I'm feeling kinda sad, guys. I'm normally not a terribly emotional person, but one of my best friends is dying. His name is Eddie, and he is an all black domestic shorthair cat. He is only about 2 1/2 years old and I've had him since the day he was born. I am about 99% positive that he is dying of heart disease already. Feline Cardiomyopathy. I guess it's not terribly uncommon in young to middle-aged cats. He has all of the symptoms, aside from leg paralysis [caused by blood clots]. He used to run around the house alot, especially every morning at about 4-5am. Now he's lazy and hardly does anything. He hardly eats or drinks, and his breathing is very labored and faster than normal. When he sleeps, I have noticed that his mouth is partially open, probably to help him breathe better. He also spends most of his time sitting up with a blank stare. I don't think he is hurting - the only time he scrambles or meows in pain is when I pick him up and cradle him on his back like a baby. I think that may be from fluid in his chest [another symptom] - I don't know. The other day he was coughing just like a cat with a hairball, which was very odd - we feed the cats IAMS Hairball Care, he has short hair and I have NEVER heard him cough like that. I really think my buddy is nearing the end.
I remember on a Friday night in the spring of 2003, I was at work and it was almost time for me to leave work. My wife had accidentally locked herself out of the house and our pregnant cat Cricket, was freaking out, crying and yowling. My wife's luck - she was locked out and the cat was giving birth! She went to a neighbor's house and called me at work. I was able to convince the boss to let me go about 15 minutes early, and because I am lucky enough to live so close to work, I was home about 10 minutes later. I unlocked the door, and two of the kitties had already been born - one on the kitchen tile and the other in the hallway.
The black kitty was the biggest, friendliest, and most vocal. The leader of a litter of four. He would follow me around, and if I looked down to him and talked, he would talk back. He wouldn't just sit around and make noise - he wasn't annoying, but he would talk to you if you talked to him. That was really cool. I named him after Eddie Murphy [I think after watching "Coming to America", because I named another kitten from the litter was after James Earl Jones].
Eddie would run to me when called, and jump over, or knock over things to get to me. He was loyal like a dog. Eddie would also sleep on my chest if I fell asleep on the couch, and occasionally wake me up by rubbing his face against mine. A cat like that really makes you feel loved, no matter how crappy your day has been.
I feel like crap now, because I probably can't afford whatever treatment and medication can be done for this. Last time Eddie had to go to the Vet because of a fight/limp, it cost over $300 plus medication and spay/neuter, and that's when I HAD money. It's just sad, because I don't want him to die, but cats usually have a way of hiding what's wrong with them until the symptoms are so bad that they REALLY show it. Monday, I am going to the local vet/shelter and am going to ask what I can do, and what they can do.
For now, I am glad that while I monitor him, he is at least eating and drinking a little bit at a time here and there. I am also glad that while he is staying in the kitchen, away from us, he isn't angry [most cats get angry when they are injured or near death, and they want to be left alone] and seems very happy when we are with him to "visit" and pet him.
I don't know.. I just wanted to post this because I am sad and frustrated, and I know that among Supra lovers, there are some pet lovers here as well who have had experiences with their pets dying and I wanted to vent.
I remember on a Friday night in the spring of 2003, I was at work and it was almost time for me to leave work. My wife had accidentally locked herself out of the house and our pregnant cat Cricket, was freaking out, crying and yowling. My wife's luck - she was locked out and the cat was giving birth! She went to a neighbor's house and called me at work. I was able to convince the boss to let me go about 15 minutes early, and because I am lucky enough to live so close to work, I was home about 10 minutes later. I unlocked the door, and two of the kitties had already been born - one on the kitchen tile and the other in the hallway.
The black kitty was the biggest, friendliest, and most vocal. The leader of a litter of four. He would follow me around, and if I looked down to him and talked, he would talk back. He wouldn't just sit around and make noise - he wasn't annoying, but he would talk to you if you talked to him. That was really cool. I named him after Eddie Murphy [I think after watching "Coming to America", because I named another kitten from the litter was after James Earl Jones].
Eddie would run to me when called, and jump over, or knock over things to get to me. He was loyal like a dog. Eddie would also sleep on my chest if I fell asleep on the couch, and occasionally wake me up by rubbing his face against mine. A cat like that really makes you feel loved, no matter how crappy your day has been.
I feel like crap now, because I probably can't afford whatever treatment and medication can be done for this. Last time Eddie had to go to the Vet because of a fight/limp, it cost over $300 plus medication and spay/neuter, and that's when I HAD money. It's just sad, because I don't want him to die, but cats usually have a way of hiding what's wrong with them until the symptoms are so bad that they REALLY show it. Monday, I am going to the local vet/shelter and am going to ask what I can do, and what they can do.
For now, I am glad that while I monitor him, he is at least eating and drinking a little bit at a time here and there. I am also glad that while he is staying in the kitchen, away from us, he isn't angry [most cats get angry when they are injured or near death, and they want to be left alone] and seems very happy when we are with him to "visit" and pet him.
I don't know.. I just wanted to post this because I am sad and frustrated, and I know that among Supra lovers, there are some pet lovers here as well who have had experiences with their pets dying and I wanted to vent.
Best wishes to your cat and yourself.
