Farewell to Shadow and Shiloh
Even if you have never visited Big Cat Rescue, you probably knew Shadow, the chatty cougar who inspired our blog and video series called The Shadow Knows. He was our largest cougar and certainly the most vocal. If you called out to him from any where on the property, you would get an immediate “Raaaaah!” back. He never seemed to tire of talking either and as long as you would talk to him, he would cheerfully chirp back. His cage mate, Sugar, would just watch in her gentle, bemused way.
Now she watches, and waits, with longing looks down the path where she last saw Shadow leave. The volunteers take turns sitting with her, talking with her and trying to ease her transition. She has had Shadow at her side for the past 12 years and even though cougars are solitary in the wild, captivity changes things. It is extremely rare that adult cats can be introduced to each other without injury but sometimes, when they have been raised together, they seem to take pleasure in having someone to snuggle with in their den.
Most of our cats live into their teens and early twenties, and our oldest cat was just shy of 30 when he died. Shadow was only 15 and appeared to be the picture of health when a brain tumor sent him into a massive seizure. He was immediately rushed to the vet for diagnostics and had to be anesthetized in the process. The anesthesia relieved his convulsions, but when he started to awaken he would regress back into paddling, screaming seizures.
When it became apparent that he would never have another peaceful moment we decided that euthanasia would be the only humane thing to do. That is never an easy decision, but when a cat is old, wasting away and suffering, that is an easier choice to make. When the cat looks on the outside to be vibrant and healthy it is much harder. We had to be sure that his brain disease was beyond repair and when we were, needle in hand, we tearfully began to say our goodbyes.
One injection and he would pass from the fitful, drug induced sleep he was already experiencing, to crossing over the Rainbow Bridge. It would be quick, painless and silent. He would never know what happened. Before we gave him the shot, however, he drew his own last breath and died. For his entire life, Shadow never had a choice. A greedy backyard breeder sold him into the pet trade. He was kept cooped up in a trailer until we rescued him and Sugar in 1998. He never got to choose his own path, his own home or even his own dinner. He was forced to take the lousy hand life had dealt, but he did it with a happiness that was contagious. Only in his very last moment was he able to make the decision to walk out of life on his own terms.
Meanwhile, Shiloh the bobcat appeared to have an abscessed tooth. His cage mate, Indian Summer is the same age (19), and probably is his sister since they came from the same place. She has recovered beautifully after having all of her rotten teeth removed. We were treating his abscess, with the intent of removing the offending tooth or teeth once the swelling was under control. But the swelling wasn’t improving.
When Shiloh went in for work to his teeth, the jaw bone looked suspicious and was tested. The results came back that confirmed our worst fear: bone cancer. We have lost two other bobcats to bone cancer and it is a relentless disease. Both of the other cats had great personalities, but as the cancer progressed they became hostile, and in retrospect we believe that it was from dealing with the pain that they were otherwise hiding from us.
Exotic cats don’t act sick unless they are on the verge of dying. Instincts tell them that it is survival of the fittest, so they do not show any signs or symptoms until it is virtually too late to save them. Because of this, a lot of zoos knock the cats out every year to do pre-screening diagnostics, but anesthesia is very dangerous for exotic cats. Often they will die when awakening from a condition that causes their bodies to overheat very quickly. Even if they don’t die right away, the damage done from the chemicals to their system often causes them to die very young. That is why you will rarely see a cat in the zoo that is over 10 or 12 years of age.
Shiloh had never seemed to have a happy day in his life. He may have had a special relationship with some of his keepers, but for the rest of the world, he only hissed. His enclosure was thick with brush and places to avoid being seen. It made it hard for us to check on his swollen cheeks when his teeth began to rot. It was bad enough to live a life he didn’t choose, but we were not going to add to his misery by pulling all of his teeth to stop the infection, only to have the bone cancer continue eating away at his jaw and other bones. This sad situation was Shiloh’s “Get Out of Jail Free” card and we were not going to cheat him out of it.
So now Indian Summer, like Sugar, is facing the rest of her time on this planet alone. She and Shiloh had also been bred for the pet market. They were bought as lawn ornaments by a woman who had a Native American themed back yard and thought they were just the perfect touch. When she decided to change the theme, they didn’t fit any more and she dumped them in 1996.
At Big Cat Rescue these cats have been honored as the individuals that they are. They have been loved for who they are. Thanks to all of our wonderful supporters these cats and many, many more have had the chance to live out the rest of their lives in peace. There is no better fate available to captive bred wild cats than Big Cat Rescue, but we can do more for them.
We can end the breeding of exotic cats for lives in cages. We can save habitat so that their wild cousins can live free. When we do so, we are creating a more compassionate society and a healthier planet for all of us. Be sure to sign up at CatLaws.com so that you know when there is an important issue that needs your voice. Your contact info is safe with us and we respect your privacy.
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INDIAN SUMMER Female Bobcat
