The FastDay Forum

[Moogie]

Thank you Sue, it's very much appreciated.
Haha, I had to take my decs down early at home as we were expecting to be packing for our house move (now delayed), so I'm enjoying still having my nice warm hat on to keep the snow off, thanks ;P
Seriously though, will remember to sort it out soon! I'm just doing the awards at the moment

[carorees]

So sorry to hear about Phoebe, @Moogie. Don't give up hope...a good friend of mine had a cat with a cancerous lump, which following the biopsy started to shrink and disappeared. That was two or more years ago. The vet said that cats's immune systems are odd and the biopsy must have somehow triggered a reaction so the cats immune cells started attacking the tumour which they couldn't 'see' before.

How frustrating about the house move...Will it be delayed long or is it just a blip?

Just about to light a candle @Moogie for Phoebe and sending hugs across the miles x
Also hugs to@Goldilox for the loss of your tabby pal..now living in the Happy Hunting Ground x

[Moogie]

@Goldilox I'm sorry I didn't notice the part about your dear furbaby earlier. So sorry for your loss, I'm sure you're heartbroken. I hope soon the tears turn to fond memories of happy times with your furry friend.

Caro: I've heard that tumours can spontaneously go into remission and although I'm not pinning any hopes on that it would be so wonderful it that happened. We didn't have a biopsy done as she would need to be sedated for that, and with her kidney problems and how chesty she sounds they were concerned it might be risky to put her under so we chose not to. The bloods and other tests are really enough to know what it is. Apparently lymphoma can spread pretty easily around the body and we suspect she has it in other places as well as the glands in her neck - her chestiness is likely a sign that it is in/around her lungs too. I feel she's had it a long time, I've noticed the chestiness for almost a year but the vet never thought it was an issue until all these other signs cropped up.

My copy of 'Goodbye Mog' arrived today and I will be reading it with Phoebe soon, making as many memories with her as I can while she's still here.

As for the house move, hopefully only delayed by a couple of weeks, if we're lucky we may be able to move on 24th but 31st or early Feb is more likely. The buyer at the bottom of the chain suddenly decided he wants a survey done, just when we were all ready to exchange (everyone else in the chain had surveys mid November). Nevermind, it will work out, or it won't. It seems pretty irrelevant compared with the thought of losing Feebs.

[carieoates]

Hi @Moogie, you may not know this but I was a veterinary haematologist. 16 yrs working at the vet school in cambridge processing animal bloods, bone marrows fine needle aspirates, csf,s and other bodliy fluids.
I have to say that vets love animals more than words can say, they will not see an animal suffer unnecessarily insured or not.

[Moogie]

Thanks Caroline, everyone is being so supportive of our decision not to put her through more tests or through the treatments. She hates going to the vet and has achey legs from arthritis (it has now gotten to the point where her claws cannot be cut as she won't let anyone near her legs, even a group of vet nurses can't hold her for it) so weekly visits for chemo intravenously isn't an option, she won't take tablets (plus she has a little difficulty swallowing, probably due to the lump in her neck). Steroids were the other option given to us, but I understand there are more downsides than upsides to these and that they would only damage her kidneys further. So, it's time to let her go on until she decides she's had enough. The vet didn't think we were being cruel doing that, knowing how Feebs is on her vet visits, and the vet nurse actually has made the same decision for her cat recently. So I'm reassured, even if I'm still very sad at the prospect of losing her. It was always going to happen one day - I guess Feebs was wrong when she told me she was going to live to be the oldest cat ever, she's only half way there bless her.

[carieoates]

Oh I know what you're saying, our dear 23 yr old popped off whilst we were on a family hol in Spain. My friend was taking care of her as she didn't like travelling to vets or cattery. We spent at least two days crying on and off. Then our other cat popped off almost a year later. She's probably tired and wants to tell you how she feels. If she's still eating and drinking then she's really not ready to go yet. Hope I haven't upset you further but we all know from this forum that talking about this stuff helps no matter how much it hurts. I held my mates hand just before Xmas whilst her 16yr old ragdoll was pts. So it's fresh in my mind just what this feels like. Only you know what's right at the end of the day.

Moogie , thanks for your kind words re our wee tabby cat's demise. OH and I have been cat owners since 1973 , the year we got married ; we had 2 cats initially , both farm cats , sturdy and long-lived . After they'd gone , and we had 2 daughters , we adopted 2 rescue kittens , who gave us as much joy as the previous two . However , the daughters moved on to different lives eventually and OH and I were left with the elderly cats . . . . . now both cats have left us , and much as we love moggies, we won't be adopting other cats ( except holiday visits from the daughters' cats of course !).
Thinking of you. Goldilox

[Moogie]

She's very much still happy at home, eating & drinking as normal - her swallowing is a bit more pronounced but she doesn't complain and is eager for food & treats. She'll tell us when it's time, when life gets too much for her. I remember when my mum's cat (formerly mine, but the two never got along, so when I moved out she stayed with mum) had to be put to sleep and how quickly she went down hill. It was clear she couldn't manage and it was time. I know Phoebe will let us know, but at the moment she seems far from ready, even if that could change very quickly. If we hadn't had all the senior tests we would have no indication that there was anything wrong with her, aside from a lump in her neck. I never thought I'd want to watch an animal put to sleep but that's out of selfishness not wanting to have that memory. I love her too much for her to pass without someone she knows being there (assuming it's a vet trip that is, of course it can't be helped if she passed in her sleep at home) and I'll be there for her when the time comes. Bless her, she's next to me at the moment, snoring away - it's a reassuring sound in some ways.

Wow, 23's a great age. If Phoebe could get that far I'd be thrilled, she'll be 17 in June. I met her the day after she was born - she chose me. I think one of these days I might write her story, so I can never forget even if one day my memory isn't what it could be.

I know this is a 5:2 diet forum , but it's so much more besides . Thank you to everyone who expressed sympathy for the demise of our wee tabby - yes, she's gone over "Rainbow Bridge ," as some would describe it . She and the other 3 cats we had before her from 1973 - 2013 were all rescue cats and well -loved . We have happy memories of all 4.
But , surprise , surprise , we're cat -sitting our younger daughter's 4 month old kitten while she's away on a skiing holiday in France . . . . . . .,.,.
PS he's gorgeous !!!
Goldilox xx

Moogie, I'm so sorry that you're going through such stress and sadness. I've lost a few pets and know how difficult it is.
I hate saying things like "oh don't be sad" so I'll only wish you have courage and patience. May things be as smooth as possible for all of you.