Gabrielle

In 2005, management of us was taken over by two Korat cats. Although they were half-sisters, they were very different in temperament. Tiki was always the assertive one; very conversational and wishing to be involved in everything that we did. Gabrielle was more reserved, and would disappear as soon as anyone arrived at the door or if there was an unexpected noise. This was one of my favourite photos of her; slightly bewildered and on the verge of panic; which is how she spent much of her time.

Along with being shy, she was the sweetest cat. Touch her and she would purr. Cuddle her and she would purr louder. Put her on your lap and she would stay there and purr continuously; (unless there was a sudden noise in which case she would disappear). She was extremely loving and sweet.

Last August she started to cough, badly. We took her to the vet who prescribed some pills and she got better. For a while, and then she started coughing again. She had two more courses of pills with the same results. She had various checks and it was decided she had allergies that had caused her trachea to partially collapse and there was no cure. Her weight and health continued to degrade and by December she was in a bad way. We took the difficult decision to place with the local pet hospital for some intensive treatment for a week; knowing that she would loathe being away from home and with other animals. Sure enough, after five days the hospital called and said she was refusing to eat and in a bad way emotionally.

We brought her home and she was a mess. Her weight was around 2 kilos (her sister was over 5 kilos), and she was severely traumatised. For three days she would not eat and when cats don’t eat for so long, kidney failure follows. Then on the fourth day she licked some food from my fingers. She continued eating like this for several weeks, licking my fingers several times a day. Then she stopped doing that, and we reverted to liquidised food in a syringe administered by she who must be obeyed who is good at these things. It was a messy business, but it kept her alive and although she didn’t do much but sleep; she was not suffering.

Then a few weeks ago she started eating solid food again. Then she seemed to perk up and take more of an interest in what was going on, and the food consumption accelerated. She went from a skeletal 1.8 kilos to a still skeletal but improving 2.2 kilos. More importantly, there were signs that the old Gabrielle was coming back; she even managed a purr, albeit a quiet one.

The good progress continued, and we went away to Singapore with some confidence that she would be in our lives for some time yet. It was therefore a terrible shock to come home and discover her dead on the floor and her sister in a very confused state and in dire need of a cuddle.

Gabrielle was always considered to be “my cat”. Whenever she was in need of some love, she would come to me and we had a strong bond. After months of caring for her, I was sad to not be there to be with her when the end came.

R.I.P. my little friend.

Comments 🔗

2014-05-24 | Tic says

Sorry for the loss. Was my favorite cat also. She used to quietly crept up to get a cuddle from me. Not a scratch mark from her :) ROP Gabrielle

2014-05-24 | Chang Noiivo says

Her spirit will be with you for always.

2014-05-24 | Bob says

My condolences Spike. As you saw on FB late last year, we (my mother and I) lost both our (old) dogs, but one, Tayjor the Beagle, was “my” dog. Strange as it seems to say, you do feel the loss.

2014-05-24 | Grant says

Yes, condolences. Poor little thing, she’d never said a bad word about anyone. The more I see of people the more I love my dog…

2014-05-24 | genuinej says

Very sad news Spike. Condolences from Liz, me and our cat Oliver.