5/20 Kasha AMPS 524 PMPS 502 | Big Cat at the Bridge

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kryskat

kryskat

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This better be just a bounce. I don't believe that completely though, after the last few weeks.

She ate about 3/4 breakfast at first. Now that I waited a bit and gave her a second helping, she's finished her full meal (and maybe the tiniest bit extra). She just doesn't like to eat the entire thing at once (it's not that much, but she's a grazer at heart).

Wild night last night - blues and greens and then I apparently passed out from the excitement because instead of checking her +6, I woke up hours later (4 am) on the couch freezing.

Yesterday
 
Re: 5/20 Kasha 524

Wild night last night - blues and greens and then I apparently passed out from the excitement because instead of checking her +6, I woke up hours later (4 am) on the couch freezing.
Click to expand...

Wow you did have some excitement. I hope it was just a bounce and she comes down today. My kitty is a grazer, too, just eating some and leaving some in the dish. My Rainbow kitty used to ask me for food and then walk away once I filled it? He wanted it for later I guess!! Is it cold back in OH land, as you mentioned you were freezing?
 
Re: 5/20 Kasha 524

Not so cold in the day, but it was down in the 50s last night and I fell asleep with the windows open. Woke up very chilly, with my feet tucked under a kitty for warmth (not Kasha, she wouldn't stand for such treatment).
 
Re: 5/20 Kasha 524

One of my civvies, Big White Cat, is not doing well at all today. His breathing is rough, raspy, wheezy. I gave him his 5 mg prednisolone tablet and he just started to wheeze and breathe funny. I thought maybe the pill went down wrong or something, but nothing seemed to help. He's not particularly worried about it, but I am. He went into his bed with his face to the wall and was resting when I left for work.

He's been going downhill for a couple of months, from the time Kasha got her dx (diabetes) and Blue got his dx for a tumor on his foot. Big Cat started to fade, don't know why. Won't eat without prednisolone now. In fact, he's not eating today at all. I heard him wheeze a little yesterday, maybe when I gave his pill, but it went away in a few minutes. Then I heard some strange breathing sounds while I was watching a movie last night - I even replayed the scene to see if it was the movie or something else. It wasn't the movie, and now I think it was probably Big Cat. Knowing him, I made the decision a month or so ago to NOT try extraordinary measures to keep him with me. He's just too sensitive and gentle and sweet and I don't want to put him through anything more. His brother and Kasha are just more adaptable.

We have a vet appt today at 1:40 (earliest I could get his regular vet - talked to a surgery nurse to determine if we could wait that long)... I'm a little worried about whether he'll be coming back home with me this time :cry:

Crying at work again... Why are all my cats sick?
 
Re: 5/20 Kasha 524

Hi,
I'm glad you're getting Big White Cat to the Vet. What is his diagnosis for being on prednisolone? Maybe you could try a little baby food after he swollows his pill. I do that with Maggie when I give her the antibiotic pill. I hope the Vet can help Big White Cat. My sugar kitty seemed to get diabetes a year after her companion kitty crossed the rainbow. I think I should have adopted a kitty companion for her, but I just wasn't sure what to do. Keep us posted on the Vet visit.
 
Re: 5/20 Kasha 524

Krys --

This is definitely a bounce. Kasha's numbers dropped from the reds to the greens within a few hours. It's not a surprise that she zoomed back up.

I'm sorry that Big White Cat is struggling. Please keep us updated.

Sometimes, I think our cats are more in sync with each other than we realize. Gabby was diagnosed a couple of months after George crossed the Bridge after a year-long struggle with intestinal CA.
 
Re: 5/20 Kasha 524

Thanks all.

Big Cat has no diagnoses - the vet trips stress him out so much, that as a last ditch effort to make him more comfortable, we tried prednisone injections - worked very well for him, so I switched to oral prednisolone so I could more easily administer the meds at home. That worked well for a while, some bad days, but this isn't looking good. From his symptoms, I would suggest he could possibly be asthmatic or even some mild IBD (he does vomit more than the others, but no other symptoms), but preliminary tests showed nothing. His blood tests looked good, we thought it could be stress related. There was the tiniest increase in inflammatory indicators (not sure which ones) in his bloodwork, which is why the pred was suggested.

He's the kind of kitty that gets terribly, horribly stressed when one of the other cats goes to the vet. Much worse when he goes. And everyone has been to the vet so many times in the last couple of months, I think he's upset enough about all of it. I can't imagine putting him through the kind of tests or procedures that I might consider for the other 2. When he started to go downhill abruptly a few mos ago, I could just look at him and get the gut feeling that he isn't going to be with me much longer. He lost a couple of pounds in a little over a month. Stopped eating. Started hiding and acting aggressively and/or fearfully toward the others (that behavior stopped when we started the prednisolone, btw).

I've been trying to keep him comfortable and hoping my ex would be able to make it into town to see the kitties before I lose one or more or them (this was his special cat when we lived together years ago). But he (ex) is -er - unavoidably detained in another state right now and I don't know if I can keep Big Cat around much longer. He's such a sweet sensitive boy... I don't want him to suffer.

When Kasha and Blue were diagnosed with their various maladies, I thought - It's going to be just me and Big Cat at some point. He was the only one with nothing wrong. And then this.
 
Re: 5/20 Kasha 524

Im so sorry about Big Cat. I hope he will rally long enough for your ex to see him hopefully, as long as he isn't suffering too much. My rainbow kitty had intestinal lymphoma and more than a few times I thought he was going to leave, only to rally and even gain a few ounces. He was on prednisolone, too, along with some others.
 
Re: 5/20 Kasha 524 Big Cat update

Big Cat update: He's at the vet in an oxygen tent now. He's not stable enough to x-ray. He almost died before they got him in the tent and shot him with Lasix to help get the fluid out of his lungs or whatever. They will call in a few hours, if he stabilizes they will x-ray and send to a radiologist. If not... the vet said he didn't want me to feel totally hopeless, but he also didn't want me to think I would definitely be taking Big Cat back home with me. He went from sitting calmly in my dining room, wheezing softly to struggling for air and purple gums on the exam table 10 minutes later. He's lost around 4 lbs since February.

I think he's sitting at the foot of the bridge right now, getting ready to cross...

My gorgeous boy.
 
Re: 5/20 Kasha 524 Big Cat update

Oh, I am so sorry about Big Cat. I was hoping you would have some better news about him, poor thing. If he's struggling to breathe, that is something very hard to fight. Hoping for a miracle for you. But if it is not to be, I wish him a safe and easy journey on to his next adventure across the bridge. (((Krys)))
 
Re: 5/20 Kasha 524 Big Cat update

(((((Krys)))))
You'll make the right decision no matter what it is. Big Cat knows you love him and care about him. That's what matters.
 
Re: 5/20 Kasha 524 Big Cat update

It sounds like Big Cat is in good hands with a your Vet. I'm keeping you and Big Cat in my thoughts and prayers.
 
Re: 5/20 Kasha 524 Big Cat update

I'm so sorry to hear about Big Cat!

As I was going through the string, I was thinking that I was going to suggest the wheezing could be related to fluid build-up, possibly from his heart not pumping as it should. My Mom had a cat who lived for years with a not-perfect heart with the help of Lasix, granted, it was caught quite early.

He's in safe hands and I am sure they are doing whatever they can for him. He knows you love him and he loves you, I'm sure he'll try his very best for you!

We are all thinking of you!

Hugs from Maria & Suzie
 
Re: 5/20 Kasha 524 Big Cat update

Krys,

I'm sorry to hear about Big Cat but I have my fingers crossed. Belle had the same problem 4 months ago where she just couldn't catch her breath and had weird noises coming out of her nose. She has asthma(and IBD), but it was like nothing I'd seen before. It turns out she had congestive heart failure, and a few days in an oxygen tent, some lasix and supportive care, she got through it. She was put on Enalapril and Plavix, and she's been fine since. If he has fluid in his lungs, it may be the same thing, and hopefully he can pull through it.

Jason

Edit: I also have a cat with IBD that will not eat on less than 2.5mg of prednisolone a day. She will just stop eating. I thought of her when you said that about Big Cat. It sounds like he has multiple things going on, but hopefully they can diagnose and treat him ASAP so he can be back home with you soon.
 
Re: 5/20 Kasha 524 Big Cat update

Sad news: Big Cat showed some limited improvement this afternoon and they could do some X-rays. He is full of fluid. I discussed options with my vet and he feels we could buy some time by drawing out the fluids and putting him on meds, but given Big Cat's condition, he feels we would only be buying a short time and I don't feel that I can put him through that just to keep him with me. If you had seen him today, you would see that he is not the same cat he was a couple of months ago. He is clearly resigned and I don't want to put him through anything more. Just knowing him... it would be cruel, I think. A different cat maybe - but not him.

So, tonight at 7:40 pm, my gorgeous boy is going to cross the Rainbow Bridge. It's strange knowing this beforehand. I hope my girls, Flower and Sabella, are there to guide him.

I'm going to miss him so much.
 
Re: 5/20 Kasha 524 Big Cat update

I'm so sorry and sad for you. I think you are doing the right thing in letting him go and not suffer. I think our pets have a way of telling us they're ready to leave and cross over, and it's up to us to help them. Yes, your girls, Flower and Sabella, will be there to guide him. Lots of hugs and prayers.
 
Re: 5/20 Kasha 524 Big Cat update

(((((Krys)))))
They really do tell us when it is their time if we are enough in tune to listen. You heard Big Cat and you will be doing him the final kindness. All of our GA kitties will be there to guide him and to play and help chase butterflies.
 
Re: 5/20 Kasha 524 Big Cat update

(((Krys))) Thinking of you tonight. Big Cat will rest easy now. You are listening to your heart and showing true kindness to Big Cat.
 
Re: 5/20 Kasha 524 Big Cat update

((((((Krys)))))) I am so sorry with all you are dealing with. I am sorry you are having to make this decision. My prayers are with you.
 
Re: 5/20 Kasha 524 Big Cat update

Too, too sad to hear about Big Cat as he sounds like such a sweetheart watching & worrying over the other kitties. I hope you can take care of you too as the stress is great & you must feel exhausted. You & Big Cat are in our prayers. Take special care and we are so, so sorry for the pain & sadness.
 
Re: 5/20 Kasha 524 Big Cat update

I am so sorry to read about Big Cat. I also believe that they let us know when it is time, as sad as that may be. You will make the right decision, he will help you. I think it is wonderful that you are so sensitive to the needs of your guy, that you can listen to what he is telling you. It is the final kindness.

Big Cat will rest easy now. You are in our prayers.
 
Re: 5/20 Kasha 524 Big Cat update

(((Krys)))) so sorry about Big Cat, he sounds like a lovely kitty, sending prayers for you both.
Take good care.
 
I'm so sorry, Krys, I was hoping for a different outcome but you did everything you could.

Fly free, Big Cat. wings_cat
 
I am so sad, so sorry to hear the news of Big Cat's passing; he is now with no suffering. My thoughts are with you and your kitties now.
 
((Krys))
I am so sorry for your loss of Big Cat.
He has now joine our other GA's and they are all at peace looking down at us.
Sending healing vines to you.
 
Hi Krys-

You did everything you could. It's good that he told you it was time. God, it sucks, doesn't it? You're a great mom. I know what you mean about the breathing; Boomer did this too. He'd NEVER done that before. That was my first sign-I was horrified. You just do what you can and they guide you. I'm glad you've got other fur kids at home to comfort you, it's a HUGE help. Thinking of you xoxo.
 
Krys,

Thinking of you and know this is a difficult time. I believe that our pets are chosen for us/they choose us for a reason. Big Cat chose you, and you understood him and knew what he needed.

Take care-
 
I am so sorry for your loss of Big White Cat. I know how sad you must feel. You took on his pain and set him free to play at the Rainbow Bridge. Sending you peace & comfort.
 
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