My mom has the most awful bad-news breaking skills I have ever seen in action. I wake up this morning, having over slept because I apparently forgot to turn on the alarm clock, but with enough time to get to work on schedule, when I (not a morning person) am greeted in the hall with this news from my mother.
The cat in question is my beloved little One Point Five, who is so named because of his last bout with cancer. Six or seven years ago he was diagnosed with skin cancer and he had an operation to remove half of his ear, leaving him with 1.5 ears. This time, the tumor is internal and there is nothing that can be done to save the cat.
I noticed that within a couple of weeks my normally thirty pound and healthy looking cat had dropped a lot of weight (probably five pounds), although his behavior seemed pretty normal and he was eating his normal amount of food. So, Grandmasix took him off to the vet while I was at work. His vet confirmed that he has a tumor, it is cancer, and because the cat is fifteen years old, there is no way that he can withstand surgery or treatment for his cancer. One Point Five came home where he is under close watch for those behavior changes and inability to eat that will signal when time has come to put him down. It probably will not be long before that time, and he’s being spoiled even more than he ever was up until that point. He will not suffer. We love him way too much for that.
I have no plans to get another cat, and I can say I definitely will not want one for a very long time. There is no way to replace One Point Five, and getting another cat at this point would be an attempt to do exactly that. My other current cat, Captain Meighnot, will live out the rest of his days or years (both cats are 15, and they moved in at the same time) and then I will be kitty less.
Oh, Momsix, could you please work on your bad news skills? Dadsix and Grandmasix and Unclesix are not quite young, and Dadsix does have heart disease. I’d rather hate to get an email from you saying that Dadsix died and asking if I’d like some coffee. K?
Oh, I’m so sorry to hear about One Point Five, catsix. As someone who just lost one of her “precious” last week, I can certainly relate. Hugs to both of you!
Although I don’t have any pets, I can appreciate how tough that is, especially to get the news from your mother like that. At least One Point Five has a good family, and won’t go out suffering.
(((catsix)))
On the upside, your cats do have very creative names.
Yeah, he was really heavy. He (and his brother, both feral of some variety) both attained very large stature by about age 3, and for 12 years their vet said that although very large, they didn’t seem to be obese and that we were feeding them an appropriate amount of food. One Point Five is probably around 20 to 25 lbs now, and you can feel his bones protruding through his skin. If he loses more weight, they’ll be visible.
Cpt. Meighnot (pronounced Meano) is still around 30 pounds, and aside from mild arthritis which he shakes off when he stands up to walk around, in good health. We have no idea how he will feel about the loss of his brother, because they don’t tend to get along well, but it could hit him hard since they’ve been together all their lives.
No, it really isn’t. It always sucks, it always makes you cry, and it always makes you wish that they could be around forever. However, this is what I agreed to endure when I decided that the two defenseless kittens under that tree deserved a better life than to be potential food for some other animal, and now it is my responsibility to One Point Five to ensure that he does not suffer. He’s still been in good spirits this week, but now we take one day at a time, because his comfort is most important.
I’m going to disagree about getting another cat. Cats are wonderful creatures and companions. Who are you to deny the love you gave to 1.5 from another cat? Or will you let a neighbour’s cat adopt you?
Who is she to deny another cat the love she gave this one? The owner of the heart that’s not ready to love another kitty yet, that’s who. One of the biggest mistakes a pet owner can make is to get another pet before they’re ready. I mean, you wouldn’t tell someone who just buried her husband to get out there and start looking for another because they’re such wonderful companions, would you? Give the poor woman some time to heal from the loss of her beloved family members; when she feels ready or the right kitty comes along, she’ll get another cat. It’s just going to be a while.
Catsix, I’m sorry you’re losing your kitty. Like you said, it always sucks. These sorts of situations with elderly animals are especially hard, partly because we’ve had so long to love them, partly because it’s always horrible to watch and wait for someone you love to lose the fight. I wish there was something I could say to make it easier for you, but I know from way too much experience that there’ s not.
Thanks again everyone, it means a lot that there are others who understand the difficulty of waiting for the day you have to have a member of your family put down.
I appreciate your suggestion, qts, but as it is right now One Point Five is 15 and very close to death, his brother Captain Meighnot is also 15 and has arthritis, so I don’t know how long he will hold on either.
Any effort to get another cat right now would be a piss poor effort to replace what can never be replaced. They may just be cats, but they are unique animals with their own mannerisms and behaviors and feelings. There will never be another cat just like One Point Five. I am not ready to love another cat on his own merits right now, and I think it’d be a crime to adopt a cat that I’d resent for not being like the one I lost.
One Point Five deserves to be mourned as the friend he is, not tossed aside in a vain attempt to replace him.
My first pup had a tumor, and I know how hard it is. Stick in there, and pamper One Point Five’s every need or want. Losing your kitty will be hard, but at least you can know that he died happy and knowing he was loved. Give him a a kitty treat for me.
I understand what you mean about how pets are irreplaceable. I have an elderly dog, myself.
I’m so very sorry that you are going through this, and that the news was broken to you in such a painful way. My thoughts are with you and your little friend in this sad time.
Live hugs next week at the dopefest.