Missy was a contender for the World’s Oldest Living Cat. My 1989 photo that placed her at 26 years of age allowed me to open a file with Guinness World Records. I cared for this amazing elderly cat for nearly a year. She was a tiny tortoiseshell with green eyes, mottled orange fur layered on ebony, and a tuft of cream over her right eye. A notch in one ear showed where she had survived a fight. My brother found her as a kitten wandering the streets of Vancouver, friendly from the first. Missy brought several litters of kittens into the world before finally being spayed. Although my photo from 1989 was a bit blurry, Missy's distinctive tortoiseshell markings were in evidence. My brother remembered finding her that year after he bought a Vancouver property where she was found. By 2015, she had already outlived some of her kittens. In human terms, she was well over 100 years of age. Missy had grown completely deaf when I took her home in November, 2014, after a visit with my vet, Dr. Chan of BC Animal Hospital. As she was a bit dehydrated, fluid was injected under the folds of loose skin at her scruff. When chronic kidney disease was confirmed, we continued regular fluid treatments. Increasing the flow through her weak kidneys helped to remove toxins that made her feel poorly. I learned to gently shift her bedding to avoid startling her when I found her sleeping. Although she had no hearing, Missy had good vision and was very agile. She raced after a laser light and attacked a feather toy with gusto. She marched up and down stairs with ease. She still had all of her teeth. After Dr. Chan flicked off a chunk of tartar with his finger, her breath smelled sweeter. Missy’s affectionate nature was a delight, especially as my resident cat, Kringle, preferred less touching. First I cuddled with her in a spare bedroom. If she was awake when I opened the door with her breakfast, she would gallop toward me with a resounding meow. Eventually I was able to sneak Missy into bed with me under the covers. Kringle slept at the foot of the bed, and I didn’t want him to feel ousted. I raised the blanket to block his view while Missy purred and leaned into me. After a few minutes, she jumped off the bed and turned to look back at me fixedly. I smiled and returned her gaze. Then she turned and slowly walked to her room for the night. This ritual happened every night. I felt so much love in her gaze. But the fatal disease progressed and the time came when I knew that Missy was suffering. A friend drove as I held her in my lap for the ride to the vet. My grief was raw, but I went through the pain and it doesn’t bother me the way other grief has sometimes stuck. I was also blessed with being able to help reunite a baby kitten with her mama on the same day that Missy passed, October 1, 2015. I talked about that amazing experience in Lucky’s Story. Have you had senior pets that were special to you? - Irene Plett Topics: Geriatric animals, senior cats, Missy, Kringle, Chronic Kidney Disease, Guinness World Records, World's Oldest Living Cat
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