Beloved Shelly-Belle
Died on Feb. 7, 2018
We cared for dear Shelly for twelve years. She was one of the 60+ at the Villa Alvarado apartments in San Pablo by Wildcat Creek. I started trapping and neutering there, daunted at first, but, one cat at a time (or two) till they were all neutered. Shelly was always shy...came to like us, but only at a distance. Don't know how old she was when we met her. About six months ago she was drooling...trapped her and got her dental work done. She went back, but soon started looking poorly again, and I brought her home. She stayed in a cage for a week or so, next to Mita, who had been brought home due to an eye problem (much better now, thanks). Those were the last two on the inside of the complex gates. (three outside along the creek) When she ventured out of her cage in the living room, she stayed under the coffee table or behind the chair. She had enjoyed being petted in cage (no choice) but outside, no thanks. She did go out onto the deck, however...and didn't leave...
It was hard to monitor her eating. I"d leave the food behind the chair, for instance, and couldn't always tell who ate it. But in January, it was clear that she was not eating. She was lethargic, too. I thought she might be pining for home, and had Teresa Wagner chat with her. No, she missed knowing the territory as well as she knew her former home, but loved feeling safe for the first time ever. She got weak enough for me to pick her up and give her fluids...she was extremely dehydrated. So off to see Dr. Han. Her blood work showed virtually NO white blood cells...they determined that she most likely had a cancer of the bone marrow ( neg. for feline leukemia) and she failed to respond to treatment. On the second day, I brought her home. Back into her cage, lots of love, and a peaceful death that evening. We loved her; we love her!
We cared for dear Shelly for twelve years. She was one of the 60+ at the Villa Alvarado apartments in San Pablo by Wildcat Creek. I started trapping and neutering there, daunted at first, but, one cat at a time (or two) till they were all neutered. Shelly was always shy...came to like us, but only at a distance. Don't know how old she was when we met her. About six months ago she was drooling...trapped her and got her dental work done. She went back, but soon started looking poorly again, and I brought her home. She stayed in a cage for a week or so, next to Mita, who had been brought home due to an eye problem (much better now, thanks). Those were the last two on the inside of the complex gates. (three outside along the creek) When she ventured out of her cage in the living room, she stayed under the coffee table or behind the chair. She had enjoyed being petted in cage (no choice) but outside, no thanks. She did go out onto the deck, however...and didn't leave...
It was hard to monitor her eating. I"d leave the food behind the chair, for instance, and couldn't always tell who ate it. But in January, it was clear that she was not eating. She was lethargic, too. I thought she might be pining for home, and had Teresa Wagner chat with her. No, she missed knowing the territory as well as she knew her former home, but loved feeling safe for the first time ever. She got weak enough for me to pick her up and give her fluids...she was extremely dehydrated. So off to see Dr. Han. Her blood work showed virtually NO white blood cells...they determined that she most likely had a cancer of the bone marrow ( neg. for feline leukemia) and she failed to respond to treatment. On the second day, I brought her home. Back into her cage, lots of love, and a peaceful death that evening. We loved her; we love her!