Radioactive Iodine Treatment

Our cat Stormy has been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, and after reviewing all the options, we have decided to have her treated with radioactive Iodine-131. The surgery just seemed to have too much of a risk of leaving her hypothyroid/hypocalcemic(plus the risk of anesthesia in general for a 13-year old), and treating her with pills or topical every day just didn't seem like a good choice. Has anyone had this done and have any experience to share?

She is on methimazole(Tapazole) topical gel for the couple of weeks until her treatment; she goes in to the clinic for workups on May 8, and will receive her treatment on May 12. Prayers very much appreciated.

Webster...new Little Boy In The House

15 months after Misty left us, we finally felt healed enough to bring another bundle of fur into our home. We planned (oh, silly us ) to get a solid gray baby girl kitten, but there was obviously an angel with a different idea. Went to the Humane Society a litle over two weeks ago, went to one of the cat rooms, and not seeing what we thought we were looking for, were on our way out when a cage we had overlooked on our way in suddenly had a big paw and a little mew escape from it. "Justin," the card said...7 mo 3 weeks old, male, red & cream tabby; he'd just been neutered so we couldn't take him out of the cage till the next day. We put a hold on him, came back the next day, and, well, that decision was sooo easy.

He's a little purr-box who loves to kiss and lie in your arms like a baby. His front feet are webbed(back partially webbed), hence his new name, and he loves to play with toys. It's so wonderful to have a little one in the house.

Webster fighting the mouse:


Then all tired out:


Without the support of the many wonderful people here, I don't know if I would have ever gotten to this point. Thanks to all of you.

Four Months

Misty, I can think of you now without crying...sometimes. I don't feel you close to me very much anymore...you must know that I'm learning to get by...but that there's still a big hole in my heart.

I still miss you every day.

Error Accessing Death And Dying Support

When I try accessing the Death and Dying Support Forum, I'm getting a SQL error:

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Date: Saturday 01st of January 2005 01:02:31 PM

Two Long Months

Misty, my kitty girl, it's been two long, lonely months since you've been gone. I just wanted you to know I think about you every day. I won't forget you. Your little sister has been helping to keep me company, and I've been trying to keep her company too. I've been trying to remember all the good times, like the first time we met...

I remember the day we first saw you. We drove to the Monterey County SPCA on October 19, 1991 looking for "a kittie." Rebeccah had wanted a kittie for her 4th birthday, but I had hoped that we'd somehow forget that request with all the other birthday celebration distractions. You see, I wasn't really a "cat person." Never had been really, although we'd had one cat that loosely associated with us when I was a kid.

But Rebeccah wasn't letting go of the kittie idea, so begrudgingly, off to the SPCA she and I went. We were shown into a room where the walls were filled with cages, filled with cats and kittens of all shapes, sizes and colors. We stopped and looked at each one, Rebeccah intently looking for just the perfect kittie. We stopped at the cage you were in, and the other kittens mewed noisily, tussling with each other...but not you. You walked slowly but steadily to the front of the cage, looked straight at me with those intense blue kitten eyes and let out a single little mew. "Take me," you said. I have no idea how I knew what you were saying, but I knew it more surely than anything else I've ever known. We finished looking at all the other cages, all the other cats and kittens, but came back to you again. "Can we take her out?" I asked one of the staff. We got to take you to a little room for a while, and see how we'd get along. You were, I thought, the most perfect kitten ever born. Not timid, but not too bold. Affectionate but not clingy. Assertive but not aggressive. A little white spot on your nose, a little black spot on your heel. You sat perfectly still in my cupped hands, your purr stronger than your tiny size should be capable of. How had you stolen my heart in just those few minutes? I guess I'll never know, but I thank you for it still.

Reluctantly, we left without you that day. We had to make the final decision that we really were willing to accept the responsibility of a lifetime of taking care of you. The decision actually came easily, since the one previously dissenting voice was now solidly in favor. The next day we drove to the SPCA again, collar and carrier in hand. You were there waiting for us. Again we took you to the little room, all four of us now. There wasn't really any deciding left to do now; you were going home with us!

Missing you every day...