Deathwatch
I think we’re in the last few days for the cat pictured in the icon. Bless his heart, he’s had a good, full life, and lived longer than we thought he would. He’s about 16, diabetic and has been receiving twice-daily insulin injections for the last seven years. Additionally, he has thyroid problems for which he gets twice-daily pills, cataracts which have rendered him nearly blind, and glaucoma which he receives thrice-daily eyedrops to manage. He’s down to about six and a half pounds. His digestion is bad, with him not keeping food down sometimes, or, as yesterday, having diarrhea. He’s also flea-ridden, in spite of various anti-flea remedies, because he’s in ill-health and is not cleaning himself very well or often. I comb him daily. In spite of all his problems, he is still in charge, and still lords it over the younger, much fatter cat in the house.
He’s a good boy, but he’s not eating anymore. He’s been to the vet several times already this year, and at this point, I think this is it, just because I don’t think there’s anything they could do for him. Right now he’s very comfortable, lying on a towel on our treadmill in the den. I think it’s about as high as he can step. No jumping for him anymore. He’s spent the last few days alternating between lying there and lying on a rug in front of our daughter’s dollhouse.
My husband got the cat when he was a tiny kitten, small enough to walk back and forth on the palm of his hand. Apparently it was quite difficult for him to get a cat, since many people were understandably cautious about giving a tiny kitten to a group of college guys. In the lean years before I met him, when there wasn’t enough for the hubby and cat to eat, he would always be sure the cat ate first. Sometimes it would have to be junk like sour cream, but he did his best, college guy that he was.
Before the cat had his last round of illness (that’d be the glaucoma a few weeks ago), I would have said that it’d be a shame when the cat went, but frankly, that’d be one less expense and responsibility. These cats have cost us hundreds of dollars in the last two months alone, and I’d be lying if I said I enjoyed eyedrops, etc. for him, particularly when I’m also having to keep an eye on the obesity-related problems of the other cat. But funny, when I called the vet a few weeks ago for an appointment, and they said, “well, maybe in a couple of days,” I started crying. (Obviously, they fit me in that day at that point.) It’s surprising how much I do care about this guy.
I think of all the things this cool cat has done. He once leaped a 6 foot tall fence without touching it in order to get to the catnip plant on the other side.
One winter when it snowed, we were worried about him and traced his footprints through the neighborhood, only to find he had curled up beside a warm hot water heater in someone’s basement and was just fine.
He was a strong hunter in his prime, but only liked to eat the animals’ heads. He often left the headless corpses of mice in the garden. We theorize it was as a grisly warning to the rest of the rodents.
When we had three cats, we once found him calmly eating from his food bowl, a paw on the head of each cat beside him to pin them down.
He once brought a bird into the house, and when my husband yelled “Purr-Zha!” at him, the cat picked up the bird, carried it to his food dish, then looked up at my husband like, “Okay? We all good now?”
I hope I’m wrong and you have many happy years left, but if that’s not to be, I hope you stay as comfortable and warm as you are now, and go gently. We’ll miss you.
So sorry. He sounds like a wonderful guy. But don’t feel bad at having both pragmatic and emotional (sad) reactions. It’s how we deal with things.
So sorry. He sounds like a wonderful guy. But don’t feel bad at having both pragmatic and emotional (sad) reactions. It’s how we deal with things.
Oh no! I am so sorry he’s doing poorly…one of my guys, Ripple, is also diabetic…I’ve been giving him shots for a year and a half now (he’s only 6 though) and I was so scared when the vet said he had dibetes because I thought he might die, but she said he’d live a good and long life with proper treatment, as I see that your guy did! I hope he goes painlessly. 🙁
Oh no! I am so sorry he’s doing poorly…one of my guys, Ripple, is also diabetic…I’ve been giving him shots for a year and a half now (he’s only 6 though) and I was so scared when the vet said he had dibetes because I thought he might die, but she said he’d live a good and long life with proper treatment, as I see that your guy did! I hope he goes painlessly. 🙁
Losing a pet is awful, and just as traumatic and heartbreaking as losing a human loved one can be. More often than not you’ve raised the cat (or dog, or lizard etc) from a very young age, and it has lived exclusively with you and because of you. I think it’s that wholly symbiotic relationship (“You feed me and keep me sheltered, and occasionally I might let you pat me”) that really turns the knife at times like these.
Good luck and good health to your little kitty, may he be peaceful until he is ready to rest in peace.
Losing a pet is awful, and just as traumatic and heartbreaking as losing a human loved one can be. More often than not you’ve raised the cat (or dog, or lizard etc) from a very young age, and it has lived exclusively with you and because of you. I think it’s that wholly symbiotic relationship (“You feed me and keep me sheltered, and occasionally I might let you pat me”) that really turns the knife at times like these.
Good luck and good health to your little kitty, may he be peaceful until he is ready to rest in peace.
He sounds like a wonderful part of your family. I hope he feels better soon.
He sounds like a wonderful part of your family. I hope he feels better soon.
I’m sorry to hear he isn’t doing well. Hopes for recovery and more pleasant years, or, if that’s not to be, for a peaceful passing.
I’m sorry to hear he isn’t doing well. Hopes for recovery and more pleasant years, or, if that’s not to be, for a peaceful passing.
(hugs) I know it’s hard, even when you didn’t realize it was going to be. Thinking of you.
(hugs) I know it’s hard, even when you didn’t realize it was going to be. Thinking of you.
I’m so sorry to hear this. I’m not a pet owner myself, but most of my friends are.
On that note, this makes the 10th animal or so I know of within my circle of friends to be on his or her last legs within the last six months. Geez, universe. Are you systematically running an epidemic here?
I’m so sorry to hear this. I’m not a pet owner myself, but most of my friends are.
On that note, this makes the 10th animal or so I know of within my circle of friends to be on his or her last legs within the last six months. Geez, universe. Are you systematically running an epidemic here?
My cat did something similar to me 2 years ago, and I thought he was going to be leaving me at the same time as my mom was leaving us. A full week he spent at the vet with them doing nothing but giving him fluids and him with a cathater (sp). I had talked to the vet, her explaining to me he probably would need surgery due to a kidney stone, me crying my eyes out explaining that I could not afford that right now since my mom was dying of a brain tumor and if it came to that, I would have to put him to sleep instead.
Then, Thursday night of that week, I get a call from the vet and my heart is pounding thinking he has gotten worse and I was going to have to make that final call when to my surprise, he had pulled out his tubes and stood up. They let me bring him home the next day and I had to leave the next week for NC to be with my mom. Cats are amazingly resilant. You never know if they are just using up another live or reached the end, I’ve learned.
My cat did something similar to me 2 years ago, and I thought he was going to be leaving me at the same time as my mom was leaving us. A full week he spent at the vet with them doing nothing but giving him fluids and him with a cathater (sp). I had talked to the vet, her explaining to me he probably would need surgery due to a kidney stone, me crying my eyes out explaining that I could not afford that right now since my mom was dying of a brain tumor and if it came to that, I would have to put him to sleep instead.
Then, Thursday night of that week, I get a call from the vet and my heart is pounding thinking he has gotten worse and I was going to have to make that final call when to my surprise, he had pulled out his tubes and stood up. They let me bring him home the next day and I had to leave the next week for NC to be with my mom. Cats are amazingly resilant. You never know if they are just using up another live or reached the end, I’ve learned.
Ah, I’m sorry to hear this, I hope recovers.
Ah, I’m sorry to hear this, I hope recovers.
Aww, man. My dog’s been on her last legs for the last year and a half of her 16+, so I can thoroughly relate. I’m only glad to have so many wonderful memories (and at least one really great picture!) of her. And I have to say, when I pictured your cat pinning down the other two at the food dish, I laughed right out loud! Write ’em down with the pictures; this cat deserves a spot in the family album.
Aww, man. My dog’s been on her last legs for the last year and a half of her 16+, so I can thoroughly relate. I’m only glad to have so many wonderful memories (and at least one really great picture!) of her. And I have to say, when I pictured your cat pinning down the other two at the food dish, I laughed right out loud! Write ’em down with the pictures; this cat deserves a spot in the family album.
I’m so sorry. It’s hard when you know the end is coming. But you’re doing the right thing in just keeping him as comfortable and happy as possible. He sounds like he was quite the character in his day, just like my Zuzu was, and it’s hard to see them deteriorate. Just remind him of how wonderful a cat he is as much as you can while he’s still there. I’m thinking of you and your family as you go through this.
I’m so sorry. It’s hard when you know the end is coming. But you’re doing the right thing in just keeping him as comfortable and happy as possible. He sounds like he was quite the character in his day, just like my Zuzu was, and it’s hard to see them deteriorate. Just remind him of how wonderful a cat he is as much as you can while he’s still there. I’m thinking of you and your family as you go through this.
Losing a pet that has been such a rich part of your life leaves a gap that can never be filled. But the memories and the legend of the pet seems to grow over the years. After this amazing character has gone, there will be the joy and shared warmth of stories told of “oh, remember when …” for years to come. My Ludwig has been dead for seven years now .. and his legend survives still in stories told at family gatherings.
The great ones never really die, they just become immortalized in the memories of those who loved them.
Losing a pet that has been such a rich part of your life leaves a gap that can never be filled. But the memories and the legend of the pet seems to grow over the years. After this amazing character has gone, there will be the joy and shared warmth of stories told of “oh, remember when …” for years to come. My Ludwig has been dead for seven years now .. and his legend survives still in stories told at family gatherings.
The great ones never really die, they just become immortalized in the memories of those who loved them.
:hugs:
:hugs:
Thanks. We were also really, really scared when we got the news about his diabetes. He even had some neuropathy, where his body had started scavenging the muscle tissue in his hind legs, making it hard for him to jump and walk without really falling down on his haunches. They said it would be irreversible. However, shortly after the shots started, he recovered nicely and never had any problems jumping up on the bed or walking and running normally.
I spoke with the vet this morning, and it would appear that Purr-Zha has cancer in his lungs. Not good news for him, but I hope you can take some comfort from the fact that for our cat, it wasn’t the diabetes or any of its complications that got him. Your cat can live a very long and happy life, and probably will, with you taking such good care of him.
Thanks. We were also really, really scared when we got the news about his diabetes. He even had some neuropathy, where his body had started scavenging the muscle tissue in his hind legs, making it hard for him to jump and walk without really falling down on his haunches. They said it would be irreversible. However, shortly after the shots started, he recovered nicely and never had any problems jumping up on the bed or walking and running normally.
I spoke with the vet this morning, and it would appear that Purr-Zha has cancer in his lungs. Not good news for him, but I hope you can take some comfort from the fact that for our cat, it wasn’t the diabetes or any of its complications that got him. Your cat can live a very long and happy life, and probably will, with you taking such good care of him.
That’s amazing. I’m so glad that your cat’s story had a happy ending!
That’s amazing. I’m so glad that your cat’s story had a happy ending!
Pets insinuate themselves so tightly into our lives, and our lives are immeasurably enriched by them. No matter the outcome, it sounds like you have some wonderful memories of his antics.
Pets insinuate themselves so tightly into our lives, and our lives are immeasurably enriched by them. No matter the outcome, it sounds like you have some wonderful memories of his antics.
awwww, what a tender post about a loving companion. I love my kitties and have lost a few and every time it’s just as hard as the first. What would life be like tho if we didn’t have a kitty to love? EMPTY
my heart goes out to you and your family
awwww, what a tender post about a loving companion. I love my kitties and have lost a few and every time it’s just as hard as the first. What would life be like tho if we didn’t have a kitty to love? EMPTY
my heart goes out to you and your family