Mr. Ponchie - The Death of a King

There was this big white cat who came to my door one day and wanted food.  He was very polite and would stand back and let all the other cats eat first.  He would not let me approach him at all, but if I stood back away from the door and allowed him freedom, he would run in very quick to eat some food. 

He learned quick that Baby was in charge, so he would go first and kiss her.  He learned quick that if Baby loved you, she would allow you to enter.  So each day Mr. Ponchie would cry for food, kiss baby and run to eat some food I put out for him and then retire to a chair.

I was never allowed to get close to him. Never allowed to pet him, never allowed to massage his massive body.  My landlord even mentioned how tough Mr. Ponchie was.  Mr. Ponchie had been abused by so many people that he would never let anyone to get close.  We adopted many cats and those cats had babies.  Once there yard was filled with cats Mr. Ponchie disappeared.

I always wondered where Mr. Ponchie was.  I moved to another home a few blocks away and one day sure enough, there was Mr. Ponchie.  He started coming to my home everyday for food and then one day I got real brave and I reached down to pet Mr. Ponchie and you know what, he let me.  It had been 2 years since I first saw Mr. Ponchie, but by now he trusted me.  So one day I gently reached down and picked up Mr. Ponchie and he allowed me to hold him just a few seconds, but it was enough to hold him close.

Mr. Ponchie had never known what love was before, but he did now.  I would just get teary eye thinking about Mr. Ponchie and how he never had anyone to love him.  He never knew any comforts of this life.  I also remember the first time Mr. Ponchie came in from the cold weather and discovered how wonderful it was to lay close to a heater.  He would stretch out and just enjoy the heat so much.

He was someone I loved so dear.  He would come a few times a day and cry to come in.  He was the head macho cat outside and a force to be recokned with but in my home he was a pussy cat.  He always knew his place.  We loved him to death.  He got injured a few times and one time someone shot him in the foot, but he recovered.  He always got better.  I always doctored him and he got well.

Then one day he came with a huge injury. It appeared he had an infected eye which I kept doctoring but as I was cleaning the huge amount of pus from his eye, I discovered a huge hole in his head right next to his eye and another injury down in his cheek. The injuries were perfectly round and very very deep.  I tried to take him to the doctor but he absolutely refused to get in the carrier. I had a taxi waiting  but Mr. Ponchie refused. 

I had a vet who was suppose to come to treat him, but he never came either.  Mr. Ponchie would get better and I would feel relieved and then he got much worse.  As much as I tried, I could not get the infection under control.  Then the infection caused Mr. Ponchie to have swollen abscesses in his throat.  He was deadly sick now.  I was scared.

So I plotted on how I could get Mr. Ponchie to the vet.  I trapped him in the bathroom and pushed him in the bag.  He fought back but he was so weak he gave in.  I called the taxi right away and ran him to the vet. By the time we got there Mr Ponchie was so sick, he could not move.  The vet picked him up and placed him in a small carrier to take him upstairs. I just knew they could make Mr. Ponchie well.  I never ever thought he would die.

In that week I had 4 cats injured.  A small kitten died from a horrific fall and then maggots attacked the open sore, then Mr. Ponchie and then Mr. Fluffy had a bad injury to his leg and had to be taken to the hospital.  While I was there, I asked about Mr. Ponchie and they told me he was real bad.  I asked about his chances and they told me 50/50.  But I never thought he would die.

Fate was never in Mr. Ponchie's corner.  They did not operate on Mr. Ponchie for 4 days to take the fluids out of his neck.  During this time Mr. Ponchie refused to eat or drink.  It could have been he was so scared or it could have been he was just too sick. When I took Mr. Fluffy to be treated I debated about visiting Mr. Ponchie but the vet frowned.  I asked him would it be worse on Mr. Ponchie to see me and then not go home and they said yes. I made the fatal mistake of not visiting Mr. Ponchie.

So on Sunday I called to see if they operated and they did, but said he was extremely dehydrated and was in bad shape. The next morning at 8:30am the phone rang and a woman on the other side "cat dead."  She was forceful and awful. I screamed, "What do you mean cat dead?"  I told her I want to speak to the doctor. I told the doctor this is dead wrong for her to say this. She should have said she was sorry to give me the news or something. 

I begin to wonder what kind of treatment Mr. Ponchie got. Was he left to die alone with no help at all? Did they even care about Mr. Ponchie leaving him to suffer for 4 days?  When I took Mr. Ponchie in they were having a party and the doctor did not even want to look.  I assume they just put Mr. Ponchie in a cage and left him.  No one cared about Mr. Ponchie and he died all alone.

I often wondered if I did right and if dying in my arms would have been better.  I honestly did what I thought was best, but in the end my dear sweet Mr. Ponchie left this earth.  People were shocked Mr. Ponchie was gone, but no one really loved him like I did.  He was a white knight that came and left.  He never knew love, just from me.

Mr. Ponchie died on June 10th, the same day as my father and my grandmother.  Another cat I had died on July 10th 2010.  I wonder what it is about the date the 10th.  My world is not the same without Mr. Ponchie.  He was someone I counted on seeing daily. He was the light of my life and someone I have missed so bad.  I hope Mr. Ponchie is happy now and is out of pain.  I hope God tells Mr. Ponchie how much I care.  Mr. Ponchie, mama loves you so much.

The Best Small Animal Pet Carriers Available for Travel

The day was Halloween 1998 and I was on my way to Jordan.  I had my cat Tiger with me and we had gotten her shots and all her paperwork done.  She was frightened and she was not sure what was going to happen next, but I had purchased a Sherpa Pet Carrier and paid nearly $100 for the bag.  They are much cheaper now.  The bag I purchased is just like the picture of Kristin Cavallari and Bardot.  Almost 15 years later, I am still using the same bad with one tiny patch that my cat made.

The bag is so executive looking that few knew I had a black and white cat inside.  Some will look carefully.  The bag fit perfectly under the seat and although it is not forbidden, opening up the carrier and allowing your cat out may not be accepted by all.

The people sitting next to me were not thrilled.  I would open the bag occasionally and pet Tiger and reassure her that everything was fine.  The air trip was more than 8 hours.

When I arrived in Jordan, I went up to the official at the pet station and told him, "I have a cat to declare."  I wanted to make sure I had no problems.  He told me, "No, you do not have a cat."  I was stunned.  I told him again, "Yes, I have a cat."  He looked very stern at me and said, "NO! You do not have a cat."  I just smiled and kept walking.

When I got to the area where my husband was waiting, he ran to kiss me and of course his first concern was how was his cat Tiger. He opens the carrier and pulls Tiger out and starts kissing her.  We had made it to our new home and me and Tiger were very happy.

Sherpa Pet Carriers is a Once in a Lifetime Investment.

This article will show many of the Sherpa Pet Carriers because I feel they are the absolute best. This beautiful pet carrier that is approved for use under the seats on many air carriers only cost $59.00 and prices run from the low $40,s to the premium line of $100. Sherpa has many types of carriers.  You must check with the airlines if you have a large pet.  There are pound limitations and sizes of the carrier.  Storing animals in the airline storage area is not suggested unless you have no other choice.

Original Black Carrier

This is the one I own and have the same one since 1998 - $75.47

You will never regret this purchase.  I am so thrilled to show you some of the most beautiful and practical cat carriers you can imagine.

Medium Size in Red - $55.00

The ultimate in safety and comfort, this popular carrier from Sherpa's Pet Trading Company features: Mesh panels for ventilation Top and side entry with roll-up flaps on three sides provide the ultimate privacy for your pet A convenient shoulder strap and large accessory pocket Quilted for the ultimate fashion statement. Please measure your pet do not go by weight, your pet must fit into the carrier for weight to be a concern. Length: is from the nape of the neck (where the collar falls) to the base of the tail Height: is from the floor to the shoulder Weight: should not exceed maximum weigh.

All Sherpa original deluxe carriers include:

• Mesh panels for ventilation
• Top and side entry
• A convenient shoulder strop.

These comfortable, stylish bags are approved for use on major airlines. Small and medium sizes fit under most airline seats. (Large - check with airline)

Ultimate Bag on Wheels

Ultimate Bag - Medium - $88.00

Sherpa also carries a beautiful, top quality bag for those who are not able to carry their dog or cat on their shoulders. 

Features Include:

• Mesh panels for ventilation
• Top and side entry
• Roll up flaps on three sides for ultimate privacy for your pet
• Convenient, detachable, adjustable pull strap seconds as a shoulder strap
• Large accessory pocket
• A quilted texture for the ultimate fashion statement
• Carrier rolls flat on four wheels, no tilting, to provide your pet with a comfortable travel experience

 There's no greater luxury for your pet than a ride in the Sherpa-On-Wheels Pet Carrier! Take a load off your shoulders with the detachable handle pull / shoulder strap and its recessed easy-glide wheels for smooth steering motion. This bag makes any adventure attainable for both you and your furry friendFront and top entry Mesh panels on four side for ventilation and panoramic view Roll-up flaps, roll down shades for privacy Travel tray - " bed in a bag", for additional convenience External double mesh pocket for storage Washable faux lambskin liner Detachable handle pull / shoulder strap Inside leash ring please measure your pet before ordering as pet carriers are non returnable due to hygienic reasons. when measuring for the length take tape measure and measure from the base of the neck collar area to base of the tail this is your length measurement and it needs to be under 16" in order for your pet to fit. to measure the height which is the floor to the shoulder it should be no greater than 10". please measure and do not go by your pets weight when ordering travel carriers as we all know pets are like people they come in all different shapes and sizes. this carriers will fit under an airline seat with the major carriers and is airline approved

Traveling with Pets

When you travel with your pets consider giving them a tranquilizer prior to departing.  Animals can become very anxious on long trips. Make sure you have a portable water and food bowl that you can put in the bag with you.  You do not want to feed them too much if at all so they do not go to the bathroom a lot and smell up the cabin causing others to complain about your animal.  Take some disposable liners for your carrier and their favorite toy.  Make sure to have their papers ready and a hotel checked out prior to going on your trip.

Read: Pet Friendly Hotels in Jordan

Cats Have Feelings - Signs That Your Cat Feels the Loss of a Loved One

Baby my cat is always depressed since her mom died. She is a psychological mess. Baby was brought to me as a tiny kitten, someone had killed her mom and all her family, she was an orphan. She was so small and she needed milk. My cat, Precious, had just lost all her kittens and had milk. So as fate would have it, she adopted Baby.

Baby was a mess with a broken arm and soon to have a broken tail. I took her to the doctor and they extracted tons of puss and blood out of her badly infected shoulder. Baby was not a normal kitten, having to hobble on her leg. But Precious adopted her as her own kitten. For two month she cradled her and washed her and fed her and then after two months like many moms do, she kicked her away. Would never have anything to do with her again.

Baby and Precious lived with me for over a year when one day Precious got very sick and we had to doctor her all the time. She was the sweetest cat ever. I loved her so much. Precious went out the window one day never to return, the neighborhood children killed her and many other cats too. Our home was empty and I cried all the time. Precious was with me for 6 years. So baby watched me deteriorate and baby got worse and worse. She could not breathe anymore.

I had to rush Baby to the hospital and find out she was depressed. She breathed so hard and her heart had so many palpitations I thought she was dying, but the doc said she was depressed. A way most cats get when depressed is they plain don't eat. Many cats will hide in unusual places and turn there backs to their owners. All you have to do is look in their eyes and you can tell how they feel.

Cats are amazing creatures. They can give you one stare to let you know how angry they are. They can't speak but they sure can slap you with their paw. I remember once I was disciplining my cat Muffy and he screamed bloody murder and with the force of Goliath he smacked me with his paw. He was so strong. Then he runs out in the yard and screams and screams. He screamed so loud even the children cried. He was hurt and he was upset.

Cats sometimes will just mope around when depressed also. Baby turns her back to me or just won't let me love her at all. She still has palpitations that occur at the slightest incident. One day, I brought a blind kitten home to nurse and the kitten died. Baby found the kitten and went crazy. She screamed and she screamed. Her heart started beating so fast and she practically died in my arms. She jumped in my lap and hid her eyes in my arms as if she was so afraid and ashamed.

It broke my heart to see her that way. I comforted her and yes fed her some of her favorite treats. She soon calmed now until the next day when she found the kitten again. Cats never forget. Baby never forgot the day her mother died, kind of like people I guess. With cats they cannot talk to get help but they have their ways.