Ziggy, my perfect baby
Ziggy passed away about 3 weeks ago and I am still so heartbroken.
Ziggy was my perfect little orange tabby, he was 7 years old and literally my shadow... My best friend and comfort.
In late January he had a urinary blockage, and we rushed him to the emergency vet. He was sent home the next morning where we took him to his normal vet, who supplied us with a plan and medications. He blocked again a few days later and was rushed back to the vet with trips between the emergency vet and regular vet over the course of a few days where we were told he had FIC.
When he was properly back home, my partner and I worked hard to make his environment as peaceful and stress free as possible. His FIC was manageable with only 1 flare up.
On a random Tuesday in May, he started showing straining when trying to pee. We did everything we could that morning to make him comfortable and administering emergency medications, my partner kept an eye on him when I headed to work.
I called the vets as soon as they opened and got Ziggy an emergency appointment, went back home and loaded him into his carrier. I was calm, thinking we were overreacting and this was just going to be a routine appointment.
When the vet saw him, she confirmed he was fully blocked again. This would be the third blockage. It was hard to hear, the tears started flowing. Despite the pain my boy was in, he was rolling around and being very cute and giving the vet head bumps whilst she told me we could try unblocking him again (it's an invasive procedure coupled with heavy medication and due to being diagnosed with FIC, he could block again from it all) or we would have to look at euthanasia.
I paused for a moment, looked at my boy. His eyes told me everything. He couldn't do it all again, he was struggling. I had to make the hardest decision. I didn't want to lose my best friend but I didn't want him to suffer anymore.
My partner and I were with him through it all, until his last breath and for a long time after. It was hard, I immediately felt guilty. I wanted him back, but I knew it was for the best.
I'm still struggling through it all, missing that weight in the bed. Missing his crusty meows and how he would jump on my full force every morning when he wanted breakfast.
It was the kindest thing to do for him, I just feel it was so unfair. I don't know if I'll ever recover from his loss, he was my baby and my love for him is immeasurable.