Quinn

I’ve written more than once about the situation that confronts me now.  For years and years, Winnie’s Wish was a rescue/shelter.  I continued to take in cats and kittens that I rescued from homeless situations and gave them “shelter” until I could place them into loving homes.  Then a while back, I had to reassess.  Over the years, there were always “adoptable” kitties being rescued who could eventually move on to permanent homes.  But what was also happening, continuously, was that cats were accumulating here who were feral or semi-feral and who were not being chosen for adoption.   In addition, I had to consider my age.  Rescuing is physically hard work.   I finally made the decision to stop rescuing and transition Winnie’s Wish from rescue/shelter to sanctuary for the 30+ cats who call this place home.

At least a couple of times, I’ve written about one of the emotionally difficult parts of my new role.  I am now caretaker for over thirty cats who will live out their lives here.   I am now dedicated to seeing this large group through to the ends of their lives.   It means that I will go through the deaths of each and every one of these Wishers, in addition to the deaths of our own furry family members.   My goal is to provide the best possible life for these “semi-feral” cats, and then the easiest possible transition for them into the next life.

This past weekend I said goodbye to Winnie’s Wisher Quinn.   

 

 

Quinn was one of the Florida abandoned hotel cats.  I won’t retell the story of our vacations to Florida and how we got caught up in a feral colony at an abandoned hotel there.   But briefly, the angel Cheryl who managed that feral cat colony is the person who got Quinn (and Peter Pan and Tinkerbell) on a transport and ultimately to me.  I had room for three at that time and even though it didn’t put a dent in the colony, life for those three cats changed forever – thanks to Cheryl.  That happened in April 2013.  But VERY strangely, I had seen Quinn the previous year when we were in Florida.  Of course, I couldn’t get close to him, but I commented about how handsome he was from a distance.  Then lo and behold, he was one of the cats who showed up at my transport pick-up spot nearly a year later.

 

 

Quinn was an adult when he came to Winnie’s Wish.  And he was already an adult in the spring of 2012.  When he arrived here, we guessed him at maybe 3 or 4 years old.  So we could say that maybe he was born in 2010.  He could be a 12-year-old cat or he could be a 17-year old cat.  I’ve never known. 

Besides being VERY handsome, Quinn had a great personality.  As is true of all of the current Wisher family, Quinn had a feral start in life.  It took a while for him to warm up to new surroundings and to me.  But he attached himself to a gorgeous little calico girl (named Isis, for her eyes) and he and she have remained bonded for all of these years.  I’ve written about the two of them several times.  In addition to being attached to each other, both of these two were also really great with new cats brought in, especially young ones.   We talked about this pair as the Patriarch and Matriarch of Winnie’s Wish.

 

 

Quinn started showing signs of IBD nearly two years ago.  I tried everything the vets suggested as far as prescription medications.  I also tried everything natural I could find in my research.  He went on special dry and canned food.  There were certain things that seemed to help for a while, but the IBD always came rolling back.  Over the last year or so, Quinn lost a lot of weight.  He still had a healthy appetite and he always seemed to feel great.  This was quite a relief for me.  I knew he wasn’t consistently absorbing the nutrition he needed, but he sure seemed to feel good.  Then a couple of weeks ago, something just seemed a little off about him.  I couldn’t really put my finger on it.  I watched him for a few days thinking his IBD might finally be catching up with him.  But he still seemed happy and he was still eating well for me.  Then one evening he didn’t want his canned food.  That was very much out of character for Quinn.   Last Thursday evening, Quinn refused to eat anything at all.

Allow me a tangent here.  The biggest reason I transitioned Winnie’s Wish from rescue/shelter to sanctuary is because the 30+ cats here now are semi-feral.  They are all very attached to me, but they are terrified of new people and of new situations.  I came to the conclusion that these ones needed to be able to live out their lives here without ever having to adjust to a new home or new people.  THIS would be their home.  These are not cats you can just coax into a carrier.  One of my goals as I take each of these cats through the ends of their lives is to have them die at home if at all possible.  When they are at the end, the last thing I want for them is to force them into a carrier, put them in a car, and subject them to a half-hour drive and then into a veterinary office.  I deeply wish that each Winnie’s Wisher could die peacefully here.  Of course, that just isn’t very likely.  When Momma Monday came to the end of her life, it was because of a rapid onset kidney failure.  I couldn’t allow her to suffer until she died.  And then Rocky, who moved on in April, was suffering from something neurological.   I couldn’t allow him to suffer.

But Quinn died in one of the most peaceful ways I’ve ever experienced.  He slept almost all day on Friday.  I sat with him multiple times throughout that day.  I worried a little that he might pass in the night.  He was still alive on Saturday morning and he slept again all day.  He never seemed to be in pain.  He never struggled.  I visited him multiple times again on Saturday.  And then sometime between 6pm and 8pm, he simply slipped away.  For that – I am deeply grateful.

 

Quinn - Farewell

 

Before I close I want to thank a dear friend for sending a financial gift to Winnie's Wish in memory of his dog, Spike, whom he lost recently.

 

             

JT - THANK YOU.

 

Comments

[John Bellen]

It's very sad to say good-bye to Quinn, but he lived a wonderful life with his family, and with Isis, his best friend - and a long life, for a cat who started out feral. He was a lucky boy, in many ways. Godspeed, Quinn.

[Andrea and the Celestial Kitties]

I'm so sorry Quinn lost his battle with IBD but I'm so glad he had such a wonderful life and death with you. I know it's still hard on your heart to lose one though, so hugs and love from me and my former feral Wishers.

Friends, there are still over 30 cats in Winnie's Wish, they all need food, litter, vet care, and just the normal things like heat and air and cleaning supplies.. all that costs a lot for that many kitties. So if you can, and perhaps in Quinn's name, send a bit to help or use the Wish List to send something, please. Thank you for anything you are able to do!

[Ginny & the Fur Family]

Quinn sounds so much like my Annabelle Lea. They died the same way. What is IBD? She was a thin cat who always ate well and never vomited or quit eating until the last 3 days she was alive. And like Quinn I moved her in the bed room with me and kept her mouth watered with a dropper. She just left this world during the night. She never cried out or seemed in pain - she just slipped away. So sorry about you losing Quinn. He had a life time of love.

[Goldie Goodwin]

Oh gosh, I am sorry to hear this. He was a beauty too! I'm so happy you were able to be his permanent mom, and offer a permanent home with an abundance of love and companionship. He lived his best life with you.

[meowmeowmans]

EWe are so sorry, Chrystal. Thank you for giving a whole lifetime worth of love to Quinn while he was there with you.

[Pam Tyson]

This brought tears to my eyes. You are such a hero, my friend, as I can’t imagine going through this 30 times. My heart goes out to you.