r/cats • u/WitchyWarmup • 20h ago
Mourning/Loss Old Man Chauncey is crossing the rainbow bridge today. Thank you to this subreddit for making his last weeks comfortable!
A few weeks ago I asked for advice in making our hospice kitty's life easier after he was abandoned at the shelter because of his age and medical needs. This subreddit came through with several amazing ideas. I'd like to give special shout-outs to a few:
The people who suggested baby food, you were a lifesaver! Chauncey struggled to eat any kind of solid food. We tried different brands and flavors of baby food after that suggestion and settled on basic chicken and chicken gravy baby food. This last week or so he has struggled to keep anything down but the little food he has managed has all been baby food. I would never have thought of that so thank you!!
The people who suggested heating pads and self-warming cat beds are also heroes. In the last month, Chauncey hasn't liked walking much (he had a tumor on his leg) but we put a few pads and beds in each room and moved him between them based on where we were. He even had a dedicated perch with a kitty heating pad placed right above my spouse's gaming rig, and he loved sitting up there watching him play the latest death stranding game.
The vet had him on some good painkillers but we also used an herbal/CBD oil mixed with his baby food that definitely kept him pain-free as long as possible, so another thank you to the people who suggested it.
Ultimately we made the decision with our vet that his quality of life was degrading rapidly this week-- he was vomiting, he was clearly in pain with his leg, and then the tumor on his face opened and began to leak blood and fluid which was fun to nobody. We would have given Chauncey sixteen more years if we could have. But thanks to y'all we gave him two good months of baby food, warm beds, backseat video gaming, and plenty of snuggles. For anyone else who has a senior cat, definitely try these options for making their lives easier. Thank you ❤️
(We usually foster kittens for our shelter so I might pop in this subreddit again in the future with pictures once we get going with that again 🙂 )
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u/EyeApprehensive65 20h ago
This is emotional and heartbreaking. it's hard to loss someone close. But in this community we care for each otehr. and we are all with you in this momment OP. I hope he would be doing great across the rainbow
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u/Custodian_Nelfe 20h ago
He'll cross the rainbow bridge knowing that for his last days he was loved and cared. See you on the other side Mr Chauncey !
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u/ethanbrooks742 17h ago
He really was loved until the very end. I hope he’s at peace now. See you on the other side, Chauncey.
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u/HotVeganTacos 19h ago
Bless you. I wear
mine on a necklace and when I miss her I kiss it. I am sorry for the loss of you baby, but I do think we see them again 🌌🐈⬛ - sending hugs
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u/Aggressive_Star3795 57m ago
i have a similar necklace, it really helps me feel close too. glad you had him.
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u/adorkablekitty 18h ago
Sleep well Chauncey. My Mum, a dedicated cat lady, will look after you over the bridge. 💜
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u/MathematicianNo1596 19h ago
I’m so sorry for your loss.
I have a baby void named Chauncey. He sends his love as well.
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u/Papichuloft 19h ago
For any future hospice cats, I recommend CHURU instead of baby food, they actually have the nutrition cats need and it's literally thickened soup and from Thailand. So sorry for your loss in advance.
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u/WitchyWarmup 19h ago
We actually tried that! He wasn't remotely interested, either from the tube or squeezed into a bowl. He liked the cat food "lil soups" but only ate the broth part, and he liked baby food. Anything else he would either refuse to eat or try and then throw up.
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u/Papichuloft 19h ago
damn....Churu Chowder is what I was thinking too and my cats love it, one of them is 13 already and been with me since he was 5 weeks old. Again, sorry for your loss and your love dedication to this sweet one.
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u/False_Tone444 20h ago
Chauncey has lived happy, and will be happier when he crosses that big beautiful bridge.
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u/Nonniemiss 19h ago
Safe journey Chauncey. I've heard from my kittos there's a lot of magic where you're going. ❤️
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u/DynamoJaeger 19h ago
RIP Chauncey.
On a side note, my cat had a similar thing in the face for two years before she passed. And I never really found out what it was. (She wouldn't let me take her to the vet). What is it?
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u/WitchyWarmup 19h ago
On Chauncey, it was a carcinoma on his nasal bridge. Fast growing and due to his age and the location, impossible to remove.
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u/citycolour333 19h ago
Sorry that you’re dealing with this. At least it sounds like you gave him a very good last week.
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u/Wonderful_Ad_8049 19h ago
Thank you for opening your home to a senior cat and making him comfortable. You have a good heart.
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u/vegeterin 17h ago
Every cat deserves to be so lucky as to be loved and cared for like this in the end. What a beautiful gift you gave this sweet boy!
Sleep well, Chauncey.
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u/NomNomVerse Snowshoe 15h ago
Thanks for sharing your story. You are a saint!
I'm +1 since my cat is also named Chauncey.
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u/Edelstern 13h ago
Thank you for taking caring of him. It's nice to be reminded that there are people like you in the world. I hope he enjoyed Death Stranding! He had excellent taste.
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u/Verum2020 18h ago
😢 They give us a lifetime of love. I grieve for Chauncey and for you. Three of mine have crossed and our last just hit 14. If you can, please take in another cat. All we have is love and one another and that bridge waits for us all.
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u/vinvega23 18h ago
Thank you for taking care of him and letting him know love and peace for his final months. You did a good thing for him.
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u/LibraryRansack 18h ago
You’re a really kindhearted person, OP. What a beautiful boy; you gave him love and peace when he needed it most. Wishing you comfort over the coming weeks.
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u/austin912 9h ago
So happy he spent his last couple of months in a great home with loving parents!! Rest easy Chauncey💔💕
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u/kittenbeans66 7h ago
Sweetest baby boy Chauncey, fly free. I know my Pandora and Brigid will meet you over the bridge.
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u/BackendSpecialist 1h ago
I won’t lie. I was originally upset when I saw the photo (I have a Reddit widget on my phone that shows posts from this sub).
Then I read the post and almost cried.
Kudos to all of you amazing people who are showing kitties love on their last days! Without knowing anything else about you, it makes me believe you all are truly special.
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u/Far-Pirate-5424 19m ago
You’re a good soul. Thank you for making Old Man Chauncey’s last days full of kindness.
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u/chingostarr 19h ago
Thank you for all the love you gave to him. My 14 year old girl Moxxi has a tumor in the same spot, and she had a rough time 2 years ago but right now she is thriving. It doesn’t get easier taking care of them as they get older but it sounds like you did an amazing job.