Saying GoodBye to Camryn Manheim
Fabulous Celebrity SpokesCreature Camryn Manheim was Valentina and someone else’s kitten when she came to us.
We got a desperate plea from a man who said she was dying and the doctors couldn’t figure out why. Would we please take a look at her and see if there was anything we could do?
This was way back in the beginning, when we were overrun, overloaded, and overwhelmed, but the desperation in his voice was palpable. He said he loved her, wanted to save her, would pay all of her expenses, and (most importantly) welcome her back should she make it.
Did I mention that this was way back in the beginning, when we were stupid?! So we said (stupidly), “sure. Bring her over and let’s see what we can do.” He and she were on our doorstep within the hour, and she was in very bad shape. Emaciated and barely conscious, she’d been adopted from one of the local groups and had seemed to be fine for the first week or so. The vets said nothing could be done.
She didn’t seem to have any of the “normal” infections, so we relied upon intuition, started her on albon (because of the wasting, we figured it could be “an abnormal infection”), and so put her on ’round-the-clock syringe-feedings.
Within three to four weeks she was fine (and dandy)! And the man wouldn’t take her back. Nor would he pay for any of her expenses. Surprise!
Once she was back on her feet, she refused to use the litter box. She would always go to the bathroom right next to the litter box, but never in the litter box. We figured she simply didn’t like sharing her toilet with others, and would change once in a new home, so we sent her out for adoption. She didn’t change, and was returned. We tried to find her a new home through some of the other rescue groups’ adoption festivals, but she started peeing in her carrier as soon as we put her in the event trailers. She was scared, so the smell of her urine was magnified by the adrenaline, and no one would go near her. After several attempts, we stopped trying.
She became a permanent resident of Bad Cat Cottage. We love her, she’s a total sweetheart and extremely affectionate, but she’s always been a pain in the ass because of the added cleaning required, several times per day, every day (we’ve never had another cat refuse to use the boxes, and will always wonder what that’s about).
Now she’s dying from “iams mouth.” She’s not as sick yet as Greylian, Bruce Vilanch, and Koko (whom we cannot believe is still alive and eating), but she’s wasting and can eat only blended and then strained foods. When she tries to eat dry food her mouth bleeds, but luckily she doesn’t try to eat dry food as long as we give her the “hospice food” every couple of hours. This one has always loved to eat.
Helping animals who are dying has always been as important to us as helping them live, and Bad Cat Cottage has been a hospice for “the unwanted” for as long as it’s been a sanctuary. Won’t you help us continue offering this service? Make an eFur donation, today!
Avery 
wonderful blog!!
thanks Galore!!!!!
I really love this website!
I am so happy for you and Bette Midler! Most of your stories are so sad.