Thinking the worst

[Vermilion]

My mum admitted to me yesterday evening that she thinks one of our cats is failing. He is the most beautiful, affectionate red tabby who we got from a rescue shelter 14 years ago. He has been part of my life since I was 10 and the thought of going home and him not being there makes my heart ache. AT the moment we're hoping that he maybe just has a thyroid problem or something. She's taking him to the vets on Monday and we'll know after that.
Please think good thoughts for our handsome chap who I've always jokingly referred to as my little brother because of his position in the family.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2164/2057423460_c87442a6db.jpg?v=0

 

[Trinique_Fire]

My heart goes out to you and the tabby. I worry about my dog Tori all the time. She's been around since I was about 10 or 11, so I know the feeling. Hard to admit that they're mortal...those beloved animals of ours.

 

[Chantilyvamp]

 

[glynndah]

I'll keep good thoughts heading your way.

 

[Guest]

They can do amazing things with thyroid treatments for kitties.

One of ours had hyperthyroid. Symptoms included weight loss even though she ate everything in sight, growing at everyone as she ate.

Treatment was medication, and instead of forcing her to swallow pills we had steroid cream in a tiny hypodermic (no needle). We'd squirt a tiny bit onto the inside of her ears once a day. She hated it, but it was easier than pills.

She did gain weight after, and stayed with us another year. She was more susceptible to illness because she was still thin, though, which is why we eventually lost her.

But - have faith and hope. Quality vets can do marvelous things. And a loving, caring family can work wonders with ailing pets.

 

[impressive]

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

 

[Gizzmotick]

We lost one of our cats a couple years ago to congestive heart failure. But we took heart in the fact that she lived a good solid 15 years with a family that loved her.

::Thinking good thoughts for your cat::

 

[_Lynn_]

We lost our Abby after having her 14 years.
She was 24 at the time and it broke my heart.

Good thoughts going your way.

 

[rachlou]

*hugs* I lost my burmese last November - she was 14. It hurt like hell. I hope your cat is going to be ok.

 

[MagicaPractica]

*hugs* I know exactly how hard it is. My cat was my father's little buddy for 16 years. I brought her up and she was MY (She would walk through the house calling my name until I let her know where I was) but he was so attached to her that I couldn't take her when I left. She passed last year. I hope you have more time with your kitty.

 

[Katyusha]

I can empathize...it's always difficult when pets lose their health. I've been around cats all my life...the cat that Gizz mentioned was the last of my family's menagerie to go. I hope that your cat is not having serious health issues and that whatever IS wrong is easily treatable. But know that there are many of us here who've been through the same thing and know exactly what you're thinking and feeling, so we're all here for you through whatever happens. *many hugs*

 

[Vermilion]

Thank you everyone, your support means so much. I'll let you know what happens.

He's listless and clingy, has a very picky appetite and feels all bony. It's so hard to see, and to hear about.

x
V

 

[Katyusha]

Thank you everyone, your support means so much. I'll let you know what happens.

He's listless and clingy, has a very picky appetite and feels all bony. It's so hard to see, and to hear about.

x
V

Do you feed him dry food or wet food?

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

Big hugs Mills

 

[sr71plt]

My mum admitted to me yesterday evening that she thinks one of our cats is failing. He is the most beautiful, affectionate red tabby who we got from a rescue shelter 14 years ago. He has been part of my life since I was 10 and the thought of going home and him not being there makes my heart ache. AT the moment we're hoping that he maybe just has a thyroid problem or something. She's taking him to the vets on Monday and we'll know after that.
Please think good thoughts for our handsome chap who I've always jokingly referred to as my little brother because of his position in the family.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2164/2057423460_c87442a6db.jpg?v=0

This is the next-to-worst part of pets, I think. Knowing they'll be leaving you and knowing that at some point you may be forced to make--and carry out--the decision for them on when enough is enough. (I think it's the hardest part of having children too--the continual dread that they might not outlive you.)

The nicest offer a friend ever made to my wife and I was volunteering to take a Siamese cat we'd dragged all over the world with us for that last ride to the vets. Mercifully, the cat died on our bed that night on his own. And I never had as much respect for my father as the day we drove into a vet's parking lot for our dog's regular checkup and he saw a woman bawling in her car, unable to take her dog in to have him put to sleep, and my dad said he'd do that for her.

Then at the other end of your own life, when pets are all the more important, you have to worry about who will take them after you're gone.

But the only thing that's worst about pets, I think, is letting that hold you back from having them--and just accepting the passage of life as part of the rhythm of life. Keeping them alive in your memories and knowing that they really did have a good thing going while you had them as part of your family.

 

[jomar]

 

[Guest]

Thank you everyone, your support means so much. I'll let you know what happens.

He's listless and clingy, has a very picky appetite and feels all bony. It's so hard to see, and to hear about.

x
V

 

[Vermilion]

Do you feed him dry food or wet food?

Both - anything he'll eat. Bits of cooked and raw chicken, beef, pork, prawns, fish - he's spoilt rotten.
When he turns down a prawn you know he's really feeling poorly.

x
V

ps- Blackbird, that was lovely and so true. It's been a long while since I lost a cat and I dread that pain again.

 

[starrkers]

Just saw this thread.
*hugs*
Hoping for good news, but offering a shoulder if needed.

sr - I had a similar experience with my beloved red burmese. My neighbour offered to cover the vet expenses for that last trip. We were very strapped at the time - husband not working at all, me working part time with two small hchildren and trying to cover a mortgage.The cat had other ideas and took his blind self off to the park. We found him several hours later after a frantic search.

 

[Fallenfromgrace]

Please keep us updated hun.

Hope that whatever is keeping him out of sorts is sortable

 

[SeaCat]

What can I say but that I understand?

I currently have five children, all of them have the permanent fur coats. One of them, (Magi) is curled up in my lap chewing on my leg.

Cat

 

[SlickTony]

It's hard when you lose a cat--we've lost 4 in all the years we've been keeping cats--1 to kidney failure brought on by old age, one got hit by a car, one died of breast cancer, and one had liver failure, although it was found out later that she had dilated cardiomyopathy. It'll be just as bad when my present lot shuffles off--even the worst of the lot, the Aby-tabby that pees on the floor, barfs on the bed and beats the other cats up.

Vermilion, I hope your little brother gets better. He's a gorgeous looking animal. That's a good picture.

 

[DesertPirate]

 

[scheherazade_79]

Thinking lots of good thoughts for your little brother. Hope today goes well today. Hugging you regardless