Heike & BInie
Member Since 2024
Dear friends,
I wanted to give an update long ago, to tell you how well Binie is doing and that the vet calls her the "miracle cat". I didn't expect we were running out of luck that soon and my update would have such an unexpected twist for the worse. My sweet girl Binie passed unexpectedly on Thursday evening at home, after she had a year where she was doing well besides all her health challenges.
Some of you will still remember that Binie suffered terrible skin issues with open wounds and that besides many tests, treatments and one surgery there was no diagnosis for a long time. In spring last year she was so miserable, the vet discussed euthanasia with me. I am lucky that my vet didn't give up on her and so she finally got the diagnosis feline leprosy, which is very rare and hard to diagnose. The recommended treatment is a quite harsh antibiotic therapy for many months with no guarantee of success and we decided that we don't want to do it to her. Instead we put her on a milder antibiotic she took daily which not only cleared up her skin but also helped her to prevent her permanent bladder infections. My dear friend Staci recommended her wonderful holistic vet, who found the right supplements for Binie to boost her immune system and help to reduce the damage done by the daily antibiotics. After some time, I stopped making crosses in the "quality of life" journal I once started for her because it was so evident, that she enjoyed her life most of the time.
Here are my favorite pictures of her I made this spring and summer. The left one is Binie greeting me after I came home, the middle one Binie watching a swarm of bugs in her catnip. The right one I took on Wednesday afternoon directly after the vet visit, the day before she passed away.
Last Friday we have been at the vet for the blood work we did every three months. The vet mentioned how good she looks and the blood work didn't show anything which would indicate what would happen. I remember that Tuesday night she was very active outside as it was the first day without that terrible heat and everything looked fine. In the morning she was bouncing but everything seemed normal. Then at lunch time she had two epileptic seizures. She never had that before. I rushed her to the vet, they tested her neurological reflexes and everything was normal. When we came back home, she was her usual self and went outside. When I was in the kitchen preparing dinner for her three hours later, I heard her puking outside. Binie rarely pukes so I was immediately concerned. Unfortunately it continued during the night. Even though she was hungry and eating, she couldn't hold food and water. As I am far from any ER I consulted an online vet to discuss if I can keep her at home until the vet opens or if I should drive her two hours to the next clinic. She still looked good and the vet agreed I could keep her at home. On Thursday she spent the whole day at the vet, they made X-rays, took blood, gave fluids, Cerenia and something for stomach protection. They didn't find any obvious reason for what is going on. When I came to pick her up and they had to put her into the box she had another seizure. The vet looked after her and she told me that we are dealing with some unknown neurological problem and I should see how the night goes. She already mentioned it doesn't look good. When we arrived home 20 minutes later, I felt Binie was not herself anymore and she collapsed directly after she left the box. After a short time I spent with her on the ground, the seizures started again. This time they didn't stop and I feared she would suffer. As my vet was closed, I called an emergency vet and was super lucky, someone answered and was even close. When he came about ten minutes later her temperature was already low and her little body was fighting. It was evident that she was on her way already and he helped her cross. My hope is, that her brain was already damaged by then and she didn't suffer. Her last bloodwork came on Saturday and only showed, that she most likely had pancreatitis. That doesn't explain the seizures as her electrolytes have all been in range. One of the explanations which makes most sense to me is, that she either had a brain bleeding or a tumor which has just grown enough to cause these problems and that the possible pancreatitis was just an additional problem.
My heart is aching and I miss her every minute of every day. At the same time I am grateful she had a great last year even though she had so many health issues and my vets comment about her last X-ray was: "Nothing looks right inside this cat.". We have been on the diabetes journey for almost three years and some of you know, it took us time, many tears on my side and hisses on her side to become a team in this. But this journey brought us closer together than I ever imagined and my whole life revolved around her. I am sure it will take me a long time to reorient in life but it was all worth it.
Thank you so much to everyone sending healing thoughts and condolences on Ivys thread and thank you so much dear @Staci & Ivy to let everyone know, how she is.
Even though I was quiet the last year, I will never forget how much help, knowledge, kindness and friendship I found on this board. I remember that @Seth&Bell once said, that this is the friendliest place on the internet. I couldn't agree more. Thank you so, so much!
Please forgive me, if I forget anyone who was part of our journey:
@Staci & Ivy @SmallestSparrow @Sheila and Minky @Seth&Bell @Diane Tyler's Mom GA @Briana + Binx @Mary & Jude @Marje and Gracie @Wendy&Neko @tiffmaxee @Tim & Pookey @cecile & bella @Karolina & Nestle @Deb&Tiger(wa) @Connie & Parker & Moonie @carfurby (GA) @Fistuk & Shelly
I love to imagine - as @Karolina & Nestle said - fd cats welcomed Binie at the end of the
and they enjoy her beloved meat sticks and churus together. Please hug your sweet girls and boys tonight.
I wanted to give an update long ago, to tell you how well Binie is doing and that the vet calls her the "miracle cat". I didn't expect we were running out of luck that soon and my update would have such an unexpected twist for the worse. My sweet girl Binie passed unexpectedly on Thursday evening at home, after she had a year where she was doing well besides all her health challenges.
Some of you will still remember that Binie suffered terrible skin issues with open wounds and that besides many tests, treatments and one surgery there was no diagnosis for a long time. In spring last year she was so miserable, the vet discussed euthanasia with me. I am lucky that my vet didn't give up on her and so she finally got the diagnosis feline leprosy, which is very rare and hard to diagnose. The recommended treatment is a quite harsh antibiotic therapy for many months with no guarantee of success and we decided that we don't want to do it to her. Instead we put her on a milder antibiotic she took daily which not only cleared up her skin but also helped her to prevent her permanent bladder infections. My dear friend Staci recommended her wonderful holistic vet, who found the right supplements for Binie to boost her immune system and help to reduce the damage done by the daily antibiotics. After some time, I stopped making crosses in the "quality of life" journal I once started for her because it was so evident, that she enjoyed her life most of the time.
Here are my favorite pictures of her I made this spring and summer. The left one is Binie greeting me after I came home, the middle one Binie watching a swarm of bugs in her catnip. The right one I took on Wednesday afternoon directly after the vet visit, the day before she passed away.
Last Friday we have been at the vet for the blood work we did every three months. The vet mentioned how good she looks and the blood work didn't show anything which would indicate what would happen. I remember that Tuesday night she was very active outside as it was the first day without that terrible heat and everything looked fine. In the morning she was bouncing but everything seemed normal. Then at lunch time she had two epileptic seizures. She never had that before. I rushed her to the vet, they tested her neurological reflexes and everything was normal. When we came back home, she was her usual self and went outside. When I was in the kitchen preparing dinner for her three hours later, I heard her puking outside. Binie rarely pukes so I was immediately concerned. Unfortunately it continued during the night. Even though she was hungry and eating, she couldn't hold food and water. As I am far from any ER I consulted an online vet to discuss if I can keep her at home until the vet opens or if I should drive her two hours to the next clinic. She still looked good and the vet agreed I could keep her at home. On Thursday she spent the whole day at the vet, they made X-rays, took blood, gave fluids, Cerenia and something for stomach protection. They didn't find any obvious reason for what is going on. When I came to pick her up and they had to put her into the box she had another seizure. The vet looked after her and she told me that we are dealing with some unknown neurological problem and I should see how the night goes. She already mentioned it doesn't look good. When we arrived home 20 minutes later, I felt Binie was not herself anymore and she collapsed directly after she left the box. After a short time I spent with her on the ground, the seizures started again. This time they didn't stop and I feared she would suffer. As my vet was closed, I called an emergency vet and was super lucky, someone answered and was even close. When he came about ten minutes later her temperature was already low and her little body was fighting. It was evident that she was on her way already and he helped her cross. My hope is, that her brain was already damaged by then and she didn't suffer. Her last bloodwork came on Saturday and only showed, that she most likely had pancreatitis. That doesn't explain the seizures as her electrolytes have all been in range. One of the explanations which makes most sense to me is, that she either had a brain bleeding or a tumor which has just grown enough to cause these problems and that the possible pancreatitis was just an additional problem.
My heart is aching and I miss her every minute of every day. At the same time I am grateful she had a great last year even though she had so many health issues and my vets comment about her last X-ray was: "Nothing looks right inside this cat.". We have been on the diabetes journey for almost three years and some of you know, it took us time, many tears on my side and hisses on her side to become a team in this. But this journey brought us closer together than I ever imagined and my whole life revolved around her. I am sure it will take me a long time to reorient in life but it was all worth it.
Thank you so much to everyone sending healing thoughts and condolences on Ivys thread and thank you so much dear @Staci & Ivy to let everyone know, how she is.
Even though I was quiet the last year, I will never forget how much help, knowledge, kindness and friendship I found on this board. I remember that @Seth&Bell once said, that this is the friendliest place on the internet. I couldn't agree more. Thank you so, so much! Please forgive me, if I forget anyone who was part of our journey:
@Staci & Ivy @SmallestSparrow @Sheila and Minky @Seth&Bell @Diane Tyler's Mom GA @Briana + Binx @Mary & Jude @Marje and Gracie @Wendy&Neko @tiffmaxee @Tim & Pookey @cecile & bella @Karolina & Nestle @Deb&Tiger(wa) @Connie & Parker & Moonie @carfurby (GA) @Fistuk & Shelly
I love to imagine - as @Karolina & Nestle said - fd cats welcomed Binie at the end of the
and they enjoy her beloved meat sticks and churus together. Please hug your sweet girls and boys tonight. 
. So sorry again, we’ll all be thinking of you.
️
️ 
On the other hand I always prayed that if time has come, it will be fast. I felt so blessed that she came into my life. I hope Jude is doing well and his bladder is doing fine! 
And I love the thought, that she got welcomed after her rough journey! I am also grateful I was with her when she passed. I wonder if she waited with her final collapse, until she was home. I was so grateful we found a vet to come home and that he was close. 
I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your sweet Binie. She had an incredible champion behind her and you were such a thoughtful and loving caregiver. Thank you for sharing your story, it’s very powerful. And thank you for sharing those wonderful photos 
Please cuddle sweet Moonie from me tonight!
we can see how deeply loved and cared for she was. I’m sending you a warm hug, and I hope that, with time, you can find some peace in your heart. The good and beautiful memories will stay alive... Binie knew she was loved... And she was very very blessed to have you by her side.