Rascal: April 1, 2000 - July 1, 2010

It is with a heavy heart that I write this final post on Welcome to Rascal's World. Rascal was helped across the Rainbow Bridge this afternoon.

This morning Rascal woke me up around 6:30, and asked for breakfast. He'd been hungry a lot lately, though fussy about what he wanted to eat. He ate a big helping of raw chicken breast, and then accompanied me outside while I worked in the garden. He made his usual rounds, and when I went in for breakfast, he came in too. He took a long nap, but when I came in around 1:30 after checking on the chickens and goats, he was lying on the kitchen floor, breathing with great difficulty. I called his dad to let him know what was up, and then made an appointment with the vet.

We had several hours before his appointment, and I spent it with him, talking to him, using all the words he knows, and telling him how much we loved him.

Dr. C said his lungs were filling with fluid and that we did the right thing to bring him in. He would have suffered terribly as his breathing got worse. We were able to ease that suffering, by helping him to the place of no suffering.

Rascal was a trooper. When he was diagnosed with Feline Lymphona in February 2008, we were told that he could probably live another 5 to 6 months with chemotherapy. His remission lasted for 2 years. At that time Dr. C gave him only another month or two, but he survived another 5 months, doing the things he liked to do, and living life as he always had.

Thank you to everyone who's cared about Rascal, visited his blog, left encouraging comments, and indeed, has been a part of his world. I don't need to tell you how much he will be missed.

Good Days Bad Days

Rascal's mom here. We haven't thought about cat blogging much, but I wanted to give you all an update on Rascal. Here's still with us, having his good days and his bad ones.

On the good days he wants to go out and make his rounds. He knows where the mice and chipmunks hang out, so he can usually be found there.

He knows where the safe and comfy catnap spots are.

And he's ever faithful to accompany me when I go out to the garden, and keep me company while I do various gardening chores.



On bad days he doesn't want to go out, doesn't want to eat, doesn't want to be bothered. On days like that we debate whether or not to take him to see Dr. C. We know that in all likelihood, if we take him, he probably won't come home again. It's hard to be brave enough to face that. His annual check-up is in August and hopefully he can make it for that.

Sometimes we wonder how he keeps going. He's all skin and bones and pretty fussy about food. But as long as his good days outweigh his bad, we'll hang in there with him. We hope that when his time comes, he'll peacefully fall asleep and never wake up. If he does need help to cross the Rainbow Bridge, we just hope we'll know when he's ready.

They're Still Here

We still have kittens

I still don't like it

Even worse, they're growing

Mom says I should make friends
so I don't have to worry about it.

I say, I want to worry about it.

Oh. They have names now... click here for that.

Invasion

We've been invaded by the worst thing imaginable....

Kittens

They've taken over my toys.

They've taken over my food.

They've taken over my tuna juice.

They've taken over Mom's lap.

They're in to everything.

The only time they're tolerable is when they're asleep.

I'm grumpy.

That's An Affirmative

Yes, I think this is Burger Kat,

and yes, I think I can have it my way.

That'll Teach Ya, Mom

Every Cat has his or her routine and it's up to the humans to respect it. After all, they're the ones with the hands. My routine starts no later than 5:15 AM. I go tell Mom and Dad I want to go out and it's their job to get out of bed and let Me out. Dad does it when he's home, but if he's on the road, it's up to Mom to do it.

At 5:15 this morning I walked into the bedroom and announced to Mom that it was time. She got up dutifully and went to the back door, but I was hungry. I wanted to eat first. I wanted some treats first. I wanted some rubs and scritches first. Then I wanted to go outside. Even a Cat with a routine is allowed to vary it as he pleases, right? Of course right. She gave me the food, but was rather rude about the treats, rubs and scritches. She said it was 5:15 in the morning (So?), and a Sunday morning at that (Double so?), and she was going back to bed! And she did.

We weren't done yet and I told her about it.
She was stubborn.
I complained.
She told Me to Be Quite.
I got louder.
She pulled the covers over her head.
I put it into high gear. After all, I'm not called Demando for nothing.
She threw a pillow at Me.

At that point I left the room and went off to sulk about it, as loudly as I could. That's when I noticed this...

It's the window Mom forgot to close last night. Even better, for some reason the screen was up too, leaving the window completely open and clear. Guess what. I jumped out.

Around 7 AM I could hear Mom getting up. I heard her make her way into the kitchen and turn on the coffee pot. I knew she was puzzled that I didn't present myself immediately. I heard her call my name. Silence. She called again. She started going from room to room calling "Rascal!" Of course I didn't answer and of course she couldn't find Me.

I could almost hear the wheels in her head turning. I could also hear worry in her voice. She probably thought I'd finally succumbed to my Feline Lymphoma and had curled up somewhere to leave my body behind while I crossed the Rainbow Bridge. She was thinking that the 5:15 scenario had been my way of saying good-bye. I knew this would make her feel guilty.

I heard her go into the bedroom to get dressed. I knew she was trying not to panic and would go let the chickens out while she collected herself. I timed it perfectly. As she came out the back door, I nonchalantly walked past the back porch and meowed, "Good Morning." You should have seen the look on her face!

Of course Mom's not dumb and she quickly found the open window and figured it out. If she's mad, she should suck it up and take it like a Cat. To make it up to her I'll spend the rest of the day testing out the new area rug she got for under the dining room table.

It's pretty comfy, actually. Happy Mother's Day.

Did I Mention They Are Boring?

For some reason, Mom really likes her chickens.
Of course I am obligated to accompany her
when she does her chicken chores.

Personally however, I find them boring.

If you're interested in boring old chickens,
you can see Mom's latest chicken pix at her homestead blog.
Click here, but don't say I didn't warn you. Bor-ing.

Me, I'd rather be hunting.

I've Been Busy

There's mouses and 'munks to keep an eye on and catch.

Mom's Note: Rascal seems to be doing pretty well on the prednisolone. Some days he's himself, demanding and fussy as ever. Other days he doesn't seem to feel all that well. Some days he'll eat well and put on a few ounces. Other days he's not that interested in eating. About a month ago, Dr. C gave him one to two months. On the days he's doing well it seems like he'll live forever. Other days we worry and pamper. He loves going outside and has been catching shrews, chipmunks, and today a squirrel. We just try to treasure every moment with him, and hope he will prove Dr. C. wrong.

Rascal's Mom

Mom's Up To Something

I don't like it when Mom gets boxes out. Boxes may be fun for Cats to play in, but boxes also mean packing and moving, and I hate moving.

Mom is taking stuff out of these boxes, so it must be okay.

Still, I need to figure out what she's up to. Any ideas?