We are a cat hospice.

[firecat]

While I was on my trip to Ottawa, IL, and Wiscon, the OH took our cat Isis in to the Pacifica Oncology Center for radioactive iodine therapy to treat an overactive thyroid.

While she was there, she had a coughing fit, and the vet did an X-ray on her. The X-ray revealed two lung tumors.

She also has a chronic infection - kidney? bladder? urinary tract? - we already treated her with a 3 week course of antibiotics for that, but that only got rid of one kind of beastie in there. The other kind is still hanging on.

The vet at the oncology center said that Isis might live a few months if the lung tumors went untreated. She suggested surgery, but our local vet says that while surgery could be done on the larger tumor, the smaller one is near the heart and it would be very hard to remove. And of course surgery would be expensive and invasive/painful to Isis. And it's likely the cancer has metastasized elsewhere.

So we've decided not treat the lung cancer.

Our local vet also recommended that Isis have more antibiotics for the infection. But she admitted that chronic infections can be very difficult to treat with oral antibiotics and might require treatment for up to six months.

Isis hates being given antibiotics. Although she didn't strike at us, she cried and then hid for several hours afterward each time we did it.

It's hard to tell of course, but the infection doesn't seem to be causing her a lot of pain; she is using her litter box normally.

So although we haven't decided for sure, we're inclined not to treat the infection either.

As long as she seems relatively free of pain, I guess we might have her company for anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.

We'll be sure to be spoiling her rotten.

I'm sad, but I had a feeling all along that she might not be with us for long. We simply did what we could by taking her in off the street.

But this is the last time I name an animal after a goddess. Goddesses don't stay in one place for long, generally speaking.

Comments

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

*sigh* *hugs* I'm sorry.

[klwalton.livejournal.com]

Oh, Stef, I'm so sorry! Give her gentle scritches for me, and *hugs* for you if you want 'em.

[datagoddess.livejournal.com]

Oh, Stef, I'm so sorry.

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

*hug*

[jenett]

Oh. *hug*

She's got very good humans around her for her last days. I'm very sorry you have to go through this again so soon, though.

[rubylou.livejournal.com]

She's so very fortunate to have you!

[therealjae.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry, Stef.

-J

[cha.livejournal.com]

I'm very glad that you and Isis found each other

[lysana.livejournal.com]

But this is the last time I name an animal after a goddess. Goddesses don't stay in one place for long, generally speaking.

Indeed. *hugs* At least she's with people who will make her last weeks as comfy as possible. You two will do that superlatively well.

[circumspectly.livejournal.com]

it's a good thing that you've done, stef. i'm so sorry that you have to cope again so soon, but i'm awfully glad that you've been able to impart such love to this good kitty that was having such a hard life.

(((hugs))) if you want 'em, and headscritches for isis.

[johno.livejournal.com]

{{{Big Hugs}}}

We went through something similar with both KitKat and Punkin in 2001.

The vet said he could do stuff, that we would have to do stuff at home, but between the 2 their quality of life would be the pits.

We let them be.

Both of them knew when their time was near.

They came to us and let us know in no uncertain terms that it was time to go.

We were able to give them lots of love in their final months, we were able to say goodbye, we were able to hold them in our arms... when they went.

[stonebender.livejournal.com]

Oh shoot! I really hope you take comfort knowing you've improved her remaining time. *hugs*

[krasota.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry Isis is ill, but I'm very glad she has you to keep her comfortable.

Give her some head scritches for me.

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

*Hugs* I'm so sorry, Stef.

[femmediva.livejournal.com]

oh, no...

I'm so sorry. But for Isis, better to have her last weeks/months be filled with good care, love, and spoiling rather than suffering though cancer *and* being homeless.

*hugs and strong vibes*

[lcohen]

oh, stef--i am so sorry to hear this.

*massivehugs*

[stitchinthyme.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I'm so sorry to hear this. We went through the same thing with our cat Molly a few years ago and we also decided not to treat the cancer. She lived another 6 months during which we spoiled her rotten.

I'm glad you took her in and are keeping her comfy and happy for the time she has left.

[rmjwell.livejournal.com]

Isis has good people to care for her and remember her. Be sure the humans take care of each other, too.

And have a hug or several while you're at it.

[kightp.livejournal.com]

I'm so very, very sorry.

[submarine-bells.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I'm very sorry to hear that. At least Isis will have the opportunity to be spoiled rotten for her last few months, hey?

Regarding the antibiotics - one of our cats (Sam) suffers from chronic mouth infections, and he HATESHATESHATES taking pills. We've found it a lot easier to get antibiotics into him when they're in liquid form, coz they can be mixed into a bowl of something mushy and tasty and soft, and consumed without being noticed. Might that help make life a bit easier for Isis?

[firecat]

She's kind of a picky eater so I'm not sure that would work. We gave her liquid antibiotics via a syringe last time. The vet suggests injections, which she might actually mind less, and we're considering whether to try them. (Initially we hesitated because we didn't want to risk creating resistant bacteria if she couldn't tolerate injections, but the vet says that isn't a risk.)

[submarine-bells.livejournal.com]

When Sam's having a really bad time with his mouth, the only thing he'll eat is home-made bolognese sauce. Oh, and occasionally bits of KFC, hand-fed.

He's an odd cat.

[femery.livejournal.com]

Ah Stef ... I'm so sad to hear that Isis'
health isn't good. Nonetheless I know Isis,
OH, and You are lucky to have each other,
even for a short period of time.

When my Moose was with Chris and I, we went
through much with his health issues. I found
"The Natural Cat Book" exceptionally helpful
with his care. There are special "feel good
cocktails", meal recipies, etc. the pleased
all of us immensly, and it helped both Chris
and I to be better companions and guardians
to our beloved Cat! I recommend it.

My Best Hugs and Light to all You and Your
Loved Ones!

Diane

[kshandra]

*hugs* The OH let me know the situation at the con; you have my best wishes that Isis' last days on this planet are as easy for all of you as possible.

*morehugs*

[technomom]

*hugs* I'm sorry.

[nex0s.livejournal.com]

oh.

i'm *so* sorry to hear that. big hugs to you, and the OH and to Isis.

i'm glad she has you two with her. i know that you will make what is left of her time here wonderful.

"n"

[chorus-of-chaos.livejournal.com]

oh no...I am so sorry to hear about this. I don't know what to say.

[snickerpuss.livejournal.com]

Poor Isis-kitty. :(

Dammit, your cat posts always make me cry.

[kyubi.livejournal.com]

*sniffle*

*many hugs*

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry to hear that. When the treatment is risky and possibly worse than the disease... that's a very painful knowledge to have. I'm glad you'll be spoiling her rotten. I'm glad she found you for the last few months of her life, so she could warm her old bones in comfort. I bet she's glad, too.

Damn. I had so hoped that Dr. Turrel could make it all better. :-(

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

Oh, Stef. I feel for you guys. You are so right that you have done what you could by taking her off the street. But it still sucks for you two to likely lose her so soon. FWIW, I think you're making the right decision not to treat the cancer, and I'd probably agree with you about not treating the other infection either, unless she starts showing signs of pain. *sigh* Such hard decisions. You have a big heart, and Isis is lucky to have known you, even for such a short time.

[pyrzqxgl.livejournal.com]

I'm very sorry.

[porcinea.livejournal.com]

Oh, I am sorry. Many virtual chicken livers to Isis from me.

[janetmiles.livejournal.com]

I wish I knew what to say, beyond "I'm so very sorry that Isis is so ill, and that you have to go through this again so soon".

[figmo.livejournal.com]

OH told me at the con. Many hugs. Owowowowowow. :-(

She's such a nice, sweet, and beautiful kitty, too.

oh wow...

[spiderdust.livejournal.com]

I don't know how I missed this post before, but I just now caught it.

Enjoy her now. Give her happy times. And I wish you didn't have to have this pain all over again.