Tribute to Shadow the Cougar

8/1/93 -  10/2/2008  Shadow came to Big Cat Rescue with his companion, Sugar. He was a product of the pet trade and came here on 8/2/98. Their owner had become ill and, when Shadow and Sugar knocked out a window of his mobile home in an attempt to escape, he decided that he could no longer care for them. Shadow is the most talkative cat at Big Cat Rescue and will enthusiastically call back to Keepers that talk to him with a raspy RWOW! Shadow has been neutered so that he can remain with his mate Sugar.

 

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.

 

I've been writing my story since I was able to write, but when the media goes to share it, they only choose the parts that fit their idea of what will generate views.  If I'm going to share my story, it should be the whole story.  The titles are the dates things happened. If you have any interest in who I really am please start at the beginning of this playlist: http://savethecats.org/

 

I know there will be people who take things out of context and try to use them to validate their own misconception, but you have access to the whole story.  My hope is that others will recognize themselves in my words and have the strength to do what is right for themselves and our shared planet.  

 

You can help feed the cats at no cost to you