It's been a while since I've posted here. I've taken to posting even cat related info on my other blog, "Older... but better". But I thought I'd just update this site today with a video of Ghost.
I started this a few days ago, but didn't get back to it for many reasons. We were out of town for a few days and there's always so much 'catch up' when home again. But the biggest reason is that Jack hasn't been doing too well. Those of you who have followed my blog, know that he was diagnosed with some form of Feline Leukemia when he was 4. He was one of 5 siblings that we took in when their feral mama basically dropped them off in our back yard at 3 weeks old. This is how our previously 3 cat house-hold made the giant jump in numbers.
Our grand daughter (who was 3 at the time) took Coco home and our oldest son took 2 females. We kept Jack and Tux. As the years passed, one of the little females (Julie) came back to us when son remarried and she didn't get along with new wife's dogs. Anyway, when Jack was diagnosed, we had them all tested. All were negative, but Jack. Since we've never let any of them go outside and had had them all tested before bringing them in as kittens, we were mystified. The only answer seems to be that he inherited it from his feral mama and it didn't show up until he was 4. Over the years, he has had episodes where his blood count would drop dramatically and he would turn yellow. The Vet would put him on fluids and Preds, and he always rallied. There have been several times that they mentioned putting him down... but we never seriously considered it since his eyes were bright, his coat shiny, and his appetite good.... and except for these infrequent episodes, he did fine. It was not time.
Jack is 10 now. Yesterday he was having a lot of trouble walking. He has had a wonky walk for a few months, has lost weight, and seems to remain yellow these days. We didn't take him in earlier because there really isn't much they can do and we didn't want to have to consider putting him down again. But this week when he was having real difficulty walking, we were afraid that he was suffering. We don't want him to suffer... especially because we are selfish and want to keep him with us. So we took him in.
Basically they didn't tell us anything we didn't know, but did help us to try something that may make him more comfortable. He is in liver failure. And the Preds have probably caused the loss of muscle tone in his hind legs - but that was the price paid to keep him going these last six years. They doubted the Preds were doing much more at this point and perhaps by cutting him back some, it might stop further loss. They asked if we'd talked about putting him down and we told them that we have, but we weren't sure if it was time yet. The Vet said that if we weren't sure, then it wasn't time. But we have to address the possibility that the inevitable is nearing.
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6 comments:
What a beautiful boy he is! It's so hard to know when is the right time to say goodbye. It seems like no matter what you do, you wind up feeling like it was too soon or you waited too long. It sounds like you have been wonderful caretakers for Jack for a long time. Bless your heart!
You'll know the time to say goodbye because he'll be expressing the same desire as well.
I'm sad for Jack and sad for you. Ten years is altogether too little time for such a handsome fellow. A head butt from me to him.
You've given Jack a wonderful life, one he would not have had without your care. He's loved, he's cherished, he's doted on. No Being could ask for more.
I'm sending you and Jack universal Light, asking for a peaceful and merciful crossing when its his time, whenever that might be.
Blessings.
Thank you for calling by at my blog and I am so pleased you like my poem.
I was touched by your post here as it rings so many bells with me. A few weeks ago I had to bid farewell to my old border collie and it is the hardest decision to make even if one knows it is the best thing to do for your loved animal. I have had many dogs and cats in my time so this is not the first time I have had to do this but it seems to get harder each time. We hung on to my husband's lurcher and kept him going with heart pills but decided that as soon as he started to suffer we would have to do the kindest thing which we did. Now I have an elderly cat who I know is nearing the end of her life. I try to think of the wonderful times we have had together and how all our animals were loved while with us.
Poor Jack. I hope he'll be able to stay with you for a very long time to come.
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