Farewell to my Bella Cutie

Two days ago I noticed a cooler temperature of her ears for my smallest cat Bella Cutie; I had adopted her August 20th, a day short of 4 weeks ago. Yesterday, I noticed she would not eat the Pounce special treats that I had been using to successfully on the road to socialize her. Also different, she did not turn on her motor when I rubbed her ears for the last two days. The two other cats, Ciders Catcher and Nibbles Foxy, started smelling her in ways they had not done before, behind her ears and under her tail.

This morning when I woke up Bella Cutie looked like she was pregnant and walked rather funny with her large extended belly. The cattle farmer in me knew something was wrong. I called the Human Society Vet at 10am and set up a 10:40am appointment. Bella Cutie was ready for me to pick her up (without running to a corner to hide) the look in her eyes told me something was wrong, it was a “help me I don’t know what’s going on” look. She rode quietly to the vet, never a meow and only when we got there — did she turn her motor on full blast, she knew something at that point that I did not. Her motor said thank you for trying, for I had selected her for adoption to attempt to socialize her from her rock hard as steel muscles reacting in fear from somebody holding her — to at last her quiet surrender to her fate.

Bella Cutie had a short life, 7 weeks old; when they came back in to the exam room — she was given the 100% fatal diagnosis “Feline Infectious Peritonitis” from the Doctor, not what I was prepared to hear, I have lost it for the last few hours mourning the passing of a good pet that had captured my heart and that had only wanted a chance at a good life. I gave her all I could, but it wasn’t enough. The green fluid pulled from her belly cavity gave me the necessary evidence and the heart to let her go, the protein loaded liquid meant her organs were all going down, as much as I wanted to hold on to her for one more day, I knew she had already accepted her fate earlier that morning when for the first time she laid patiently waiting for me to take her out of her misery. Well, Bella Cutie it was nice to know you — and you did come around to being socialized at last.

Good bye to my friend, Bella Cutie.

Your Friend, John

Thanks to all the staff at the Chesterfield Humane Society for all the thoughtful measures taken to see to the final care of Bella Cutie.