ATS's "First Cat" is ill :-(
Raider Dave
has been growling at me instead of purring, and her belly hurts.
Took her to the vet this morning. $1,000 worth of tests later,
the doc ruled out feline cancer. She thinks it's Inflammatory
Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and with meds and a change of diet,
Trixie should hopefully be okay. Trix is currently zonked out
on painkillers, so she's probably feeling better now than I am!
The worst part was leaving her at the vet's. She gave me a look
like "HEY.... what the fuck? Why are you leaving me here???"
She's staying there tonight, tomorrow and maybe Wednesday.
If the meds don't do the trick, I'm going to be faced with a tough
decision. Spend maybe five grand on surgery, which may or may
not fix the problem, and even if it does, how much time will it buy
her? She is already 15 years old. Granted, indoor cats can live
to 20+ years old, but it still might be best to let her go to the ball
of yarn in the sky, as much as that would kill me. My girlfriend is
allergic to her anyway, but the main reason is I'm not sure I'd want
to put Trix through any pain. The money doesn't really matter. If
I knew it would get her a few more years, I'll cut the check.
People who aren't cat lovers won't understand spending this kind
of money on vet bills, so save the remarks which are sure to come.
Has anyone gone though a decision like the one I might face?
I know Jane had a similar situation, but for different reasons.
This is the bad time. Trixie doesn't feel safe anymore.
jgce...@yahoo.com
Raider Dave wrote:
> Miss Trixie puked a lot last night, and hasn't been eating. Also
> has been growling at me instead of purring, and her belly hurts.
>
> Took her to the vet this morning. $1,000 worth of tests later,
> the doc ruled out feline cancer. She thinks it's Inflammatory
>
> Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and with meds and a change of diet,
> Trixie should hopefully be okay. Trix is currently zonked out
> on painkillers, so she's probably feeling better now than I am!
>
Someone else we knew had IBS, and she was working for the Federal
Government. I hope you're not saying that about Miss Trixie.
Jane
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/3476/trixie04zr8.jpg
Aw, Dave, I'm sorry as hell to hear about Trix being sick. I know it
sucks. Hopefully the meds and change of diet will correct the problem,
because it would be a really tough decision to put a cat that old
through that much pain and misery and confusion, with no guarantee that
it would correct the problem.
As much as I've bitched about Dusty almost costing me my frigging arm
and months of bone infection, etc., and then making me knock myself off,
I know in my heart I couldn't have her put down, unless she was
suffering terribly. Fuck, the boys had a large rat for a pet, years ago,
it got cancer, and I had to take it to be put down because it was
obviously suffering. As I drove to the vet with it in my lap in a
shoebox for it's last ride anywhere, I could hear it scratching around
and sobbed so loudly and was such a mess by the time I arrived, he
waived the $20 fee they had quoted me just to get me outta there.
I hope you don't have to make any decision and the situation resolves.
Best wishes to you and Trixie and you're in my thoughts.
Jane
Big Al Tomatoes
Kinda like cuttin' a ball off, ain't it?
The Arranger
You can't sink five large into a 15-year-old cat. I've been taken to
the cleaners by a vet once, with "no guarantees." The cat died a week
later of kidney failure.
The Arranger
Danny BoyŽ
"Raider Dave" <Raide...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1153194053....@i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Miss Trixie puked a lot last night, and hasn't been eating. Also
> has been growling at me instead of purring, and her belly hurts.
>
> Took her to the vet this morning. $1,000 worth of tests later,
> the doc ruled out feline cancer. She thinks it's Inflammatory
>
You coulda bought a shitload of brand new kittens with $1000!
Dont be rediculous...cats are disposable. If they start acting whacky, pop
their heads and buy a new one. No need to spend all that money.
Flagstaff Frank
I had an indoor cat, Queenie, who was 16 and she developed breast cancer and
hyperthyroidism. We had the surgery done and the vet told me at the time
that there was good tissue all around meaning she got the entire tumor out.
Prognosis was great.
My wife and I administered Tapazole once a day to knock the thyroid down.
Long story short, I ended up spending close to 2 large and she died 9 months
later.
15 years equates to about 90+ people years so if I had to do it again I'd
probably just pass. Start the healing process now, man, instead of watching
her deteriorate slowly over time. I've been there.
Flagstaff Frank
emotions over their pets. No respectable human being would take 5 crackers
from someone on a 15 year old cat, knowing full well that the animal right
now is at life expectancy.
Raider Dave
Called the place this morning. She seems to be alert and feeling
well. The attending vet doesn't come in until 1:00 today, and I'll be
in there at 2, so I'll find out much more at that time. I just know
that
the vet said she was "pretty confident" that the steps taken yesterday
and today would take care of the problem.
I researched IBS last night, and it's a pretty common thing which
should rarely be fatal. But even if she makes it through this, I am
dreading the day when I *am* going to have to make that decision.
Never thought I could be so attached to a little ball of fur....
Flagstaff Frank
>
> Never thought I could be so attached to a little ball of fur....
>
Tell her to use Neet and trim it back into a triangle. . . . heheheheh.
Nothing beats having your cat sit on your lap late at night, kneading your
lap with her front paws, purring and looking up at you with those green
mirrored eyes.
Raider Dave
Glad to see another Macho Man such as myself enjoys the company
of felines. My girl always says to me "Isn't it kind of gay for a guy
to
have a cat?"
DAMN FOREIGNERS!!!!!! :o)
deDaveD*
little of the money you save on one of those "adopt a 3rd world kid" things.
There are kids all over the world starving and so ill educated they'll never
be able to build a car bomb without some help.
Flagstaff Frank
> of felines. My girl always says to me "Isn't it kind of gay for a guy
> to
> have a cat?"
>
> DAMN FOREIGNERS!!!!!! :o)
>
If I wanted another slobbering rugrat that demands constant attention,
pisses and moans when it runs out of food or water, shits all over the place
and requires you to be home at a certain time or else destroys the house . .
. I'd have another kid.
Caro...@aol.com
Tough decisions when it comes to pets and serious illness. Been there
with our dog Jessie. When the vet said this shot will help her stand
and walk, but she couldn't guarantee how long it would last. She
said she would probably continue to fall down and not be able to
control her bladder, bowels, etc. She had some kind of big word issue,
so we decided that day to have her put to sleep. Toughest thing we
ever did as a couple....Jessie was about 12 years old.
So I feel for you. Hope you have a better outcome with Trix.
Carol
Raider Dave
Sorry to hear about Jessie, Carol. :(
Nearly everything about pets is great, except when they get sick. That
is a very hard time. I can't stand to see an animal in pain, and if
you
really love them, you'll make the best decision FOR them.
Some good reading on the topic can be found on this page:
http://messybeast.com/towards-end.htm
Just got back from a visit with Trixie at the vet. She looks great and
the
vet says she is doing very well. She had an IV syringe sticking out of
her
right paw, so she could get fluids. Bottom line is that she is coming
home
tomorrow and I'll have to watch her diet very carefully from now on.
:)
Flagstaff Frank
Age 1 = 15 human years
Age 2 = 24 years
thereafter add 4 human years per year.
I like your link better. Keeps 'em younger, longer LOL
=(^:^)=
Sparky Spartacus
Intellectually I think the answer is don't spend $5k on a 15 year old
cat (perhaps an analogy would be doing a kidney transplant on an 80 year
old patient with congestive heart failure?); however, this is your pet
of 15 years, so it's not just an intellectual decision. I think if it
were my cat I wouldn't go for the surgery, but I tend to lean toward the
rational when it comes to pets (had to make a similar decision some
years ago regarding my pet cat, Boojum).
Good luck whichever way you go and I hope you accept your decision (and
not beat yourself to death if your cat dies).
Sparky Spartacus
Only if the guy's a fag to begin with. ;)
Why would a self confident heterosexual male care what other people
think about his choice of pets anyway?
Sparky Spartacus
Yes, but cats don't need a college education nor do they have expensive
weddings.
Big Al Tomatoes
Oh you LIKE having those claws dig into you like that you sick FAWK?
Big Al Tomatoes
I TOLD you not to let her move in.
Peg &/Or Patrick
"Raider Dave" <Raide...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1153194053....@i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
I don't know you - I'm kind of a lurker. My Katy (best cat in the world)
passed 09/09/01. I still miss her and understand what you are going
through. She had a form of cancer in her throat. I tried all kinds of
things and in the long run - looking back - I think the kindest thing I
could have done was to let her go sooner. I kept her alive and hoping, more
for my needs that hers. Its hard to explain but it more difficult to grieve
for them when they are still with us than at the Bridge. I wish you well
and when making any decisions think about what you would want someone to do
for you when its your time.
Love, peace and light
Peg
Raider Dave
Hi Peg,
Sorry to hear about Katy. I, too, anticipate a long healing
period when it is finally time for Trixie to go. And I can't even
get another cat to ease the pain, cuz the g/f is allergic to them.
Unless I dump her.... ;-)
Jane
Glad Trixie seems better today, and seems to be on the mend. She's so
beautiful, and I know how you care about her.
I hope this takes care of the problem, and you don't have to make any
decisions anytime soon. It is just so painful. No one but a pet owner
and cat lover can understand how it feels to have that warm furball in
your lap, kneading and turning around 25 times before finding a place
"just right". Also, the purring just warms your heart. Sometimes when
I'm feeling bummed, or just wanna ride on a good feeling, I put my hands
on the purr place, which seems to be the chest area, and it just
permeates through my being. When I've been sick, it even feels healing.
There has to be *something* to the fact that cats are the only animal
which God endowed the capacity to purr.
God forbid anything should happen to Trixie, but I've been thinking
ahead with Dusty, being 16, and I plan to get 2 kittens when she's gone.
Nothing heals your heart like watching little kittens tumble and play
and fight...and curling up to sleep. I mean , not immediately, but soon
thereafter the dreaded time. But 2, because I know she's been lonely at
times, when we've all been gone. Once she was established as Queen of
the House, though, I couldn't introduce a new cat. especially seeing
that she's psycho.
ONE question...does Trixie go outside?? I've kept Dusty as an indoor cat
all her life and she's ~never~ been sick, not once. Plus I can control
her diet and no infections from scraps with other cats. I was just
wondering if Trix went out. Dusty goes out in the sunroom, where she
gets a taste of sun and fresh air, since it's all glass and I open the
windows, so she can see through the screens and watch birds, other
animals, etc.
Raider Dave
> ONE question...does Trixie go outside?? I've kept Dusty as an indoor cat
> all her life and she's ~never~ been sick, not once. Plus I can control
> her diet and no infections from scraps with other cats. I was just
> wondering if Trix went out.
Trixie doesn't go outside on her own. I'd be too afraid that she would
run
away. If she dies, at the very least there is a finality to it. But
if she ran
away and I had no idea what ever happened to her, I'd never forgive
myself.
I take her outside while holding her, and I let her feet touch the
grass, also
while holding onto her. She seems to enjoy the sun. Other than this
bout
with IBS, she also has never been sick. The vet couldn't believe she
was
15 years old. Then again, I turned the BIG 4-0 last week, and most
people
think I'm 28 or so. She must take after me. The girlfriend threw me a
HUGE
surprise party Saturday night at an outdoor restaurant, BTW. There
were 35
friends and family there. I was impressed at her organizational
skills.
I know what you mean about the purring. Some animal "experts" have
said that purring only means that the cat is hungry, and is looking
forward
to eating. That is total bullshit. My cat runs up the stairs and
jumps into
my arms when I come home, and she starts purring the minute I start to
pet her. I don't see why some people won't accept the notion that some
cats really DO care about their owners. If your cat will let you hold
him/her
so that their belly is facing the ceiling, or if they lay that way on
their own,
as Trix does, that is a sign of complete trust. This pic is what I
mean....
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/1167/trixie10rf5.jpg
The telling thing about how much I care for Trixie is that my mother
got
rushed to the emergency room last week (by me).... and I never said a
word about it here. LOL. She ended up getting her appendix removed,
and she is resting comfortably.
Now I just gotta get Trix home so she can resume her busy schedule.
She has important things like this to get to:
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7353/t6lv2.jpg
http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/70/t7cw8.jpg
;-)
Neil Gerace
"Sparky Spartacus" <Spa...@universalexports.org> wrote in message
news:gebvg.3255$mQ....@fe12.lga...
Never been to California, I take it? :)
Sparky Spartacus
College or wedding? (I guess not)
Neil Gerace
Probably both, these days :)
The Arranger
I put my cat of 11 years to sleep earlier this year. She was a good
cat, and I felt bad. but I only really got upset when I saw my
eight-year-old son trying to fight back the tears. Here's something
that's true but people don't like to admit about themselves. Once you
have kids, your pets aren't as important to you. My cats took a
big-time demotion in 1995. My wife once took them to a cat portrait
studio, for crissakes. We got two new cats for the kids about six weeks
ago. Before we had kids, my wife would have spent a ton of money on
toys and cat furniture they would never use, and have shot aboiut six
rolls of film of them.
If you don't get married and have kids soon, Raider Dave, you're going
to turn into one of those old cat ladies. I think you're brain is going
soft from all that comedy you're playing with that cat.
The Arranger
Flagstaff Frank
The Arranger
Flagstaff Frank wrote:
> *That* is a cute cat. Almost as cute as this one:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/roby6
You guys have all gone all Season Six on me.
The Arranger
garciy...@hotmail.com
as she was suffering from liver failure....she is out in the back yard
with a freshoy planted tree to mark the spot...
on the positive side, Garcia and bonzo are doing a cat only show tonite
up in the clouds and she is in the front row......
Chuck
Danny BoyŽ
"The Arranger" <scrc...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:1153324275.3...@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
Word
Flagstaff Frank
"Danny BoyŽ" <iri...@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:5txvg.8426$Zf.4335@trndny07...
Just remember, fucksticks, who's directly related to da King of the Jungle.
It ain't some fuckin' pisspot poodle or beagle.
Pisano
wrote:
Our 12 year old golden retriever was nearly dead when I was
called to come over to see her for one last time. My ex-wife had
severely neglected the animal after she had me forcibly removed from
our home. She allowed the dog to have a litter of puppies at her
advanced age just so she could sell them, despite my warnings to her
that it would probably kill the dog. After the pups were whelped, she
kept them all under the house - where there still lingered a
moderately detectable odor of the insecticide I had used for termite
protection - and only occasionally provided her food and water.
When I walked into the house, the dog was lying on a small
carpet in the foyer area, just inside the front door. She was very
thin, very frail, and drifting in and out of consciousness. She had
lost all of her hair from the middle of her back all the way down to
the end of her tail, about half way down to the level of her stomach.
Her shallow breath had a strong odor of acetone.
When she heard the sound of my voice, she half opened her
eyes, and very weakly wagged her tail. I could then see that she was
also blind, as both of her pupils were completely clouded over with
thick, white cataracts.
Without a word I picked up the dog and immediately took her to
the emergency vet. He said she was severely dehydrated, and had
developed an advanced case of canine diabetes. Her blindness was yet
another result of this disorder. Her blood was so depleted, he could
not take a sufficient sample from anywhere but the main artery in her
neck, and I was told she wouldn't have lasted the night without
immediate treatment. I agreed, and she was put into intensive care,
where she remained for about a week or so. The vet told me that
having pups at that advanced age was probably not a good idea, and
observed that the dog had indeed been neglected.
I have been giving her regular insulin injections twice a day
since she was released from intensive care. After I took her home
with me, she was unable to stand or walk for around seven months. She
remained blind for over a year.
Two and a half years later, Lucy is now as healthy as she
would have been had I kept her all along. She has grown back all of
her fur, and now has a normal, healthy coat. She had eye surgery to
remove her cataracts about a year ago, and is now able to tire me out
when we go for long walks in the park.
But I didn't do all that because I couldn't let her go . . .
It was only because I couldn't let her go like *that*.
Pisano
BTW . . . Shithead is doing fine.
( Just like Connie.)
Jane
surprise party Saturday night at an outdoor restaurant, BTW. There were
35
friends and family there. I was impressed at her organizational skills.
>
Good God! I was so focused on Trix being ill, somehow this got right by
me...
So sorry, and HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, Dave!!!!!! Ours must be on or
near the same date. Mine was 7/17..when was yours? 15th, 16th?
<I know what you mean about the purring.
Some animal "experts" have said that purring only means that the cat is
hungry, and is looking forward to eating. That is total bullshit. My cat
runs up the stairs and jumps into my arms when I come home, and she
starts purring the minute I start to pet her. I don't see why some
people won't accept the notion that some cats really DO care about their
owners. If your cat will let you hold him/her
so that their belly is facing the ceiling, or if they lay that way on
their own, as Trix does, that is a sign of complete trust.>
I totally agree with you, Dave. I wonder sometimes if these animal
"experts" who are so intent on proving that animals don't care about
their owners are cold-blooded reptilian types or something...;( or
missing love in their own lives. Anyway, fuck 'em, we know they're
wrong, from our own experiences and those of many more.
The purring when hungry and wanting to be fed..utter bullshit. My Dusty
sits on my lap and purrs for hours, curled up in a ball or spawled out,
content as can be and increases with petting, etc. When she's hungry,
she goes into the laundry room and starts pawing at her food bag
persistently and meowing really loud.
That posture of belly up in an animal is a display of complete
vulnerability that would only be displayed in an environment of complete
trust and safety...you're right. And for her to do it while you're
holding her, even more so. So the "experts" can go.....well, you know
the refrain...! I've always believed that anecdotal reports in natural
surroundings often held more water than "expert" reports.
Jane
PS I tested positive for being allergic to cat on multiple occasions.
SO, I take 1 Claritin every day of my life and occasionally snort some
Flonase. It works. I have no symptoms. Maybe the girlfriend can do this.
Target, for example, has a bottle of OTC generic Claritin (Lortadine)
for $13.99 for 120. Every store has their own brand, still called
Lortadine