Let's See Your Cats!!!

AugustaTaco · Jun 19, 2020

PaulK said: ↑

Ginger is on hospice care. She's 15, and started breathing fast and eating less so we took her in. She had fluid around her lungs caused by a large mass under her heart that is not allowing lymph fluid to drain. They removed the fluid to make her more comfortable, but further options are limited. We could be aggressive and get a needle biopsy done, but this would be very risky based on where the mass is located. Ultrasound and xrays confirm it's a solid mass, not a fluid filled cyst or something, so it's almost certainly cancer of some kind - probably lymphoma. Even if we did the biopsy, the next step would be chemo and/or major chest surgery based on the findings. We wouldn't do either to a cat that doesn't understand what's going on - especially a 15 year old cat - so we're left with making her comfortable for as long as she has left. Steroids and some other stuff is what we are left with...that and lots of love and affection. The wife is pretty upset, but Ginger has had a good life with us. 15 isn't too bad. She seems fine now, and has been eating junk food and sitting in the sun all day.

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PaulK said: ↑

Thanks to everyone for your kind and supportive notes. Ginger was on a narcotic pain medication for a few days following the removal of the fluid, and her last dose was on Wednesday night. By Thursday afternoon she started straining very hard to breath and had what I can only describe as a panicked look in her eyes. We almost took her to the ER, but didn't want her to go out in a place that she wasn't familiar with - and is full of barking dogs. We decided that she must be in pain, and even we were wrong that the narcotic might calm her down. We gave her a dose around 19:00, and she did calm down quite a bit. We have her back on the pain meds this morning and she's no longer panicky or straining. This is not a long term fix though, and so we have set a date to take her in for her final appointment in a few days. This is much earlier than we expected, but we feel that it's the right thing to do. We're skipping everything else and just loving on her as much as she will tolerate. Here she is this today laying in the sun and sniffing the morning air.

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So sorry to hear about Ginger, but you guys seem to be making the best decisions for her and in such a loving home she'll live out her day's very happily I'm sure.

PaulK · Jun 19, 2020

HomerTaco said: ↑

we just went through this earlier this year too. Auggie was 16 1/2 and her kidneys were giving out.
We made her a comfy as possible and she got lots of love before we said goodbye.
It was really tough for my Daughter because Auggie was her bestest buddy. Literally slept on her pillow next to her head every night.

we really miss the old girl.

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I definitely remember your posts about Auggie. Such a cutie, and a great friend. We have them for a short time, so all you can do is love them hard while they're here. Both Auggie and Ginger know what that feels like.

bodean · Jun 19, 2020

jungleman · Jun 19, 2020

https://youtu.be/ChCiWKjesKY

jungleman · Jun 19, 2020

An hour ago all three were passed out on the lounger haha
https://youtu.be/RytnIwAI65Q

Gtdznts · Jun 20, 2020

Mya not really feeling the selfie today

HomerTaco · Jun 20, 2020

Gtdznts said: ↑

Mya not really feeling the selfie today
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Whiskers for days!

HomerTaco · Jun 20, 2020

Cuddle buddy.

apreston1 · Jun 20, 2020

apreston1 said: ↑

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Happy Caturday. Smudge, Miss Gray and Cinders exhausted after play time.

Plain Jane Taco · Jun 20, 2020

PaulK said: ↑

Thanks to everyone for your kind and supportive notes. Ginger was on a narcotic pain medication for a few days following the removal of the fluid, and her last dose was on Wednesday night. By Thursday afternoon she started straining very hard to breath and had what I can only describe as a panicked look in her eyes. We almost took her to the ER, but didn't want her to go out in a place that she wasn't familiar with - and is full of barking dogs. We decided that she must be in pain, and even we were wrong that the narcotic might calm her down. We gave her a dose around 19:00, and she did calm down quite a bit. We have her back on the pain meds this morning and she's no longer panicky or straining. This is not a long term fix though, and so we have set a date to take her in for her final appointment in a few days. This is much earlier than we expected, but we feel that it's the right thing to do. We're skipping everything else and just loving on her as much as she will tolerate. Here she is this today laying in the sun and sniffing the morning air.

Click to expand...

Geez...that's tough. But it is the right decision.

I've posted this before. But it's worth repeating IMO.....something our vet told us years ago....

Animals don't understand the quantity of life. They only understand the quality of life. A decision to prolong their suffering is an act of selfishness.....and makes it about us instead of them.

Such true words. I wish you peace when the time comes

Norsemanvike · Jun 20, 2020

Plain Jane Taco said: ↑

Geez...that's tough. But it is the right decision.

I've posted this before. But it's worth repeating IMO.....something our vet told us years ago....

Animals don't understand the quantity of life. They only understand the quality of life. A decision to prolong their suffering is an act of selfishness.....and makes it about us instead of them.

Such true words. I wish you peace when the time comes
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You told us that too when we lost Angel.

Plain Jane Taco · Jun 20, 2020

Norsemanvike said: ↑

You told us that too when we lost Angel.
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They ring in my head anytime I hear a story about ending an animal's pain. They certainly comforted me

six5crèéd · Jun 20, 2020

Can I get a refill?

916carl · Jun 20, 2020

HomerTaco said: ↑

Cuddle buddy.

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Georgie likes to snuggle up against a warm body as well...

Taco Buggy · Jun 20, 2020

apreston1 said: ↑

He is goofy and expressive on top of having a great temperament and personality...it was extremely difficult to let him go back into the system. We received an email and picture from his new family who were waiting at the shelter’s doors to adopt him...he has a good home.
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Good to hear.

ColoradoTJ said: ↑

I wasn’t going to share this, but everyone shares the good...and sometimes the bad.

On Thursday I got out of bed at 0430 like normal, let my dog out, let the cats out of their enclosure (We have a lot of predators). We try and lock them up at night, if not...they always hunt and sleep the next day away. This particular morning they were ready to get out and search the world. The nights they stay out, they always come up to me, love up on them and they go to bed.

I normally sit on the back patio, drink a cup of coffee, love up on my cats for a bit and then off to work. That’s exactly what I did.

Around 9 AM I received a text from my neighbors that they found Bailey across the street and he had been struck by a vehicle, and didn’t make it. They collected the remains for us, put him in a pillow case and a box.

My heart just dropped. I told my wife and she was a mess...still is. I dreaded going home 9 hours later and telling my kids what had happened. The kids were pretty upset, but wanted to bury Bailey by his favorite tree, and that’s exactly what we did.

I think the kids knew something was up. Panther (his brother) was walking the fence line all day looking for Bailey. They did most things together. I showed Panther the remains so he would quit searching.

Instead of being mad, we decided to celebrate and cherish the fact we had him for just over a year, love the fur off him, and was one of the most unique animals we have ever owned. So flippen cool.

Panther (Black cat) has been sad and needing extra attention. My boy Kilo (German Shepherd) has always had a cool and special bond. He has stepped up taking care of him (he has been hunting Voles and leaving them for Panther).

When they first met, Kilo scared the living shit out of him, but after that became good friends. Kilo and Panther even share the spoils of their hunting and sometimes sleep together.

On Friday, my youngest kid took over half a dozen fresh farm eggs to the neighbors that recovered Bailey. She thanked them for getting Bailey so she could give him a proper burial. My neighbors lost it and gave her the biggest hug.

Tonight my youngest asked if she could get another baby kitten and raise it up to be the awesome cat Bailey was. I couldn’t say absolutely fast enough, and followed with a “why don’t we get two baby kittens from the same litter.”

So in the following weeks, we will be getting two more barn kittens from our local rescue.
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So sorry to hear. It is just never easy.

Plain Jane Taco said: ↑

Happy ending story:

Last night the weather was perfect so I lit the firepit. It started getting late and the wife went in....I hung around for awhile. A little after 11 I heard the faint cry of a cat. At 1st it sounded far away. I shut the music off on my phone to get a better listen. Heard it again. Only this time I realized it wasn't that far away....just pitiful and faint.

I have a large backyard and I had the floodlights off to enjoy the fire. Plus I have a 6' privacy fence that surrounds the property. That makes the shadowing in the lower part of the yard even worse. But I was fairly certain I could see a light colored mass in the far corner.

I went and got my 12 year old who is the whisperer of all animals. I stayed away for fear of scaring it. Within a couple of minutes my daughter and some cat I didn't know were loving on each other.

He had a tag and is name was Steve. At 1st I assumed he was someone's indoor/outdoor cat. I wasn't going to call the number. But my daughter said, I don't think so dad. He's too clean and polished. Plus he kept going to the fence corner and reaching up and crying. She said call the number even if it was late.

So I did. A woman answered and I explained who I was and why I was calling. She was frantic and said she was 500 miles away visiting family. Her husband was home. Steve was strictly and indoor cat and must have gotten out somehow.

I gave her my address and within a few minutes the husband was there....and absolutely humble and thankful. I told him no worries and that of all the backyards to end up in....this was a good one.

Never heard him scale the fence. And not sure why he didn't climb back over it. But he was clearly out of his element and scared.

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PaulK said: ↑

Ginger is on hospice care. She's 15, and started breathing fast and eating less so we took her in. She had fluid around her lungs caused by a large mass under her heart that is not allowing lymph fluid to drain. They removed the fluid to make her more comfortable, but further options are limited. We could be aggressive and get a needle biopsy done, but this would be very risky based on where the mass is located. Ultrasound and xrays confirm it's a solid mass, not a fluid filled cyst or something, so it's almost certainly cancer of some kind - probably lymphoma. Even if we did the biopsy, the next step would be chemo and/or major chest surgery based on the findings. We wouldn't do either to a cat that doesn't understand what's going on - especially a 15 year old cat - so we're left with making her comfortable for as long as she has left. Steroids and some other stuff is what we are left with...that and lots of love and affection. The wife is pretty upset, but Ginger has had a good life with us. 15 isn't too bad. She seems fine now, and has been eating junk food and sitting in the sun all day.

Click to expand...

HomerTaco said: ↑

I hope her remaining time with you is filled with love, cuddles, & purrs.
Click to expand...

X2

PaulK said: ↑

Thanks to everyone for your kind and supportive notes. Ginger was on a narcotic pain medication for a few days following the removal of the fluid, and her last dose was on Wednesday night. By Thursday afternoon she started straining very hard to breath and had what I can only describe as a panicked look in her eyes. We almost took her to the ER, but didn't want her to go out in a place that she wasn't familiar with - and is full of barking dogs. We decided that she must be in pain, and even we were wrong that the narcotic might calm her down. We gave her a dose around 19:00, and she did calm down quite a bit. We have her back on the pain meds this morning and she's no longer panicky or straining. This is not a long term fix though, and so we have set a date to take her in for her final appointment in a few days. This is much earlier than we expected, but we feel that it's the right thing to do. We're skipping everything else and just loving on her as much as she will tolerate. Here she is this today laying in the sun and sniffing the morning air.

Click to expand...

Toughest decision to make but I believe it’s the right one. She knows you’ve given her a loving, wonderful home. My thoughts are with you and your family during this awful time.

Plain Jane Taco said: ↑

Geez...that's tough. But it is the right decision.

I've posted this before. But it's worth repeating IMO.....something our vet told us years ago....

Animals don't understand the quantity of life. They only understand the quality of life. A decision to prolong their suffering is an act of selfishness.....and makes it about us instead of them.

Such true words. I wish you peace when the time comes
Click to expand...

^ this exactly

ColoradoTJ · Jun 20, 2020

Well hello there...

AugustaTaco · Jun 21, 2020

Happy Father’s Day to all the cat dads out there

wilcam47 · Jun 21, 2020

jungleman · Jun 21, 2020

six5creed said: ↑

Can I get a refill?

Click to expand...

jungleman · Jun 21, 2020

Just got bitched out myself.
Paused the install and went in to grab simbas bowl (kibbles are in the garage)

Came in to find this...
Wtf cat!!!

Oh shit! Hes still out in the garage!
That last bag of bolts/washers/nylok nuts!!!!

He wouldnt dare

Would he????

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