My Taz cat died this morning.

[Deer Slayer]

He was 17 years old, so he lived a long, healthy life (except he was fat). I played with him earlier, he was still energetic, seemed happy, and healthy. He jumped up in my lap, and laid on my shoulder, and my arm and we fell asleep watching the TV. I woke up, set him down, and went up stairs to get something to eat. He followed me up the stairs, I made a phili steak panini, and he was begging for pieces of steak like normal. Set a piece of steak down for him, and sat down at the table. My mom saw him hit the floor, his legs just went stiff, and it looked like he was having a seizure. He laid on the floor kinda twitching, and let out a soft yowl. His pupils were dialated, and he was breathing eratically. I picked him up, and he made a couple more soft yowls, and he stopped breathing. I thought he might have choked on the steak, but I checked his airway and it was clear. Tried to blow air into his nose, and it didn't do any good. Tried squeezing his chest, and he went limp. He was gone, no pulse, no breathing, no warning. His eyes were nothing but pupil, and his toung was hanging out. It took less than 2 minutes. Set him on the back of the couch, and kept trying to get him to breathe. I don't know what happened, he didn't get into anything, my mom thinks he had a stroke. Still can't get the images out of my head, got him when he was 6 weeks old and I was in middle school. I burried him under the apple tree with my other cat Velcro that died earlier this year (she was over 20), and my dog Brandy that died 2 years ago (she was 14 or 15).

On top of all that, had to pay my taxes, and that left me with less than $20 in my checking account! Not having much luck lately, the world SUX!!!!!!

This is a pic of when he came to visit me in my deer blind a couple years ago. He didn't look much different yesterday.

[Griff]

Sorry about the loss of your cat Deer Slayer, I know where you are comming from as we lost a dog that was with us for 19 years. It is like losing part of the family.

[Dread]

DS-

Good looking kitty. Sorry to hear of your loss.
Pets are special. They are part of the family.
Mrs Dread adopted a stray in the middle 80's. Little did she know that the kitty was pregnant. She decided to keep the entire litter (5).
They were an awesome little family of kitties. The last of that family passed in 2006, he was 21 years old!
Take some time and maybe you can get a new kitten somewhere down the road...

[El Wiseguy]

Tragic story... but at the same time, at least the cat lived a long life. Also, it sounds like a good life. I'm sorry to hear of your loss.

[zapionics<alt>]

Oh man, I'm so sorry that Taz passed away and unfortunately you had to witness it like that. No one should belittle your pain because our pets are often part of the family and they certainly have their own personalities, and its just as bad as losing a human family member because you will go through the same grief.

Take heart in that he lived to a ripe old age and did not suffer! and his personality lives on in your fond memories of him.

My condolences.

[FightingChance]

He was a beautiful cat, that's a good picture.

[Deer Slayer]

Thanks guys, yesterday I was kinda lost. Just didn't really seem real until I went to bed, and he didn't follow me. Kept hearing noises and looking down and expecting to see him wanting to jump on the bed. Couldn't sleep, kept looking at the pillow he usually slept on, and threw it in the corner. Don't feel like doing much, my ma is bummed out too, but he was my cat. I didn't expect him to go so soon, he looked so healthy! Found a claw shell he shed stuck in my chair, and see little hairs everywhere. I'm glad he didn't suffer like my other cat that just got too old to function. I'm also glad his last day was a good one. He went outside, played with the puppy, and seemed happy that the weather finally broke.

[PeterT]

Sorry to hear about your loss DS. I understand. He was a good lookin' cat. Nothin' but time to heal the wound.
We have 2 cats, 14 & 13 years old. They are members of the family. I know it's going to be tough when they go. Especially my 14 year old girl. She's a sweetheart, follows me all over the place. Always purring.

[guiness]

Sorry man. Taz looks to be a fine cat, Admiration set in when I viewed the picture....

In Time...... In Time........

[fischbitz]

Condolences mate, he was a fine looking animal and obviously, a much loved pet.

[Deer Slayer]

More pics of Taz. He was a BIG part of my life, he was ALWAYS a good friend. I can see him every time I look down, getting ready to spring up on my lap for attention. I've been collecting my pix, and burning them on DVD, and making backups so I can work with them later. Hard drives are too delicate to trust with stuff like this, I have pics of the other animals as well. I'm going to have all the good ones printed @ wallymart from the photo department so I have some photo quality prints of them.

Number 416 is me with Taz on my shoulder.

[zapionics<alt>]

Heh, funnel on the head pic is funny. Our pets are so patient with us.

I have a dog now and she's like a child to me in many ways (because she's a golden retriever who gets into lots of trouble).
I've always loved cats too and have lived with them in the past. Cats are very independant; its not that they live with us as our pets, its that they choose to live with us as equals and they tolerate us.

I think that pets choose their owners in some metaphysical sense, and find their way to us after that. All my past pets are still with me in my heart.

[Dread]

Great pics, DS!

He looked like a great pet! He's probably up there running around doing cat stuff with our cats that moved on to the next world.

[Ozzie]

It's tough to loose a long time buddie...
Pets sure have a way to get next to you, and make you feel better when the rest of the world seems to be crumbling under your feet. I'm sorry for your loss.

[Sir Skully]

Yeah I know the pain.. You have my condolences my friend.
Here's some stardust to help ease the pain.
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