This feels like a real gut punch, especially after a South Carolina veterinarian’s heroic efforts to save Juliet, the cat who had 38 hair ties removed from her stomach and died after her health seemed to improve.
Elliot, you’ll recall, was the poor, sweet stray who was found literally frozen to the concrete on the day after Christmas, when the country was in a deep chill the likes of which we haven’t seen in decades, with temperatures plunging well into the negative. A Good Samaritan found the little guy in a bad way, with his eyes frozen shut and his organs shutting down, but she turned up her truck’s heat and rushed him to Big Lake Community Animal Clinic in Muskegon, Michigan, where the staff took good care of him and named him after the storm he was found in.
They wrapped little Elliot up in warm blankets, gave him fluids and began to slowly raise his body temperature, which was a dangerous 94 degrees. Things started to look up, too: Elliot had a habit of reaching his paw out to the vet techs who were monitoring him, began to regain his appetite, and eventually was able to stand and eat on his own.
But Elliot’s health took a turn for the worse again, and veterinarians determined he developed a saddle thrombosis, which is described as “a blood clot (called a “thrombus”) that lodges at the base of the aorta just as it branches into two distinct arteries, thereby obstructing blood flow to the hind limbs. It is so named because of the saddle-like shape it roughly resembles once it takes up residence in this location.”
For cats who develop a saddle thrombosis, the outlook is not good, and drugs designed to dissolve blood clots are often ineffective.
“Sadly, there was nothing we could have done to prepare for that but we knew it was time to let him be free from the pain and struggle he’s known most of his life,” Big Lake’s staff wrote to supporters.
A staffer named Diane Neas, who took Elliot into her home after a few days when he’d stabilized, was particularly hard hit by the loss, and understandably so. Well-wishes and applications to adopt Elliot had come pouring in, and it seemed like the former stray’s suffering would lead to the best reward — a warm home of his own and people to love and care for him.
“We find peace in knowing the last two weeks of his life were spent with people who showed him kindness, care and love,” shelter staff wrote. “We can’t believe the following and support he has gained on this journey to healing; from the bottom of our hearts, thank you all for caring so deeply for him and sending such love and support his way.”
Images courtesy of Big Lake Community Animal Clinic
Pain In The Bud 
I’m really sorry, ladies and gentlemen, I know this has been a string of really lousy news between P-22, Juliet and Elliot. However, it felt important to follow up on this story, as heartbreaking as it is. There are still too many Elliots out there who need homes.
I can promise that we have some happy stories coming up, including a fun profile of a bold and beloved cat belonging to one of our readers, and some Buddesian schemes and antics that we hope will make people laugh.
LikeLiked by 4 people
😭😭😭If love & well wishes could’ve saved him his life would have been long & wonderful. 💔 My heart hurts for his care takers & his humans who got to love in him in person. I wish I had gotten to meet him if only to touch one toe bean & say, Hey, you’re one special boy 🐾🐾💓 I’d feel a dot better, but at the moment I feel poopy…Elliot deserved better before he was found. Another reminder to adopt older cats & dog’s… Not many want to take the older one’s & they really need us the most 😭💔🐾🐾RIP Elliot 😪 😔
LikeLiked by 2 people
This is the worst news to read. Another star in the heavens is all I can say. RiP sweet baby
LikeLiked by 4 people
Also, we’ve had an issue with some comments disappearing. I’m aware of it and trying to get to the bottom of it. If one of your comments gets swallowed by the WordPress CMS, please know it’s not intentional. Hopefully this is just a hiccup. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 4 people
😪💔
LikeLiked by 3 people
Poor Elliot. At least he’s free of pain. Thanks for letting us know, Big Buddy.
LikeLiked by 2 people
This is so very sad.
LikeLiked by 3 people
This breaks my heart.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Bless the little one! I am greatly saddened by Elliot’s passing. At least he had good care and love the last days of his life.
LikeLiked by 3 people
This reminds me of 3 kittens we found in the cold 3 blocks away from me. We took them to emergency vet. Nothing could be done. All 3 died in the warm of an incubator. Downside of cat rescue.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wee broken hearted fore Julite an now deer Elliot. At leest they both mew ❤ LOVE ❤ at THE end of their livess….sadlee their livesswere cut short an wee so furry sad…..
***leeky eyess*** BellaDharma an ***leeky eyess*** BellaSita Mum
LikeLiked by 3 people
There are no words to describe the sadness I felt when learning that Elliot was no longer with us. I have been told that cats live in the moment; with that in mind, I trust his last two weeks of being cared for and loved contained enough moments to ease the memory of the pain and suffering of his past life. At the end, he did not suffer, which in itself is a mercy. R.I.P. sweet gently Elliot.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I’m so sad. We can’t save everyone, kitty or human. I wish we could. Bye bye, good kitty 😪RIP
LikeLiked by 1 person
This reminds me of 3 kittens we found in the cold 3 blocks away from me. We took them to emergency vet. Nothing could be done. All 3 died in the warm of an incubator. Downside of cat rescue.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a shame it took him being almost frozen to death for humans to be good to him. I am ashamed to be of the same species as those monsters.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought the same thing, wondering how many times people ignored him or neighbors never bothered to check if he had a home. We’re funny animals, us humans. The addition of a backstory makes us care deeply, but without that, well…
LikeLike