06 September 2008

Inga

021507Inga

We lost Inga last night after two-plus years of dealing with her chronic renal failure. She'd deteriorated a lot over the past few months, so it was pretty clear that this was coming. Her decline over the past couple days was particularly rapid, though. She didn't try to move from my lap at all when I gave her fluids Thursday night, and then barely managed to walk from the kitchen into the living room afterwards. When I left for work yesterday afternoon it was all she could do to lift her head. By the time David got home, she couldn't even do that.

She was the first pet of David's adult life, adopted from the shelter in Lincoln, Nebraska, nearly twenty years ago at 8 months of age. She'd been with David for practically half of his life. I was a newcomer by comparison. In her last three years she'd had to learn to live with dogs for the first time in her life and with a kitten for the first time in about ten years. She took it all in stride. When Tolo, and later Cougar, tried to play rough with her, she gave them a much needed smackdown and taught them some proper respect for a lady.

A lady is what she always was, and queen of the household. The house and our hearts will be a little bit emptier without her.

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry to hear that Inga passed. You gave her a wonderful life. I just recently lost the "man of my house" to FIP...I understand how hard it is to say goodbye. I'm sure she will watch over you forever.

Best regards,
Jenny

JohnK said...

love + ((hugs))

Leslie said...

Please accept my sympathies on the loss.

I've been there and will be again - no fun at all. What's saddest is watching the other animals look for their friend.

Sara said...

Awww - I'm sorry. She was a beautiful kitty. What a lot of years to be blessed with her - though I also know she'll keep on in your thoughts and hearts from here on out.

Steph said...

I'm so sorry....

Carole Knits said...

This must be such a sad time for you both. I'm sorry.

Chris said...

I'm so sorry. My thoughts are with both of you, especially David.

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry.

TigerYogiji said...

I am so sorry for your loss. I'm sure that she had a wonderful life thanks to you two. ((HUGS))

Norskybear said...

I just had someone pass me an inspirational email which had a six-year-old state, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life, like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right? Well, pets already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."

Thinking about you both this weekend.

Alwen said...

It's so hard to lose them. You keep expecting them to come around the corner.

My sympathies.

knitnzu said...

Oh.... give David some hugs.

Anonymous said...

My condolences on your loss. It is so sad to lose a treasured family member. Some of them make indelible impressions on your heart.

Sheepish Annie said...

Oh, Mel. I am just so very sorry. My deepest sympathies to you and to David. She's a beautiful girl and I can only imagine the emptiness she's left behind. ::hugs::

Anonymous said...

rest in peace, beautiful inga.

{{{{{hugs}}}}} to david and mel.

Scoutj said...

Oh Mel....I'm so sorry. :(

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Love This Space said...

I'm so sorry guys. Our lives are richer for having the furkids in them and emptier when we lose them. Hugs.

teejtc said...

My thoughts and prayers will be with you in the coming days....

Grace and Peace,
`tim

Anonymous said...

Oh...dang.

I don't know what else to say. What a hole there must be.

Anonymous said...

i'm sorry. may her memory be a blessing to all of you humans and furry friends alike. {hugs}

Maureen said...

what a great age she achieved though! I had a cat in my childhood, like Inga, in that we got her when I was very young, and she was there all through my life, until she died at the age of 22. It's a hard goodbye.

Jean said...

Oh, Mel -- she looks so much like our dear cat, dead now for 20 years, remembered between us every day. Our cat's death -- I won't mention her name, because it's my password on many a website -- sounds very much the same, including the sitting-on-the-lap at the end. All my sympathy, esp. to David

katrynka said...

I'm so sorry to read of your loss. Pets always make our lives fuller, and it hurts so much when they leave.

FiberQat said...

She had a wonderful pair of humans to care for her. Hugs to both of you.

Anonymous said...

A big hug to you both. I know it's hard, no matter how much you expect it to happen.

Anonymous said...

Oh Mel, I'm so sorry.
{{{Hugs to you and David}}}

Anonymous said...

I've lost two dogs to renal failure. My heart is with the human and four legged survivors.
Hugs,
Kate in Dansville, NY

Anonymous said...

Quiet hugs...words are inadequate...

Sam said...

Sorry to hear your girl Inga has transitioned. Our girl Eydie has had an enlarged kidney for more than a year, and we keep expecting her decline, but it hasn't come yet. Twenty years is certainly a long long life though. Rest in peace, Inga.

M-H said...

Sorry to read this. Riley hangs on, but I'm not sure for how much longer. Look after each other.

Rabbitch said...

I'm so very sorry, Mel and David.

Kyle William said...

I'm so sorry to hear of the loss - sounds like your kitty had a full and wonderful life surrounded by love...

my thoughts are with you!