Show us your pets!

[sundial]

Here is Suki recuperating from her teeth extractions the following day...

Isn't it amazing how stoic Suki was during her painful tooth problem? I bet she feels soooo much better and she has such a soft place to lay her head at night. What a good mommy you are for taking her into your home and into your heart.

[badger]

We've been battling Bonnie Cat's hyperthyroid disease for 5 years... but yesterday evening her vet & I agreed that it was time to call it over. Now Bonnie was always very vocal, with a running commenary on everything. Silence was when she was asleep. I always figured she'd get in the last word, and she did. She had words for the vet tech holding her, and just to reinforce the message, she swatted her with her paw.

So now she's free of not feeling good being mixed with almost constant hunger. Maybe it sounds crass, but part of me is relieved that it's over. The healthy Bonnie has been gone (including her mind) for a while. Sigh.

Now it's just Calypso and me.

I'm so sorry you had to go through this, but glad that you have some comfort in knowing that she's not in pain anymore.

[Norse]

Three weeks ago I took our older cat, Isis, in for a teeth cleaning because she had started to drool a little and was getting bad breath. During the procedure, under her tongue, the doctor found a lump. Not good. Biopsy confirmed our fears: squamous cell carcinoma; an aggressive form of cancer that is apparently the most common type of mouth cancer in cats. Isis is 18 and would be 19 in a few weeks. She has been on meds for hyperthyroidism and high blood pressure for awhile so, we decided against any invasive treatment and have just been trying to keep her as comfortable for as long as possible. She is such a fighter - the vet calls her a "tough little girl." She still has spirit, runs around the house, jumps up on furniture or into our laps and purrs, looks out the window at the birds feeding... but it is getting increasingly difficult for her to eat - the tumor is starting to impede her ability to swallow food, even the mushiest we can give her. So, I am afraid even though she still has spunk, the time is very near, probably a matter of days, as the spunk won't last much longer without enough food intake and we're certainly not going to let her die of malnourishment.

It never occurred to me that cats could get mouth cancer like this (thought it was just humans who smoke or chew ) but looking into our cats' mouths is something we will try to do - if they don't bite us that is - going forward. I also learned that this form of cancer is most common in white-coated cats, especially those who sun themselves (what cat doesn't?) and they tend to get it on their ears, mouth or nose. Our other cat is white. Apparently, it is suggested that you put sun screen on a white cat's pink areas before letting them out or even laying in the sun by the door. Hopefully, she'll get used to it. I will try to post photos tonight or tomorrow night of our precious Isis and Athena cats.

Beth, I am very sorry to hear about Bonnie Cat.

[badger]

I'm sorry about Isis. I'm sure if she could talk she will be grateful for being there when she needs you most.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Warm sympathetic hugs to you and Isis. I'm glad at least that she has had a long life and loving caretaker.

[smilingcat]

white coated cats and dogs are prone to melanoma. white cats with blue eyes are prone to deafness if I recall correctly.

I am sorry to hear about Isis with her cancer. 17,18 years a good ol' age for any cat to reach. She has a wonderful life. Cherish her waning days. We all have our place and time. And remember of all the wonderful years you and Isis have had. Protect her in your heart and she will be with you in spirit.

-------------

Beth,

This past year has been anything but normal. Long distance move with your babies. New place, new everything. Letting your cat go is so hard for all the selfish reasons yet we overcome and do what is the right thing. It is the right thing but still its so emotionally hard. You've given her many good years, kept her meds for thyroid condition for so many years. Kindness words can't explain. Kindness you can't boast. Kindness that only comes from the heart and Bonnie Cat was very blessed to have such wonderful mom.

Now its just you and Calypso. He has a wonderful mom, and you have a wonderful boy to help you heal your heart. Play with him. He misses Bonnie Cat too. Together, you can heal his loss too.

peace be with both of you,

smilingcat

[Norse]

Thank you for all the kind and sympathetic words. Last night Isis ate more than she has in the past couple of days, then spent her evening in my lap purring. As I told DP, she is just refusing to quit. Every time I think, this is it, she has a little rebound. I know the rebounding will end soon, but I have indeed treasured all these final days with her, especially seeing her able to be content. Each day is like we have stolen one more.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Thank you for all the kind and sympathetic words. Last night Isis ate more than she has in the past couple of days, then spent her evening in my lap purring. As I told DP, she is just refusing to quit. Every time I think, this is it, she has a little rebound. I know the rebounding will end soon, but I have indeed treasured all these final days with her, especially seeing her able to be content. Each day is like we have stolen one more.

Yes I totatlly understand this. I went through the same thing with Pearl a few months ago. Those last days were precious. Then it became apparent she was in increasing pain, and it was time, even though she would still purr. My heart is with you.

[Norse]

Thanks Lisa. What a lucky cat Pearl was to be a member of your family. And now, Suki has been provided the same opportunity to know the love, beauty and caring that Pearl had. In your photos, Suki even looks like she knows she's got it made.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Norsegoddess,
Pearl had battled kidney failure for 5 years, and when she was increasingly sick the last time, we thought it was more of the same, and kept treating her with fluids etc. She kept eating and purring, but kept losing weight and acting uncomfortable more and more. That's when I saw the tumor in her mouth and the vet confirmed she had advanced mouth cancer- on top of her kidney problems. At that point I knew she was in pain and would continue to get worse and there was no hope for recovery. So that's when i brought her in and stayed with her...she purred!
The two cats we had die before Pearl faded away peacefully at home with us- one was 20 and the other had total kidney failure....but neither seemed to be in much pain- just fading out. But in Pearl's case, I knew the mouth cancer was painful, terminal, and getting worse each day, so I felt i needed to be strong enough to intervene on her behalf so she wouldn't suffer more.
You are using these last days to shower love on your kitty, and that's as it should be. You will know when the time has come to help her through. Sometimes I think it's more about when WE are ready rather than our fur baby. But that's ok too- you are in it together.
((((big hug))))

[jessmarimba]

When my old blind kitty, Pixar, had cancer she lived about two weeks after the diagnosis. She was very similar to Isis, in some ways - she was happy and cuddly and as obnoxious as ever, but she wouldn't eat or drink enough. I started giving her wet food with added water or broth just so she could eat something until the spunk started to fade. (I also found out that when nothing else was interesting, she would still sneak up to my sub sandwiches from wawa and scarf down the turkey when she thought I wasn't looking. So funny.) She let me know when she had given up and we enjoyed another hour or so of sitting outside listening to birds before I wrapped her in her favorite blanket and we went to the vet.

I hope you can enjoy the time you have left - Isis is lucky to have you as a mom.

[Norse]

Here are photos of our pets (I hope):

Athena - one of our nieces calls her "Sassy Cat":



Katy dog - can you tell winter is her favorite time of the year?



And here is precious Isis:

[celticgarden]

Piper the dog, Saki the cat (officially known as Pakasani Maharaja Prince Sakiamuni) and Honey the hamster. Here Saki proudly models the latest in cat fashion...

[PamNY]

Norsegoddess and Celticgarden, lovely photos.

I'll bet hamsters are not easy to photograph!

I love this thread though don't always have time to comment.

[lph]

What beautiful photos! The one of Saki is stunning, what a regal cat and lovely colours.

Our Lyra is either pretty banged up or a honking huge hypochondriac... came in last evening looking in pain, and screamed, hissed and bit if we as much as touched her hind quarters I checked out that all four limbs were working normally, I couldn't feel any swelling in the abdomen and she didn't seem to be going into shock, and the only injury I could find was a smallish bite? at the root of her tail. Worrisome night checking up on her. Today she's eating well, lolling on a wool blanket in front of "her" heater and being spoilt rotten...
Maybe her catfight injuries are like "man colds".