Simon-Chester

Sweet Loving Boy
Simon-Chester
Passed Monday 4/6/09

This is Simon-Chester, a very sweet & loving male cat who came to hang out with us back after Halloween last year.

As often as I tried, every time I would get ready to take Simon-Chester to the vet to get altered, chipped, & to have is breathing checked, he somehow knew and would take off for days, sometimes weeks. Therein lies the problem, because he didn't want to lose his "maleness", he also could not maintain his immune system and this led to his demise.

It seems as though, when a male cat is allowed to run the neighborhood, unaltered, making babies and fighting with other cats, his immune system will lose strength, thus making him susceptible to illness. Simon-Chester developed an infection which allowed water to build up in his lungs.

Last Friday, Simon-Chester stopped eating and would just sit & stare into space, or lay in the ferns under the stairs. I sat with him all weekend talking to him, petting him, running energy. Meanwhile I told him come Monday morning, like it or not he was going to the vet, even if it meant going to sleep. Instead of running away as was his m.o., Sunday evening he came upstairs and was sitting on the porch, so I let him in. He went back to the bedroom (which caused a fuss with Bud & Zeinab) so I got him comfortable in the bathroom and sat up with him most of the night.

This is why I don't usually take my animals to the vet, but use natural remedies & allow them to pass at home.........

In the morning I took him to the vet, who thought he might be able to help him...had I but known. The vet tech was cold & efficient, not at all compassionate. She grabbed Simon-Chester & took him in for his x-ray (which showed his chest filled with fluid) and when she brought him back to me she Shoved him into his carrier. He became distressed and tried to turn around, as I was trying to help & comfort him, the Ice Tech grabbed him and I told her, quite clearly; "Take it easy", but she ignored me. She grabbed that sweet Simon-Chester and turned him, as she did, he became so much more distressed he stopped breathing. I was wrecked, and then she said "He's not breathing" and grabbed him out of his cage and took him away from me...so he didn't get to pass with me there loving him...just in the arms of a cold, efficient, Ice Tech.

To make matters worse, the vet charged me $110 for; the x-ray, an IV (which he didn't have), and an office visit. Then had the audacity to tell me; "I'm giving you a break, I'm not going to charge you for the euthanasia or body disposal fee". Now I know for a fact, that Simon-Chester was Not euthanized...I was there, I saw him stop breathing.

So for all you who think it's cool to have a full-on unaltered, Tom About-Town cat, you better think again....because had Simon-Chester allowed himself to be altered & chipped, he'd still be here today.

Sweet Simon-Chester, I love you & will miss you.