Solo's Legacy

If you love me, let me go. Unknown Source

I have always shared my life with cats. Many years ago I started feeding a scruffy orange and white stray. At first there was no rhythm to his appearances but he soon began showing up on a regular basis. He was thin and afraid. I asked about him around my neighborhood and learned that he had been surviving alone on the streets for at least three years. Because he looked so lonely, I named him SoLo.

Over time, and with much work, Solo trusted me enough that I was able to take him to the veterinarian for shots and a bath. When we came home, I decided to find out how he would adjust to the house. I opened the carrier and he plopped on the couch like he had always lived there. From that moment on, Solo became an indoor cat and good friend. Even if I opened the door and invited him out, he would sit on his favorite rug and refuse to budge.

Solo thrived and he became a beautiful majestic fellow. For six months we enjoyed each other’s company and I grew to love him very much. Then one day I noticed bleeding gums. After a few tests, the vet told me that Solo had feline leukemia. There was no cure and it was a bad death. The doctor suggested euthanasia. I had known this wonderful cat for less than a year. It wasn’t fair. I couldn’t do it.

For the next three months, I chose aggressive treatment to keep Solo alive while I watched him fade into a frail shadow. Most animals have strong survival instincts that drive them to cling to life against all odds. I also believe they possess an inborn sense that tells them when it is time to let go. On a particularly bad day Solo looked at me with soulful eyes and softly meowed, as if to implore, “Please. Please stop the suffering.” I called the vet's office and Solo took his final breath later that afternoon cradled in my arms.

I made a promise to myself, and to Solo, on that day so many years ago: I would never again place my need to hang on above my pet’s need to let go. Solo probably had acquired leukemia before we met. He had come to me for a good death and I nearly failed him. The lesson was painful but it is one that I cannot forget. Many amazing cats have graced my life since then--some for a short while, some for many years. Because of Solo’s legacy, when the sad time arrives to make a decision, I can love them enough to set them free.

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To learn more about safe and humane help for stray cats in your neighborhood,
please visit Alley Cat Allies. Includes information and guidelines for the Trap-Neuter-Return program.

I also recommend The Stray Cat Handbook by Tamara Kreuz, Wiley Publishing, 1999. Practical and compassionate, the author shows us how to make a difference in the lives of frightened and suffering strays, one cat at a time. The book gets five-star reader reviews at online bookstores.