her, and talked to her of her favourite things she quietly left this world. I held her a long long time, rocking her, sobbing just as I am now, telling her that “it was ok” until the warmth I knew her to have had faded away, My girl was no longer there. I wrapped her body in her blanket, kissed her and said goodbye. 

She was cremated by a local business who took great care of my beloved girl and returned her ashes to me within 6 days. Noodle now has a star named just for her (thank you Clair for such a thoughtful gift) and tattooist Steve Daish (Big on Ink) has given me a fabulous portrait of my girl upon my forearm, placing her for ever back into my arms where she belongs.

I’m so grateful for the kindness of family & friends who have supported me through these weeks. Noodle was never just a cat. She was a life saver coming into my world to give me the one I needed to love and hold in order to thwart my plan just coming to fruition to exit it. She has been the catalyst (pun intended) for new adventures, new friends and family as I became the best breeder of Sphynx cats as I can be, doing things right, doing them my way. While Noodle had just two pregnancies both ending with c-sections and one surviving kitten from each, she was an incredible mother, and support Aunt to all of Prune’s babies. She was delivery stuffed fish with a yell of “dinner’s done” right up to the last. The last two fish are still in my bedroom because, well, if I take them back I know it’s the end and that’s inconceivable.

7 years. It was all awesome. It was not long enough, the pain is immense but I would not change it for the world. I miss her sassy ways, her chat and indeed her back chat. Her running on the wheel saying “look at me, look at me” and her kisses and purrs. 

Thank you Noodle. I love you my beautiful baby girl xxx 🐾 🐾 ♥️ 

What a week!

 Covid numbers are not just creeping upward by appear to be skyrocketing which is very concerning indeed however, we broke cover on Monday to make a first trip out. Without mum to accompany them they were gathered together & into the pet carrier pre-sprayed with pet remedy & we set off. Normally I’m worrying ola out keeping kittens/cats warm enough outside but this time with the heat of this fabulous summer I was concerned that they were not in the car too long. Fans going but out of a draft we travelled only about 2.5 miles & parked up. As always, keen eyes will spot babies & there were lots of oooh’s & aaaah’s & questions. After an extended wait we eventually were called in & saw Mark Collins the head vet at the practice. One by one the kittens were examined, weighed, had heart & lungs listened to & with everything in order received their 1st vaccinations followed by their microchip implants. These were then tested to make sure they were detected & returned to the carrier. Job done we set off back home where they were eagerly checked over by mum & soon following me to the kitchen for food!

Sometimes there’s a few hours of being subdued after having received vaccines which can last up to 48 hours which is partly why viewings & collections are always timed to allow a gap of 2 days after having been seen so that they are back to themselves before any meeting date or collection. 

I have the microchip implants done at 8 weeks only if they are large enough at the 1st vaccinations. I do it at this appointment rather than the 2nd vac appointment for two reasons - firstly because this implant pierces the skin creating a small wound I want to ensure it is healed completely before they leave which it would not be if the microchip was done at the 2nd vaccination & they left at the earliest opportunity (48hrs after their jabs). The other reason I like the microchip done prior to viewing is that when a family choose their kitten I can scan & show them the chip number so that when they collect I can re-scan & reassure them they are receiving the kitten they originally chose. This is important where two or more kittens are of the same colour &  sex or as can happen with the Sphynx & other breeds (yes even furred ones!) the colour can alter making a kitten appear to have been swapped. 

Anyway, there were no reactions following the visit to the veterinarian & they’ve been growing stronger & more agile by the day (if not hour!). 

Today we had another milestone moment - when I found kittens using the ModKat top entry litter boxes rather than the open of side entry trays. This same thing has happened with single every litter we’ve had & once they’ve reached a stage where they can get up, in & back out again afterwards they choose never to use the open or side entry trays again, which shows me that there is a clear preference for this kind of tray. I believe this is because I keep the boxes filled deeply and this means they can dig down further as they would choose to do naturally and other tray types don’t allow for this. As a delightful consequence- I also like it as I find it both easier as well as more cost effective to scoop a deeply filled box which has good quality litter inside it. With a tight clumping litter you scoop down, under & lift allowing the dry grit to drain off and you bag only the clump or poop. Shaking creates dust & is unnecessary to do. 

Although they’ve not chosen to follow the adults at night, the kittens can all now get up & down from my bed too & thunder about the place playing games of chase! It’s brilliant. I so love this time with them! 

As you’ll have seen, we also had a photoshoot session this week where I was aided by a friend whose jog it is to acquire the kittens’ attention while I snap as many images as possible while hoping to get a couple of good ones which I use for advertising them. 3 kittens were happy to model but one, having been woken up to take part was not happy with the idea at all. Can spot which ones are of the kitten who was disgruntled!