Lola The Rescued Cat: June, 2010 - January 16, 2024

Hello, friends. I wasn't quite sure how to start this post since Lola always says, with her exuberant spirit, "Hello, and Happy Purrsday!" Unfortunately, it is with a very heavy heart that I have to tell you that Lola's exuberant spirit has left her body and she has earned her angel wings. 

If you are a regular reader of our blog, you know that Lola was on a health roller coaster. I basically stopped blogging about it because it was so up and down. 

To make a long story as short as possible, she recently contracted a URI that she just couldn't shake. She was also nauseous, and not being able to smell her food didn't help either. She became inappetent and started losing weight. She was started on Mirataz, which did help briefly. 

The nausea and inappetence continued, so I took her to the ER this past Sunday. In my conversation with the vet I told her that I was not in denial and that I knew she was very ill. The vet was confident that she was bright, alert, and had energy (which I agreed with), and our intervention should be focused on addressing the nausea, and inappetence, and getting her eating again. After a host of blood tests and x-rays, Lola got fluids, Cerenia, and was sent home with a stronger appetite stimulant. 

I took these photos of her at the ER. Ever curious, always making friends. I could see the spark and light still lived in her eyes. 

A woman came up to the door to talk to her a few times. Lola must have known this woman needed some healing. That's Lola. 

I was able to capture the photos as live photos on my phone and made this little video of her little meow. She must have been saying, "OK, Mommy. Let's go home now and see Lexy." It's the last video of her little meow I'll ever get to take. 

She started eating, which I posted on Instagram and Facebook. And eating with a good appetite! Everyone was very pleased, but no one was more ecstatic than me. Things were looking good. 

And then they weren't. On Monday evening I noticed she looked uncomfortable and had some difficulty walking - but this was something I had seen before. I gave her some Gabapentin to make her comfortable. Unfortunately, it was not resolving, only getting a little worse. 

Tuesday was her Gotcha Day. I couldn't get a blog post together, but I posted on Social Media. I swear Lola stayed around to celebrate 13 glorious years with Lexy, me, and her social media family because after those posts went up, she started to crash. And quickly. When she fell off of the heater that she loves so much a few times, and had to stop and rest when she made her way down our hallway, I knew it was time. I could see the spark in her eyes and the light in her soul slowly starting to fade. She told me it was enough, and I honored that. 

I called a vet to come to the house. The original time was scheduled for 6:30pm. Lola was getting worse. I was worried about her comfort, as well as worrying that she wouldn't make it until the vet came. I got a message that there was a cancellation and did I want the vet to come at 5:00pm? "Yes, please" was my response. 

Lola and I spent our last hours together on the bed. Sometimes she was underneath the covers as she so often loved to be, and towards the end of our time, she laid on top of me. 

The last photo I will ever take of my beloved Lola.

The brightness in her beautiful golden green eyes was gone. I got another message that the vet had hit traffic and her ETA was now 5:30/5:45. Towards the end Lola started getting bad, not even wanting me to hold her. She wandered around and sat on the floor here and there. I just laid down on the floor next to her. I frantically contacted the vet, who I was told was in traffic. At 5:37pm she called me from outside. She didn't know where to park so I told her to park in front of my garage (which is not allowed but I didn't care) and come up. My garage number is 22, which she was already in front of. 

I didn't prolong the process because Lola was ready. I had already said everything I had to say, and we had every conversation we needed to. I brought her to Lexy earlier so she could say goodbye. Making her linger would have been selfish. (Lexy chose not to come into the bedroom, and I respected that.)

Her passing was peaceful, and I could tell she was at rest. As she passed, lying on our bed that she loved sharing with me so much, I felt this tremendous feeling of peace. I know that was her last gift to me. 

By 6:21 I was texting people letting them know she was gone. That's how quick it was. It's okay because as I said, we did our goodbyes. We were at the point where she was finished with her life on this earthly plane and I couldn't watch her suffer one more second. 

I am so going to miss this routine at mealtimes. 

Although I hadn't seen this in a while because of her illness. I never posted it because the floor is dirty. Now I realize, who really cares? I now wish I had videos of their mealtime escapades. I may not have it on film, but it is carved in my memory forever. 

I want to picture Lola at the bridge on a bottomless pile of squishy pillows, 

and basking in never-ending sunbeams. 

As pet parents mourning the loss of our beloved furry companions, there is often some guilt hidden beneath the grief. One thing that is not present for me is doubt. I listened to Lola every step of the way. I helped her fight as long as she told me she wanted me to, and when she said enough, I listened to that as well. There is no doubt about her medical interventions, or that it was her time. 

Lola, my beloved, words cannot convey how much I love you and how much I miss you. Godspeed, and be happy and free. Please say hello to all of our family, both two-legged and four. I know your wings are absolutely glorious because you wouldn't accept it any other way. Thank you for staying so we could celebrate our anniversary together. 

I put this post together quickly because I know people would want to know. I will have a proper remembrance post as soon as I can get my thoughts together. And we did not do a proper Gotcha Day post with our usual fundraiser. That will come as well. 

How "Lola" was it that she came home forever on January 16, and left Lexy and me forever on January 16. It's very "Lola"! Her gotcha day will forever be celebrated by doing what we have loved most - raising money to help rescues. 

Many, many thanks to Ann of Zoolatry for the graphic, and everyone else at the Cat Blogosphere as well. I never wanted to be the cat mom who received one of these, but I guess it's inevitable at some point. 

And many thanks to our dear friend, Coryelle, who has helped us so much over the years, and my good friend Desiree who I've been friends with for over 20 years. They both gave me insight and sent Lola a bottomless amount of healing. 

I want to extend my appreciation to my vet, Dr. Clough, of Feline Veterinary Medical Center. Dr. Clough was always available for us and patiently answered my many questions and requests for medication increases, and fit us in for emergency office visits. She respected how well I knew Lola and when I knew something wasn't right, even though test results showed nothing. Her support and caring are so appreciated, and I'm glad Lexy will continue to see her. 

I also need to thank Dr. Wilson of Integrative Mobile Veterinary Care. Dr. Wilson came to the house to give Lola acupuncture and alternative care. She saw her anywhere from weekly to every three weeks, which means she saw her decline. She was a source of medical and emotional support for both of us. She was available at the very end when I had to cancel Lola's appointment and let her know it was Lola's time, even when I questioned it. Her care for Lola and support at that time was invaluable to me.  

The lion's share of my thanks goes to Leslie Kaufman. In December 2010, Leslie went to Animal Care and Control with a friend who was adopting a cat who was in the sick ward. As she walked around, she came upon Lola sitting in her cage, face caked with dried mucus and food. As Lola did with everyone she met she touched Leslie's soul, and Leslie couldn't rest until she was allowed to pull her from the shelter. There was definitely divine intervention involved there because Leslie was told Lola could not leave until she finished her course of antibiotics. There was no way she was going to make it that long. Once Leslie got her, she immediately took Lola, who was in bad shape, to her vet. She posted Lola's photo on Facebook, and I accidentally came across it. I didn't know Leslie, and I didn't know of her cat sitting business. It was purely by chance. I inquired about Lola and went to visit her. It took her about 30 seconds to wrap me around her little white paw and for me to say I wanted to adopt her. I gave Leslie all of my info and prayed she would give this beautiful little being to a complete stranger. It would be another week before Lola was well enough to come home, but she finally did. Leslie, you saved her life and allowed me to give her a life. Without you, Lexy and I would not have had the honor of having her as our family member. Thank you, my friend.

And of course, thank you to all of our followers who loved her. I have received comments on Instagram, text messages, and messages on Facebook. I have tried to answer them all. If I haven't, please know they all bring me comfort. And it brings me comfort to know Lola touched so many lives and hearts. 

Lola and Lexy are two of the original cats of a close knit cat community on Facebook. So many of our cat friends have gone before her. I will not say her passing is the end of an era because "Lola The Rescued Cat" will continue in her memory. When? I don't know. In what way? I'm not sure. But she was my original muse and the driving force behind most of what we did. Lexy continues to be my muse as well, just in a different way. Our work will continue as soon as I can find my voice again.

Until we meet again, my beautiful little Tabby. Mommy loves you so very much. I hope you know how very special you were and still are. Your energy and bright spirit will continue to live on in my heart, in Lexy's heart, and in the hearts of the many people you touched.

If you would like to honor Lola, please make a donation in her name to your local rescue. I know that would make her day at the rainbow bridge. 

Dawn

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