He was a little stray that appeared at my mom's house about 2 months ago. He never hissed (though he did growl on occasion) and was always ready for his meals twice a day. He just started meowing (with his *whole* chest) at us about two weeks ago and hanging out in my garden. I lined everything up to trap him and take him for his TNR appointment today and everything was going great. He went into the trap within minutes of me setting it up, he didn't cry in the car or anything, and my friend (who helped me set up the appointment at her clinic) said they got to his surgery pretty quick.
It must've been my gut insisting something was going on, because the entire hour and a half I was home after dropping him off, I couldn't sit still or relax. I was mindlessly scrolling my phone, opening and closing apps, pacing, turning the TV on and off…nothing could keep my attention.
Then I got the news.
Little guy had done great during his neuter, but had gone into cardiac arrest in post-op. They tried to save him, but weren't able to.
I know I can't/shouldn't blame myself because he likely had congenital defects going on, but its hard not to think that if I hadn't done everything and stressed him out as much, he might have stood a better chance. Then again, my mom lives near two busy streets and a forest preserve so the odds would've also been high that he could've been struck by a car.
Anyway, I just wanted to post him to share his adorable face and make sure he's remembered in this world, even for the short time he was with us. I'm sorry I couldn't help you more, Freddie, but just know so many people loved you. Enjoy all those Churrus in the sky. ❤️
Edited to add: we named him Freddie after Freddie Mercury, since he started coming around during Pride Month.
