Goodbye to Maple

Remembering Maple, created by Nicole

I just received the news from my friend Carolyn that Maple lost her battle with, most likely, lymphoma.

Maple was a dilute tortie, rescued as a kitten by Carolyn’s daughter Nicole. We will miss our sweet, gentle cousin-kitty, but her image will live on in the many products she modeled for Carolyn’s website and the many photos of her I used in designing ads and brochures for Carolyn’s company, My Three Cats & Co., Inc. Though she was quiet she was very playful and silly, and I loved her very roundness, not fat, but thick plushy gray and peach fur and a rather blunt nose and rounded whisker pads. And she was always very quietly happy.

Nicole designed the lovely tribute, above.

Near the end of Maple’s life, Carolyn contacted a hospice veterinarian to visit Maple at home and make further recommendations for care beyond what Carolyn’s regular veterinarian had offered. I have never used one, but know a veterinarian who offers this service, Dr. Nancy Ruffing of Gentle Journey Veterinary Hospice, and suggested that she call Dr. Ruffing to help with Maple’s care and to be available in the case that Carolyn would need to choose euthanasia. And because Dr. Ruffing deals almost exclusively with end-of-life issues, she may have more pertinent suggestions for Maple’s care and comfort, which she did.

When your cat, or other pet, is struggling with a chronic illness or simply nearing the end of its life, consider the possibility of finding a hospice veterinarian in addition to your regular veterinarian. Managing end-of-life issues yourself, even if you are skilled, can be exhausting physically and mentally, and many veterinarians don’t offer in-home euthanasia. The hospice veterinarian, as with Maple, can help with managing day-to-day care and comfort near the end, and knowing that they can visit your home if euthanasia is necessary can be a great comfort to you to know, and much more comfortable for them when the time comes.

So we will remember our beautiful cousin Maple, and send our good thoughts to Carolyn’s household.