What a beautiful companion Boots has been for you @EASTBAYCA and it’s so very hard when they are no longer with us. I know the feelings you are going through as I had a similar experience with my 18 year old cat, Smudge. She had both kidney and thyroid heath issues for several years but had been keeping in fairly good health to the point where I went on a 2 week holiday to a remote location with little to no communication which my sitters knew. It was only on returning late at night to the airport that I received a voice message from them saying they had had to take Smudge to the vet that day as she had gone down rapidly. The vet would be waiting for my call. I was so upset as she had been my loving companion since she was 6 weeks old. The vet was wonderful and said Smudge was comfortable and would be there for me the next morning. I was so shocked to see how she had deteriorated so fast within a day as a friend had fed her then, after I had agreed my sitters could spend overnight with their son in Melbourne. Her systems had just shut down and it was time. I was so very fortunate to be able to spend time with her and hold her as she was put to sleep but so utterly heartbroken.
The sitters were so upset too as this was only their second sit. I felt for them and made sure my review reflected how thankful I was that they had cared for her with love and had followed my instructions with taking her to the vet. I had already shown them where the vet was located and my instructions re end of life were on record at my vet’s and my account would be charged.
Cherish the memories of Boots and your other two beautiful cats, @EASTBAYCA and appreciate your sitters for looking after her so you could enjoy your holiday like I did.