Earlier today, we had to place Ditto, our 17 year old tabby cat, to sleep. She was preceded in death by her littermate, Sokrates, in 2004. Ditto was adopted by Juan in Tucson, Arizona in early 1992 when she was about 8 months old. Juan’s neighbor had had a cat illegally in her apartment and it had a litter of cats. Juan adopted Sokrates and Ditto, the last two cats left to adopt in that litter, and they joined him (also illegally) in his apartment so that the neighbor wouldn’t get kicked out. Ditto would travel with Juan from Arizona to Minneapolis (where she moved twice) to Saint Paul (where she moved three times) to Saint Cloud (moving twice) to Pennsylvania and back to Saint Cloud to Fargo, and finally to Moorhead. Ditto has been part of Juan’s life for the last 16 years, outliving her brother by over 4 years.
For the last year, Ditto has been suffering from a failing immune system. She had a viral cold that just never got better. She had been steadily losing weight and muscle tone. In the past few weeks, she had been having trouble controlling her bowels. She passed away, comforted by Juan, at the Fargo-Moorhead Emergency Veterinary Center, where she was euthanized.
Carolina was pretty shaken up by the death, although she was brave and she helped her father bury Ditto in the backyard (it was after nightfall here, so Dad had to dig a pretty big hole in the dark, Carolina held the light). Carolina cried going to sleep tonight. I (Juan) don’t feel so good either. For the first time in 16 years, for the first time since my first year of graduate school, I am without a cat.
Hoy, hemos tenido que dejar a Ditto, nuestro gato de 17 años, a morir. Ella fue precedida en la muerte por su hermano, Sokrates, en 2004. Ditto fue adoptado por Juan en Tucson, Arizona a principios de 1992 cuando tenía alrededor de 8 meses de edad. Un vecino de Juan tuvo un gato ilegalmente en su apartamento y había una camada de gatos. Juan adopto Sokrates y Ditto, los últimos dos gatos, y se unieron con él (también ilegalmente) en su apartamento. Ditto viajo con Juan desde Arizona a Minneapolis (donde se movío dos veces) a Saint Paul (donde se movío tres veces) a Saint Cloud (movímos dos veces) a Pennsylvania y de vuelta a Saint Cloud a Fargo, y finalmente a Moorhead. Ditto ha sido parte de la vida de Juan durante los últimos 16 años, pasando su hermano por más de 4 años.
Para el último año, Ditto ha sufrido un defecto del sistema inmunológico. Ella tenía un virus que nunca se hacía mejor. Ella había ido perdiendo peso y tono muscular. Durante las últimas semanas, había estado teniendo problemas para controlar sus intestinos. Ella falleció, confortado por Juan, en el Centro de Veterinaria Emergencia de Fargo-Moorhead, donde fue eutanasia.
Carolina fue muy triste por la muerte, aunque ella fue valiente y ella ayudó a su Aita enterrar a Ditto en el patio trasero (que fue después de la noche aquí, así que Aita tuvo que hacer un agujero bastante grande en la oscuridad, Carolina apoyó la luz). Carolina lloro a dormir esta noche. Yo (Juan) no me siento muy bien tampoco. Por primera vez en 16 años, por primera vez desde mi primer año de graduado escolar, estoy sin un gato.
#1 by Aunt Nett on December 11th, 2008
Dear Cabanela Family. I just read the sad news of Ditto’s passing. I am so thankful Kelly moved home with cats back in 2001. I learned what a comfort and joy they can be. Two years ago we lost Mischief because we didn’t see that a piece of Xmas ribbon had been eaten by him and it was too late to save him once we found out. At 8 years old we had to put him down, it was horrible. The following year our wonderful Callie girl finally succombed to feline leukemia at the age of 7. This past year we almost lost our Phoebe who now has renal failure that we will have to watch her often. Phoebe is 6 and had stopped drinking water and eating so we took her into our vet, but they didn’t catch all the problems, so Kelly who now is a vet tech at a speciality clinic in Bloomington had us bring her there. They took great care of her and she is now a frisky 6 pound cat who loves to pick on our 80 pound dog.
Yes, I have learned, but have not had a cat last as long as your Ditto, so know that I mourn your loss. Maybe Santa will bring you another kitty that is in great need of a nice loving home.
Happy Holidays and enjoy your memories of Ditto!
Affectionately,
Linette