Grammar corrected script from a Social Media Vlog posted on my personal Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube in January of 2025.
Arrow was one of our two cats. He was an orange creamsicle baby. He had a blocked urethra and wound up in kidney failure. He passed away at an emergency Vet office a week after he first got sick. He was only 5 years old. He died 12/7/2024.
Hi all. It has been 4 weeks today since we lost our Arrow and it’s just been really painful. We’re all still mourning him. He was Moonbaby’s true sibling. They were littermates. So, I know she misses him, they were together their whole lives. I just keep thinking about how young he was and how unnecessary his death was and all the mistakes I made that final week, and actually even before that final week. And I’m sorry if I cry. I’m gonna cry. I’ve been crying. I screamed in the car when I was alone. Because I knew I wouldn’t scare her or anybody else. And we will talk about grief in another video, but today I want to talk about the mistakes I made and share the tragic wisdom I’ve learned in the hopes that I can help somebody else avoid losing their baby.
The first mistake actually happened before he even got sick. We missed his yearly checkup. I broke my leg this past summer, and he got backburnered. And I really regret that now, because maybe they would have done a test, maybe they would have seen signs. Maybe they would have said “Hey, Ginger cats, especially boys, tend to do this so here’s some signs.” We would have been forewarned. Preventative care is really important. Because if we’d had that conversation, I would have known what to look for. Maybe I would have gotten him care soon because he was presenting odd behavior Monday night (12/2/2024). And then Tuesday morning was when he woke me up at 3:30 in the morning, whimpering in the litter box. But Monday, he was showing signs of distress, and I should have heeded that. So preventative care, if they’re acting strangely, get them help.
During the preventative care, talk to your vet, especially if they have a condition, about what you can do for them. Ask the vet if your baby’s breed is prone to any illnesses or if your baby may develop an ailment due to their unique makeup. MAKE a plan, because a crisis is GOING to happen. It’s not if, it’s when. And when it happens, it helps to be prepared. So, talk to your vet about different care strategies. This includes:
· * Things you can do to mitigate a condition if something’s presenting.
*Where you can take them if there’s a crisis after hours, if your vet’s not a 24-hour vet.
· * Once you figure out where you can take them, you have to know how you’re going to pay for their care.
If your regular vet does not operate 24 hours a day, ask them who they recommend for emergency care. We live in a major metropolitan area with a vet school close by, so we have several options. I initially picked the closest geographical location, but that was not the best economical location. If you have options, research their rates, their location, and their online rating. The location I chose was a good vet, but they were in a new building, which means their rates included paying off the real estate. An older, established location may not charge as much because the practice is not trying to pay down debt. Distance, not money, may be a factor for you. Pick the location that is best for YOUR situation.
Most vets are going to take major credit cards or debit cards. They may take cash and check. You’d have to talk to your chosen vet about that, preferably before an emergency. But if you don’t have savings built up or room on your credit card, there are lines of credit you can get. There are several. Your chosen vet can probably recommend a service. Pick the one that is best for your family situation. I was afraid to apply for one the first night Arrow was sick. And it’s really difficult to make financial decisions when you’re in emotional distress and exhausted at 5:00 in the morning. It’s better to do it at 4:00 in the afternoon on a Saturday when there’s not a crisis. Or whenever you make your plan for your baby.
There are so many things I wish I could go back and redo for Arrow. And I hope it doesn’t happen to you. Because this hurts. He should still be here with us. This baby (Moon) should not be laying here alone. She should be playing with him.
Good luck, Pet Pals.
To sum this up:
1. 1. Preventative care – yearly checkups, ask the vet if your baby’s breed has common issues.
2. 2. Make a plan – where to go and how to pay.
3. 3. If your pet has a condition or is prone to develop a condition, know the signs.
4. 4. Respond to odd behavior immediately.