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Post by calypso on May 16, 2009 23:43:12 GMT -5
Hi everyone, Sorry I've been so quiet. I check in every day, but don't take the time to log in and post. Been so, so busy trying to keep up. It's a tough time for so many. I remind myself that there are many who have it far worse than I. You guys have been pretty amazing with the prayers/jingles/good thoughts for my cats and the cats under my care in the rescue. You might remember a grey cat named Mickey from a couple years ago who was so sick but recovered and was reunited with his gorgeous siamese girlfriend, Sasha. Well, this is Mickey2. He came to us with the name Mickey and it didn't seem right to change it so he became Mickey2. He's a sweet boy. He gets more hits than everyone else combined, but no applications. Last Saturday he was at our Adoption Fair charming the socks off everyone. Today, just a week later, may be his last day. He had a chronic mouth condition and it flared up badly this week. I started antibiotics immediately, but they are not yet doing the job. Last night he was a little off, this morning he was waaayyyyy off. I felt a little stupid - I mean he's had the mouth issue before and it's resolved just fine - but I took him to the vet anyway. Ran blood work - he's in acute kidney failure!! We don't know what is going on but it is not good. I had it myself when I was young and I still remember how miserable I felt - 35 years later!! Thankfully my go-to vet was reachable by email (I love, love, love her!) and we sent a flurry of emails back and forth a couple hours ago. She told me not to put him to sleep yet - that he had a chance. She logged in to the clinic email and put some orders/recommendations in (can you see why I love her??) so we're going back in tonight for some additional tests. His best shot is to be admitted and flushed heavily with IV fluids, but the quote was $1500 for two days. The rescue can't afford that - we have 3 other cats who are running vet bills now, plus 8 females to have spayed - and I personally can't afford it. I'm not asking for funds - I know no one else has any money either. But, depending on the results of these next tests, we'll try to treat him at home with subQ fluids and run him in for frequent monitoring. It'll still run several hundred dollars for the tests, but that's the best we can do. So, what I am really asking for is for prayers, jingles, good thoughts - whatever you have to offer. Here is Mickey2 normally -   he's a world - class biscuit-maker as you can see  He is not making biscuits now. He's hiding behind the furniture. Poor boy does not feel good at all.  Thank you for caring! mta: to change title so I didn't have to start a whole new thread. |
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Post by piopico on May 16, 2009 23:59:32 GMT -5
Oh Caly, I'm SO sorry. He was just fine at the Pet Fair on Saturday...........hard to believe he could go downhill so quickly. I'm jingling like mad........and I'll try to get the kittens to jingle too....
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Post by calypso on May 17, 2009 3:53:03 GMT -5
I know! He was great on Thursday night!!
I had a long talk with the vet on duty tonight. We couldn't NOT give him a chance, so he's been admitted for aggressive treatment for the next 24 hours. We're controlling some costs by not running intermediate blood/urine tests throughout the day. We'll watch how he's doing and then check them at 24 hours and then decide what to do next.
Sweet boy - he was sitting in my arms, purring and making biscuits while they were getting his "accomodations" ready. He walked in a circle, then sat down and looked at me.
He sure deserves to make it!! I told him this was some stunt to pull to keep from being adopted out. If he wants to stay with us, all he has to do is say so.
So, hold a good thought and say a prayer for him please.
Thank you
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Post by calypso on May 17, 2009 18:59:31 GMT -5
Hi all,
We let Mickey go about an hour ago. Everything was going the wrong way it was very apparent this was hopeless. He was agitated when I arrived, but calmed quickly while I held him in the "quiet room". Scott went with me and the two us had time to tell him what a wonderful boy he has been to know. He still had his IV cath in, so the end was quick and painless.
Denise (vet) did a gross necropsy on him, which I observed. His abdomen was full of blood and had a huge clot. No obvious cause. She sent in samples of the spleen and both kidneys - all of which looked abnormal. This had nothing to do with teeth. Most likely he had cancer - probably lymphoma.
Given that likelihood, I am so grateful he got so sick so quickly and went so quickly. I would have preferred that he had found his own family and forever home, but he enjoyed his life with us. He got along with the other cats - and that was different than his life had been outside as a feral, where he was beat up constantly. We gave him the best we had to offer, and while it wasn't what I would have hoped for him, it was still pretty good.
He was Mickey2, Mick-Mick, Mikey-blue-eyes, and biscuit boy to the end.
RIP sweet boy - I am so glad I got to know you.
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Post by pnp4kidz on May 17, 2009 19:04:29 GMT -5
I'm sorry Caly, he knew love til the end, and this was better than having gone to a new home with people who he didn't know and love for his final days...
He knew how much you cared, and left in a big hug
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Post by barbpurple on May 17, 2009 19:18:34 GMT -5
well so sorry for your loss, mickey2 did not want to go anywhere else that was so clear of him making his bread all the time hehe mine did and ones i still have still do..he looks so much like my katylee and my merlin (twin brother to drago).. they are all running around making all the bread they can..rip
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Post by swissgrl on May 17, 2009 20:21:08 GMT -5
So sorry Caly, He was lucky to have found you to take care of him till the end. Hugs to you
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Post by chatty on May 17, 2009 21:11:09 GMT -5
Sorry Caly....  .....Mickey is my kind of kitty.... Sending our blessing.....chatty |
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Post by gratefulknits on May 17, 2009 21:40:04 GMT -5
Caly, I'm so sorry that your hopes for Mickey2 weren't fulfilled; I can only imagine how hard this must be for you. You are such a blessing for the animals in your life ... I hope the toll on you isn't too great. Please know that you are a true hero to many of us here, and you are loved and honored for your work.
Blessings to you ...
Hope
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Post by mickeyfan3 on May 18, 2009 14:40:47 GMT -5
I'm sorry Caly....
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Post by jenm on May 18, 2009 20:16:17 GMT -5
Oh no! Not Mickey2...Caly, I'm so very, very sorry. I know you really were hoping he found a home, but I know that he had it good while he was with you and I'm glad he got to be a recipient of your love and kindness.
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Post by calypso on May 19, 2009 1:44:38 GMT -5
Thank you everyone. It was a total shock. Never saw it coming at all. If it *does* turn out to be cancer, he certainly had a great life right up until the end. Can't ask for more than that.
And, on that note - we may be coming to the end of the line with Ninja - the cat that has been in chronic kidney failure for some time. He has spent his whole life OBSESSED with his orange mousey. In fact, I used it to trap him!! But the past two days he looks at it, but won't pick it up to play with. We're going in tomorrow nite for a check up, but if the vet says he's on the downhill slide....I may let him go tomorrow. I'm really going to miss him - we've had quite a history.
Two cats around the same time....feels very weird and very sad.
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Post by halfwayhome on May 19, 2009 10:18:44 GMT -5
Oh Caly, so sorry to hear about your loss and pain with your kitty! Thinking and jingling and praying for you and for Ninja too.
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Post by dancinwithhorses on May 19, 2009 14:32:32 GMT -5
Thankyou for taking such good care of him. It's hard when we lose them but the joy they bring stays with us.
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Post by paintedlady on May 20, 2009 12:27:09 GMT -5
I feel so bad for this little guy. He did find his forever home with you Caly. Thank you for loving and caring for him RIP little guy
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Post by calypso on May 21, 2009 3:17:07 GMT -5
And, on that note - we may be coming to the end of the line with Ninja - the cat that has been in chronic kidney failure for some time. He has spent his whole life OBSESSED with his orange mousy. In fact, I used it to trap him!! But the past two days he looks at it, but won't pick it up to play with. We're going in tomorrow nite for a check up, but if the vet says he's on the downhill slide....I may let him go tomorrow. I'm really going to miss him - we've had quite a history. Two cats around the same time....feels very weird and very sad. Okay, I just changed the heading instead of starting another new thread. Just got back from the vet with Ninja and he's not as sick as him demeanor would suggested. I mean, he is in kidney failure, but it's his mouth that is very sore. I'd checked it throughly since one of the the side effects of kidney failure is mouth ulcers. Turns out his are on the sides of his tongue. Missed them completely (bad Caly). We played with some toys for a bit this morning. And, he's been eating a little. So perhaps with his mouth feeling better he'll start to act more normal. I tried to post a picture of him but the stupid USB card reader thing is not working. I hate technology. I'll try to talk with it in the morning. To quote Foxy, "I think it is of the devil." btw, I miss her posting. Anyone heard from her? |
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Post by swissgrl on May 21, 2009 7:20:52 GMT -5
Jingling for Ninja!
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Post by calypso on May 23, 2009 1:56:43 GMT -5
Ninja has perked up and is eating much better. He's absorbing the fluids well and urine output is good. He's still on borrowed time, but I'm glad he's doing some much better. I don't think I could have lost two in the same week.
Thank you all for your condolences. Mickey2 was a special boy. He was listed on Petfinder for 2 YEARS! Each week he had more hits than all the other cats combined. Yet in all that time he only had two applications - one of them completely unsuitable, and the other last summer during his first mouth flare. By the time we figured out what was going on and dealt with it they'd adopted someone else. He was also the star of our Adoption events. I never understood why we weren't drowning in apps for him - but I guess y'all are right. He was meant to be with us. Sweet boy. Tomorrow is going to be weird at the Adoption Fair. Whenever little kids came in and wanted to "pet the kitty" - he was the one I'd let them pet. I knew I could trust him to be mellow - even if they weren't! I"m missing him a lot.
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Post by calypso on Jun 27, 2009 3:32:11 GMT -5
Well, we bought him a month, but it was a good one. The meds did the trick and he returned to his normal self until a week ago. The kidney failure was taking it's toll on his body and it finally caught up. I had to let Ninja go today. I realize I never got his pic posted, so here are three of them! This is an iconic Ninja pose. The orange fuzzy toy in the background (aka The Orange Mousey) was his lifelong obsession. After he was on pain meds for a couple days for his mouth, he began playing with it again. ;D He was a bit bowlegged and pidgeon toed on his back legs which gave him the cutest walk. You can't see it just from the picture, but because I knew him, I can see it in the picture if you know what I mean. I love this pic! It is SO Ninja!  Here he is snoozing with our deaf boy, Joey. He got along with most everyone. But we started referring to him as The Enforcer, cause if any mayhem started he'd just march right in to the mix. No hissing, growling, or swatting - just The Look. And the mayhem would stop. With the rescue cats rolling through - there are plenty of opportunities for mayhem. We're really going to miss him. You can see he's starting to lose muscle mass - his hips are looking a bit boney.  Two days ago I had him outside for a little sun and fresh air. He was getting pretty weak, but he did do some exploring and seem to enjoy hunkering down in the flowers weeds near the birdbath and wait for some entertainment. After a bit he went over and lay down in the shade where this pic was taken. Then he wanted to go in.  He crashed so fast, it's hard to believe. We thought he was going to be able to sleep his way to death at home, but that wasn't how it turned out. I was doing okay, until we got in the car. I put him (in his sleeping box) on the seat next to me and he picked up his head and then crawled across over onto my lap. I drove to the clinic with him on my lap, and tears just pouring down my face. He wanted to go, but he didn't. I didn't want him to leave, but knew he needed to. I've lost cats before as y'all know, but this one is hitting me very hard. |
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Post by pikzeedust on Jun 27, 2009 8:15:29 GMT -5
I'm so sorry for your loss.
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Post by swissgrl on Jun 27, 2009 8:36:50 GMT -5
So sorry Caly, hugs!
RIP Ninja!
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Post by halfwayhome on Jun 27, 2009 12:24:11 GMT -5
Oh Caly I am so very sorry! You are a hero to those kitties, no wonder no one ever wanted to leave your care!Thinking of you alot...just imagine when we all meet at the bridge, the animals we befriend and loved through life will carry us over and never leave again. Sending hugs your way. (((()))) H
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.....Mickey is my kind of kitty....
