Please keep my furry family in your thoughts!

ladyofthenight

Twice as Fancy
Joined
Feb 25, 2014
Messages
990
Hi everyone,

Late in January, my 2 year old cat Toby was diagnosed with cancer. He had fluid on his lungs and a lump in his chest with a diameter of 4.5cm, and was battling to breathe properly. He's been going for chemotherapy every 3 weeks and had his third session on Saturday. The lump has gone down to 2.5cm and he's a lot better now, energetic to the point of hyperactive, playing with my other two cats. But he'll need at least one more treatment, and then we still don't know if the cancer will go into remission or not.

Then this weekend my older cat Jinx, who's 4 and a half, got diagnosed with feline leukemia and kidney failure. He'd been stinky and his hair was falling out for a long time, and lately he started drinking a lot but peeing very little, being tired, and occasionally hiding under the bed. He was at the vet on a drip for 48 hours, and after testing him again they noticed a great improvement in his condition. But they're keeping him for at least another day, possibly for the rest of the week, as they want to keep him on the drip and do an ultrasound to determine the exact cause of the kindey failure.

Feline leukaemia is also contagious, so now I have to worry that Toby and his sister Furby may also have contracted it from him. They all play fairly rough with each other, so scratches or bites could have passed it around.

The entire ordeal is costing us thousands of rands, and on top of the fear of losing my cats prematurely, I now have to worry that we may go bankrupt. I'm unemployed and my mother is the only source of income we have. I'm also concerned about her, because she's battling with clinical depression, anxiety and high blood pressure. I've been having trouble sleeping, and the insomnia combined with all the stress and worry is making it hard for me to concentrate on my studies.

These cats are my babies, and they mean the world to me. It's so unfair for them to be this sick when they're still so young. And I'm all my mother has left, so I have to be the strong one and try not to let any of this get to me...

If you could, please pray for my cats and keep them and my mom in your thoughts, guys. They (and I) need all the support and positive energy they can get right now.

:Fifi:
 
I'm so sorry to hear about your cats' poor health. Hopefully the leukemia hasn't been spread to the others. Many cats are indeed exposed to feline leukemia and about 30-35% are immune due to this exposure (or so I have read through my many years of dealing with cats), so it's very possible that they will be fine. I certainly hope so. There are vaccines for feline leukemia, and if you can do so, I urge you to have any unaffected cats vaccinated very soon.

I hope your situation improves all around. Being broke and having sicks pets (as well as an ill family member, my best to your mother) can be incredibly difficult. Hang in there. I'm sending you my best wishes for better health and happiness!
 
I had to go to the vet to euthanize Jinx today, and when I got there he hissed at me through the bars of the cage. Then when he realised it was me, he was so happy that he started rubbing his head against me, meowing, letting me stroke him and tickle behind his ears. He gave me that face of his, and I just couldn't go through with it.

I didn't want his last days to have been so miserable, stuck in that tiny cage, stressed and fighting the people trying to care for him. I decided to take him home for a week or so and just let him relax in a familiar place, with people he knows who love him. The doctor said it could be a few days or a few weeks, he won't die immediately, so we have a little time to say goodbye properly and let him know that he's loved. Then when it gets bad, we'll take him back. I just want him to be happy and comfortable.
 
It's so sad to lost a pet, it is like family member. I lost my dog last year. Still missing him :( He was only 8 years (okay pretty old but the breed could live up to 14 years old or older)

Stay strong and do not stress too much. I know it's hard, but try :). I cried for weeks after losing my dog. I could not even watch other dogs :/ Just remember the good times with Jinx and try to focus how lovely cat he was. And cry as much as you like, it will help. But never despair. Life goes on and after while it will feel better.

I hope everything will work out with your other cat and with your mom. Sometimes life is heavy but the road can only go up now to better thing in life :) for sure:smilepony:
 
I am so sorry for your troubles...My friend lost her cat to leukemia. They also preferred to have her stay at home during the final days, and I think that is the right choice.

My cat is really my best friend, and although I would cry my eyes out at losing her at this semi-young age (she's 7) I think even if I lost her when she was 4 I'd be ok with it. Because I would feel confident she knew I loved her & gave her the best life I could. I know that is little comfort, but I'm sure your cat will feel the same way. Judging by all you have done for them, I bet they know they're loved even if they seem angry about being locked up in cages. ;)

I hope at least your other cat will recover from his cancer scare, and I wish the best to you & your mom.
 
I will keep your cat in my prayers as well.
 
I think this is a good idea for you and Jinx both. It'll give you time to let him know how much he's blessed you, and you can spoil him a little more before you give him his freedom. Putting an animal down is always hard, but it's also a gift. I wish we could all look forward to a painless death in the arms of our loved ones.

I admit, I believe we reincarnate. I always ask my animal companions to come back to me if they so choose, and sometimes I think they do.
 
I am so so sorry about Jinx and Toby. I have three cats (aged almost 15, 4 and 5) and I'm terrified of the thought of them getting sick, especially my old girl, who was already 10 when I adopted her from the shelter.

I agree that your home is the best place for Jinx, especially if she's fearful of the vet. I've owned and lost several dogs and cats in my lifetime and if she needs to be put to sleep you'll know in your heart that it's time. There's just something in their eyes that lets you know. I was heartbroken when I had to have my Golden Retriever put to sleep, but I also knew when the time came that it was the right thing to do.

I really hope that Toby improves and that the other cats come back Leukemia free.

Do you have a paypal account? I'd be happy to make a donation to help with your bills if you do.
 
I just wanted to update this thread to say I took Jinx back to the vet to be euthanised today.

He had stopped eating or drinking and was extremely thin and weak. He stood in the middle of empty rooms crying, which was completely out of character for my typically silent cat. He no longer came over to us, of his own or when called to, and didn't let us hold him for more than a few seconds at a time.

I am just thankful for having been allowed to take him home for these last three weeks, so that I at least had the chance to appreciate him and be with him a little longer. I at least had the few times when he did still come sit on my lap or next to me on my chair, and he'd lie with me for long hours into the night. He didn't have the energy to give me hugs the way he used to, but he tried, and I still got a few paw-ups and headbutts from him before he got too sick. He slept on the corner of my bed for a few nights, and gave me one solitary night of sleeping on my blanket next to my legs, before he started hiding away behind the furniture.

I wish it didn't have to be like this, and I wish I didn't have to let him go. I miss him terribly. I can't believe he's gone, and it hurts thinking that I'll never see him again. But he was in pain, and I just couldn't let him suffer like that anymore. There was nothing else I or anyone else could have done for him. I was with him until the very end, and I'm just happy it was quick and painless, and that he didn't have to be alone.
 
Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry! :bighug: I haven't much experience losing pets myself(unless you include goldfish XD), but I know the pain of losing family members and it is almost unbearable. :sadpony: I really hope you are able to deal with your stress and that the pain of losing your kitty becomes less of a tax on your studies. I will definitely keep your family in my thoughts and prayers because losing a kitty is not something fun, especially when they are so young and mean so much to you. :cry2:

Also I read you're struggling for bits. I believe the pony who last posted before you offered to donate what they can; I'd take them up on that. :winkpony:
 
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