As noted previously, it was time to take Mist off to the vet for his regular checkup and do a blood panel to see if his hyperthyroid condition was under control. We were more concerned about a lump that had developed on his right jaw in the past few weeks.
Well, to make a long story (and vet visit) short, it looks like cancer, and it’s already eaten away a good chunk of his right jaw. I got some pain meds for him, as well as some antibiotics to deal with a secondary infection he has, but, short of taking him to a kitty oncologist (which, with a frail 18-year-old cat, isn’t likely to accomplish much except enrich a kitty oncologist), there’s not a lot we can do at this point.
Without a more detailed exam, there’s no way to know how fast the cancer is growing, etc. Essentially we’re down to a quality of life issue here, where we can give him some pain meds until the pain meds don’t help. So we’ll do that for the time being, though I suspect it won’t be long. And, of course, we need to have The Talk with Katherine, which I think we can do okay with, but I don’t particularly look forward to. And, of course, eventually we’ll have to make That Decision and all that.
So, not the best way to wrap up a Friday afternoon, though it puts some perspective (or a cherry on top, one or the other) on the general suckitude of the work bits I was struggling with until I had to take the cat to the vet …
Awwww, poor Mist Kitteh. 🙁
Is he eating at all? Soft or kibble food?
I would hate to think he is starving.
Hugs for everyone for doing what needs to be done.
We have been there – not an easy road. Our thoughts are with you.
I am completely weak-kneed when cats suffer. I hope it is not bad for him, and that your family will handle the loss well.
If it were bad for him, we would have already acted. He is doing okay for the time being. He has been eating, though probably not as much as he should be.
So, so very sorry to hear this 🙁
You have my complete sympathy. We lost three cats within a year . . that was VERY hard on the boys. Of course we ended up adopting two new cats who have helped ease that spot in our hearts.
It’s so easy to take our fur family for granted until we get these rude awakenings.
Best of luck talking the Katherine. I’m sure she’ll need extra hugs.
Two side notes to this, which have lent it a bit more poignancy (as if that were needed). Our friend Jackie’s cat, Thomas, passed away just a week or so ago. That Thomas resembled Mist a lot (okay, maybe if Mist were quite a bit more pear-shaped) makes it uncomfortably close.
Second — I had been thinking of telling Katherine over dinner, but decided (both because where we went out this evening was inappropriate for the discussion, and because I thought that doing it by the light of morning would be less sleep-disturbing for her) that tomorrow was better. So, of course, as we existed CiCi’s Pizza, and Katherine spotted the PetCo across the parking lot, she asked if we could go in there and just look at the pets there. She’s been angling for another cat (or something) since we lost Sugar a year ago almost two and a half years ago — but the coincidence was, again, jarring, and I begged off.
*sigh*
Sorry to hear about Mist. These things are never easy.
Poor kitty. Give him a skritch for me, okay?
Will do. And, thanks, all.
So kitty is having nothing of the new meds. He will take his hyperthyroid but turns his nose up at the pain med wrapped in kitty treats. He turned into a wild Tasmanian devil the second he sensed we were going for the tuna flavored antibiotics. He is currently hanging out in the middle of the van roof – just to be safe.
My heart goes out to you. I just went through this 2 weeks ago and had to make the decision with my 14 yr old Shadow. It’s never easy. It was easier for my kids to handle than it was for me. Of course, I was the one there to hold him ….
We, too, have been there and it is very very hard. Give Mist a gentle scratch behind the ears for us. Much love and many hugs to you three.
I know all to well what you are going through. Big hugs to the 4 of you.
Dave Newman passed on this bit of wisdom: http://comics.com/frazz/2009-02-08/