My cat Audrey: Audrey is at peace

[HarrysMom]

Re: My cat Audrey has a mouth cancer

Cebe,
I hope your cat is OK.
In a way, I think it could be a blessing in disguise to lose two cats together. They've been together so long that I can't imagine that one of them would do OK without the other. I also think (selfishly) that it would make my grief process easier - I would grieve for these two at the same time instead of losing one and then losing the other in a few months. I feel horrible even typing this. I can't even cry anymore.
They are being good loving pets to their mommy even in their final moments.

[Cebe]

Re: My cat Audrey has a mouth cancer

Yunhee, in addition to feeling with our whole hearts how much we love our animals we also have to be practical in how we deal with them, and I totally get where you're coming from. I had my moments with Abby where I was just plain over feeling the pain of watching her suffer. Didn't make the end all the easy. But I've found also a small sense of relief with Abby's passing (neither of us are suffering as much) that I didn't feel when my elderly cat died earlier this summer, and I have to say I think my elderly cat's death prepared me well for Abby's. Plus, I had time to get used to the idea that Abby was going. I didn't have that for the old cat, except knowing that she was really old.

This summer was a white knuckle exercise in just breathing. In and out. And knowing that this too shall pass. It's cliche, but true. It will pass, you will get through it. Your animals have been blessed with you as their person and have lived LONG LONG lives because of that.

(And thanks for your concern about Inky. I guess he's ok. I think he's getting a lot of hairballs. And if it makes you feel better, he hasn't seemed to skip a beat after Abby's passing. He gets a lot more attention from me, and I'm sure that helps, but he's a cat and while I've seen some of my cats pine for lost friends, sometimes they also just roll with the punches).

[Shellie]

Re: My cat Audrey has a mouth cancer

Cebe,
I hope your cat is OK.
In a way, I think it could be a blessing in disguise to lose two cats together. They've been together so long that I can't imagine that one of them would do OK without the other. I also think (selfishly) that it would make my grief process easier - I would grieve for these two at the same time instead of losing one and then losing the other in a few months. I feel horrible even typing this. I can't even cry anymore.
They are being good loving pets to their mommy even in their final moments.

Don't ever think you are selfish in any way! You have gone above and beyond with your babies! The heart only has so much it can take at any one time and you passed your limit. We all think those thoughts and they are natural when you've dealt with pain for so long. It IS a relief in many ways when they go...no one is suffering anymore and that is a good thing. Sad and horrible and we miss them terribly but it's hard on the heart, mind and soul to have an ill pet. Know you do everything you could and whatever you think does not mean you love them any less!

Been there and know those feelings. One of my cats had FLV and he would vomit so horribly and make such a mess at least once a day. And I felt guilty when I finally did put him down and was relieved not to have to clean it up anymore. I was relieved HE didn't have go thru that anymore. I still miss him every day and still have a place in my heart for him. But I know he's better and that makes it ok.

Big hugs and lots of love!!!

[HarrysMom]

Re: My cat Audrey has a mouth cancer

So, James' pancreatitis test came back resoundingly positive ("off the charts") apparently. His fructosamine came back normal, so this pancreatitis just set off diabetes.
He is drinking non-stop, so we think this is due to high blood glucose.
We are treating pancreatitis with force feeding, fluids, and antibiotics. We are also giving him buprenex for pain.
He has not eaten voluntarily since last Friday. He lost a pound. I gave him two small jars of Gerber Stage 1 Chicken last night and this morning (about 200 calories - what he needs).
We are to start a very low dosage of lantus - 1/2 unit 2x a day. Do a curve in a week.
The vet does not want to put James on steroids because of the high blood glucose, but we may try that as the last resort.
We will also do an ultrasound this week or early next week to see if there is cancer there.
If he does not eat voluntarily by this weekend, I think this may be it for him.

[Soaphie & Sydney's Mom]

Re: My cat Audrey has a mouth cancer

HUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MaryLea]

Re: My cat Audrey has a mouth cancer

Yunhee, my heart goes out to you! So many issues going on at the same time.

Love and hugs,

Mary

[Cebe]

Re: My cat Audrey has a mouth cancer

I'm so sorry Yunhee. I think you are doing the right thing monitoring his eating.

Hugs...

[eileen]

Re: My cat Audrey has a mouth cancer

Barb,
I have 2 20 yo cats, a 13 yo dog (Harry) and a 11 yo dog (Amy). If I ever have multiple pets again, I am going to widely space out this age thing. This is not fun.

I can so relate to what you are facing having all aging pets...my household too consists of all over the age of 10, the oldest being 17.

I agree, this is not a good feeling at all knowing all will pass within a short timeframe.

[HarrysMom]

Re: My cat Audrey has a mouth cancer

Thank you Eileen, Cebe, Sophie and Sydney's Mom and MaryLea.
James is now at the vet office getting his fluids, and my husband is supposed to learn to do it himself and then teach me.
At least, he has been getting supportive care since Friday (fluids, etc.). I just wish I caught this before it got this bad. I was supposed to take him for a monthly check up in August, but I got sidetracked by Audrey.

[Abby's Mom]

Re: My cat Audrey has a mouth cancer

Yunhee,

You must keep your vet in business. It must just feel like overload.... I'm so sorry to hear of James now.

His symptoms are just like Abby's were in July. What if they gave intravenous till this passes, or do you think it is more than an 'attack', but I'm sure the ultrasound will show this.

Don't give up hope... we are all here for you.

Hugs,

[HarrysMom]

Re: My cat Audrey has a mouth cancer

Yep - I am famous in all three of my vet offices as being one of their highest paying customers.
I just bought a ton of Gerber baby food jars for James - Worse comes to worse, I can use it as dog food additives. My other Irish dog, Amy, has decided that she is going to be a discriminating eater and hog as much of mommy's time from the sick pets. We have her on Flagyl and Panacur because she has been having tummy problems (eating neighborhood wild critter's poop would do that) - so she has to finish her food. It took us hours to get her to eat 1/3 of her food. She would eat whatever my husband would give her, but she becomes picky with me.

[Shellie]

Re: My cat Audrey has a mouth cancer

Can't imagine WHY eating wild critter poop would upset a tummy! LOL Dogs!

[MaryLea]

Re: My cat Audrey has a mouth cancer

Thinking of you, Yunhee.

(((hugs))),

Mary

[HarrysMom]

Re: My cat Audrey has a mouth cancer

Thank you, Mary
Audrey has been my rock the last two days. Holds me all ngiht and purrs, too. She knows something is amiss because she goes into the closet to sniff around. I expected her to go first, so I am somewhat lost. I don't know what I would do when is gone (and she will be soon).
Still eating, so I am praying everyday.

[buddingartist]

Re: My cat Audrey has a mouth cancer

I really feel for you Yunhee.

Take good care of yourself

Louise