I'm losing my sweet cat

[JV36912]

I'm so sorry. I've lost a pet myself and I know how heartbreaking it is. Sending prayers of comfort and sweetness in your final days together

 

[foxinsox]

I’m so sorry about your lovely boy.
Are sub-cutaneous fluids an option to help him? We got an extra 3 years and good years too with our black panther with sub-q fluids administered at home every other day.

 

[MMtwo]

I’m so sorry about your lovely boy.
Are sub-cutaneous fluids an option to help him? We got an extra 3 years and good years too with our black panther with sub-q fluids administered at home every other day.

How wonderful you were able to have so much time with your baby! This is my hope too, although if cancer I would assume that won't be possible.

Jazzy just started on sub-q the other day, which he tolerates very well. He perked right up. They also added prednisolone 5mg 2x a day and the Mirataz to administer in his ear daily for appetite (I suspect you are acquainted with these).

Here is the clinker, it is maybe cancer, but maybe polycystic kidneys (common with Siamese types), or maybe a couple of other things (FIP, weird presenting kidney infection). My vet is treating as if cancer and gave him the steroids. His Creatinine is 3.3 and bun 52. Not great but not at stage 4. I reached out to a home visit vet for a second opinion on how much fluid. My vet said 200 a day. Jazzy is 16 lbs I only gave him 100 last night. Last night the poor boy seemed weak and so sleepy/lethargic. This morning met us with robust good morning meows and played with his ball, came in for snuggles, etc. I suspect the steroids make him lethargic.

One day at a tme, I guess.

 

[babs23r]

I’ve been through this with my parents cat, and mine. So heartbreaking. Hugs and strength to you and your husband. Beautiful boy.

 

[foxinsox]

How wonderful you were able to have so much time with your baby! This is my hope too, although if cancer I would assume that won't be possible.

Jazzy just started on sub-q the other day, which he tolerates very well. He perked right up. They also added prednisolone 5mg 2x a day and the Mirataz to administer in his ear daily for appetite (I suspect you are acquainted with these).

Here is the clinker, it is maybe cancer, but maybe polycystic kidneys (common with Siamese types), or maybe a couple of other things (FIP, weird presenting kidney infection). My vet is treating as if cancer and gave him the steroids. His Creatinine is 3.3 and bun 52. Not great but not at stage 4. I reached out to a home visit vet for a second opinion on how much fluid. My vet said 200 a day. Jazzy is 16 lbs I only gave him 100 last night. Last night the poor boy seemed weak and so sleepy/lethargic. This morning met us with robust good morning meows and played with his ball, came in for snuggles, etc. I suspect the steroids make him lethargic.

One day at a tme, I guess.

That’s a great response to the fluids or meds (or both)! You can split the 200ml into 2 doses if that’s easier. We used to warm the fluids for him and once he got used to the needle (and we worked out how best to wrap him - a warmed towel helped), he would purr while we fussed over and cuddle him. After he died, I reflected that the times when we did his fluids had been a blessed time with him.
Finn had terrible numbers too but they stabilised each time he crashed. You may find Jazzy has the same pattern. It’s stressful but better than when they don’t stabilise.
I hope it’s not cancer and you have months and years with your lovely boy.

 

[lala646]

I'm so sorry to hear about your sweet Jazzy. He looks like a truly sweet boy. I lost my Stanley last year, and it's still hard. I miss him terribly.

 

[empliau]

Our very old cat has just begun on fluids this week. Her first dose was done at the vet, and she did not take it well - struggled, howled, it was awful. I couldn't face it. But she was so much better afterward that my family wanted to try. We went to the vet for a hands-on demonstration and they handed me (my daughter was on needle duty, I was functioning as distraction) a tube of kitty crack. It's called Inaba Churu, and OMG she didn't even notice the needle or the fluids! All she cared about was MOAR CRACK! So we're buying some to make sure we can distract her successfully at home. The vet formula isn't easy to get and my vet won't sell it, even though the website says buy it at your vet, but an online pet pharmacy is sending us some. Also they say the pet store Inaba Churu is essentially the same, but in a cat with advanced kidney failure I want to be sure.

 

[MMtwo]

That’s a great response to the fluids or meds (or both)! You can split the 200ml into 2 doses if that’s easier. We used to warm the fluids for him and once he got used to the needle (and we worked out how best to wrap him - a warmed towel helped), he would purr while we fussed over and cuddle him. After he died, I reflected that the times when we did his fluids had been a blessed time with him.
Finn had terrible numbers too but they stabilised each time he crashed. You may find Jazzy has the same pattern. It’s stressful but better than when they don’t stabilise.
I hope it’s not cancer and you have months and years with your lovely boy.

I appreciate you sharing your experience and how blessed the time was with his "TLC" treatments. I am trying to stay hopeful, trying not to obsess (it helps neither he or I) and just live it day by day. Yesterday was a good day and that made everyone happy.

Monday I will follow up with a referral, which will mean an hour each way by car so I can get a definitive diagnosis and we'll figure it out from there.

 

[MMtwo]

Our very old cat has just begun on fluids this week. Her first dose was done at the vet, and she did not take it well - struggled, howled, it was awful. I couldn't face it. But she was so much better afterward that my family wanted to try. We went to the vet for a hands-on demonstration and they handed me (my daughter was on needle duty, I was functioning as distraction) a tube of kitty crack. It's called Inaba Churu, and OMG she didn't even notice the needle or the fluids! All she cared about was MOAR CRACK! So we're buying some to make sure we can distract her successfully at home. The vet formula isn't easy to get and my vet won't sell it, even though the website says buy it at your vet, but an online pet pharmacy is sending us some. Also they say the pet store Inaba Churu is essentially the same, but in a cat with advanced kidney failure I want to be sure.

I'm so sorry for the diagnosis and need for fluids for your girl. Glad she popped back and felt better. Sounds like the protest was vet dependent and not the procedure itself. I had to laugh at the MOAR CRACK comment. I'll look for some for a reward after the steroid pills.

Have you tried the k/d diet foods yet? We're doing okay mixing it in, but Jazzy is not a huge fan of the food.

Thankfully, Jazzy is fine with fluids and doesn't appear to even notice the sub q treatments. The steroid pills are administered in a pill popper device and has been going off like an episode of keystone cops. Many more pill spits that successes. I'm all thumbs, apparently.

 

[empliau]

Oh, our cat has been on kidney food for more than four years. We do swap brands when she goes on a food strike. She's 18.5 years old, and Burmese, so like Jazzy a Siamese cousin. And kitty crack, at least the Vet formula, is marked as an appetite stimulator, so that might be helpful in the transition to kidney diet.

Below, my baby with her "Turn the heat on for me" face.

 

[MMtwo]

Oh, our cat has been on kidney food for more than four years. We do swap brands when she goes on a food strike. She's 18.5 years old, and Burmese, so like Jazzy a Siamese cousin. And kitty crack, at least the Vet formula, is marked as an appetite stimulator, so that might be helpful in the transition to kidney diet.

Below, my baby with her "Turn the heat on for me" face.

That face...hahaha, oh stop it, she is too adorable. Inaba Churu is adding to my Amazon list now.

 

[MMtwo]

I have an update. I hauled a protesting Jazzy over the mountain to Charlottesville to a great Internal Medicine specialist. She has a feeling it may be a kidney infection and chronic kidney failure, a heart condition and a bowel condition like IBS. The xrays did not show enlarged lymph nodes. My usual vet was "90% sure" I had only days to weeks.

Tests and cultures pending, but just maybe vet 1 was wrong and the specialist can help me keep him around a while. He gained almost 1/2 pound this week, is feeling quite well and is now off fluids and cutting down the steroids. For the record fluids and steroids can push a kitty with heart disease into heart failure.

A shout out for ASPCA pet insurance. It has been a monthly investment with no return most years, but I can afford the fancy care now (up to 7k) that he is not doing as well.

 

[empliau]

Cheering paradoxically for chronic kidney disease - it's not fun, but manageable. My cat (affectionately known as Mrs. Fuzzypants, has had more than four good years. There are multiple kidney diets to alternate when they're sick of one, and lots of possibilities. Please keep us updated!

 

[newtojewels]

Kidney infection plus CKD would be great news!

I recently lost my 16+ year old cat to CKD that was stage 4 at diagnosis. He also had bad diabetes and some mild hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It all came on so suddenly, and I was second guessing myself for missed symptoms and being a bad pet owner....

Balancing the competing diseases is so hard, but I found a good balance of fluids and diet that gave me an extra (and good!) 3.5 months with him. I am lucky enough to work from home, so I basically spent all of that time snuggled up with him in bed.

It's so hard, and I will hope for you both that the specialist is right. I assume you've seen Tanya's website, but if not this may prove helpful to you.

 

[MMtwo]

Hugs you all. My sweet boy was doing so good until he was not. Hindsight is 20/20. We were dealing with cancer after all and over the weekend he was sick with mouth sores. Yesterday we found his values were off the charts and kidneys had stopped working. The steroids had bought him some time, as the first vet had predicted.
As my first vet had suggested, the renal cancer would have a temporary remission with the steroids.

So we put the sweet boy down yesterday and our hearts are broken. He was so engaged and loving at the end with boops and purs to Steven and I, and I swear was communicating so much love like he knew this was goodbye. I am so glad he didn't suffer any more. We sat with him until the end, giving him as much love as we could. Our home feels so empty today. I keep crying out of nowhere.

I know it gets easier with time but this really hurts.

 

[empliau]

I am so sorry. Their loss leaves such an aching wound. I'm glad he went in peace, and I'm sure his loving boops and purrs were conveying his love and gratitude that you wouldn't let him suffer. I cry my eyes out in your place, so have no useful advice to offer, but I know you did the right thing, and someday it will be a comfort. Until then, grieve for him - it's the love that lives in you both.

 

[RMOO]

I’m so sorry @MMtwo, I am crying right along with you.

I have faced this decision in the past, and face this decision again, likely within the year for a cat with intestinal cancer. It just sucks. Period.
Sending hugs and hope that the heart ache dulls.. Allow yourself to cry- you lost a family member.

 

[stracci2000]

Oh, I'm so sorry.
Little Jazzy was loved until the very end, and you could not have done any more as a cat mom.
It's tough, I know. {{{{Hugs}}}}

 

[elle_71125]

I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s truly devastating to say goodbye to our furbabies. They are a part of our family and they leave a huge hole in our hearts when they pass. I‘m sending you lots of warm hugs. Your sweet baby will be missed.

 

[tyty333]

I'm so, so sorry @MMtwo . Sounds like you did everything you could near the end to comfort him and I'm sure he
was grateful. Wishing you beautiful memories of your lovely boy.

 

[monarch64]

So very sorry. Yesterday marked 1 year since I lost my loving companion and I am acutely aware of how much it hurts. Thoughts are with you.

 

[rcjtraveler]

So very sorry for your loss. I am sure your sweet boy felt your love as much as you did his. Take good care.

 

[Austina]

I’m so sorry @MMtwo, it’s never easy, even when you know it’s the only and right thing to do. You gave him a wonderful long life, and were there when it mattered most, his last moments filled with love and knowing you were with him to ease his way.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Healing vibes across the miles....

kind regards--Sharon

 

[MMtwo]

Kidney infection plus CKD would be great news!

I recently lost my 16+ year old cat to CKD that was stage 4 at diagnosis. He also had bad diabetes and some mild hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It all came on so suddenly, and I was second guessing myself for missed symptoms and being a bad pet owner....

Balancing the competing diseases is so hard, but I found a good balance of fluids and diet that gave me an extra (and good!) 3.5 months with him. I am lucky enough to work from home, so I basically spent all of that time snuggled up with him in bed.

It's so hard, and I will hope for you both that the specialist is right. I assume you've seen Tanya's website, but if not this may prove helpful to you.

Hi newtojewels, I spent a good deal of time on Tanya's website when I had hope maybe it was not cancer. She did a great thing by having this resource out there for folks. I am so sorry for your loss. Having 3.5 months was great and so glad you could enjoy cuddles.

As I had posted, unfortunately it was cancer but Jazzy did have a brief few weeks of remission before it spread. The steroids really did buy extra time.

I am so sorry. Their loss leaves such an aching wound. I'm glad he went in peace, and I'm sure his loving boops and purrs were conveying his love and gratitude that you wouldn't let him suffer. I cry my eyes out in your place, so have no useful advice to offer, but I know you did the right thing, and someday it will be a comfort. Until then, grieve for him - it's the love that lives in you both.

Your words are so comforting, thank you. Nothing can make this better but time. I am so thankful to all the responses here that were so kind and supportive. That helps. There are many blessings between the hard parts. Thank you.

I’m so sorry @MMtwo, I am crying right along with you.

I have faced this decision in the past, and face this decision again, likely within the year for a cat with intestinal cancer. It just sucks. Period.
Sending hugs and hope that the heart ache dulls.. Allow yourself to cry- you lost a family member.

Thank you so much for your empathy, RMOO. I am sorry you have a sick one. A painful place to be sure. We just love them as much as possible every day we can.
Sending a hug to you and your kitty.

Oh, I'm so sorry.
Little Jazzy was loved until the very end, and you could not have done any more as a cat mom.
It's tough, I know. {{{{Hugs}}}}

{{{{ HUGS }}}} back to you, lovely Stracci2000. We were so blessed to have him as long as we did. Thank you.

I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s truly devastating to say goodbye to our furbabies. They are a part of our family and they leave a huge hole in our hearts when they pass. I‘m sending you lots of warm hugs. Your sweet baby will be missed.

Thanks elle_71125, you are so right about being family members. A big giant hole is there. One day at a time. Thanks so much for your message.

I'm so, so sorry @MMtwo . Sounds like you did everything you could near the end to comfort him and I'm sure he
was grateful. Wishing you beautiful memories of your lovely boy.

Thank you tyty333. We truly did do all we could. We were all great "friends, the cat, the hubby and I. He left this world is his favorite place, between us getting loved on. The little guy will never be forgotten.

So very sorry. Yesterday marked 1 year since I lost my loving companion and I am acutely aware of how much it hurts. Thoughts are with you.

Oh monarch64, I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for the kind words.

So very sorry for your loss. I am sure your sweet boy felt your love as much as you did his. Take good care.

rcjtraveler, thank you. I appreciate the kind words. I would say that would be our biggest hope. He felt all the love we had for him.

I’m so sorry @MMtwo, it’s never easy, even when you know it’s the only and right thing to do. You gave him a wonderful long life, and were there when it mattered most, his last moments filled with love and knowing you were with him to ease his way.

Thank you. Not easy at all, but I can think of so many good times and daily companionship. It was so worth it. Every tear.

 

[Kim N]

I'm so sorry, @MMtwo. Please take comfort in knowing you did all that you could and that Jazzy knew how much he was loved. Hugs to you.

 

[Calliecake]

I’m so sorry for your loss @MMtwo. Sending you hugs and support. I know this doesn’t make this loss easier for you but please know you did the most loving thing for Jazzy. He knew he was loved. You gave him a wonderful life.

 

[foxinsox]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Even if somewhat expected it's never easy. I’m glad you got time with him and a good send off loving him til the end. He’ll have known how loved he was and surely loved you as much in return.

 

[dk168]

Hugs you all. My sweet boy was doing so good until he was not. Hindsight is 20/20. We were dealing with cancer after all and over the weekend he was sick with mouth sores. Yesterday we found his values were off the charts and kidneys had stopped working. The steroids had bought him some time, as the first vet had predicted.
As my first vet had suggested, the renal cancer would have a temporary remission with the steroids.

So we put the sweet boy down yesterday and our hearts are broken. He was so engaged and loving at the end with boops and purs to Steven and I, and I swear was communicating so much love like he knew this was goodbye. I am so glad he didn't suffer any more. We sat with him until the end, giving him as much love as we could. Our home feels so empty today. I keep crying out of nowhere.

I know it gets easier with time but this really hurts.

So sorry to hear you loss!

DK

 

[missy]

I am so sorry @MMtwo there are no words to soften the grief and the loss you are experiencing. My heart goes out to you and I hope you can take some comfort knowing what a great life you gave Jazzy. This quote brings me some comfort "where there is deep grief there was great love". In the end you gave him the greatest gift of all. Freedom and peace from the pain. Sending you gentle hugs and my deepest condolences