Rassy cat & Howard, Sick with kidney failure Options

[jackjackbojack]

**Joanne (jackjackbojack is a new member here. Two of her precious furkids (Rassy cat & Howard ) are very ill with kidney failure. With Joanne's permission, I'll do my best to get her posts together (along with their replies), so that she can have her own thread. **

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My two babies are dying of Kidney failure. There is just so little time left. My Rassy cat is 18.5 years old. My Howard is 16. I have been through this once before with my kittywillow. People here are so compassionate and kind. I can't stand it when people say to me its just a cat. Its not. These are my babies. I know how much joy those special little ones bring into our lives.

We enclosed our patios and made them into cat rooms. (We have one upstairs and one downstairs. We refer to our cats as the ups and downs. My up cats will soon cross over the Rainbow. All I will have are some pictures and lots of wonderful memories.

I don't want them to suffer. Rassy cat is still holding on. I know he doesn't want to leave me. Howard still has some time left before the curtain falls. I told Rassy Cat whenever he feels its time, to just let go. I would much prefer to see him die peacefully in his sleep rather than having to put either down. Howard is so attached to Ras, and sick that we might put him down just so he doesn't have to suffer the heartbreak of loosing his best friend esp in his condition.

I just continue to check on my babies. Rassy cat sleeps so soundly. I just keep checking to see if he will wake up. I try not to cry in front of him. He knows how much I adore him. And the last thing I would ever want to do is keep him alive if he is in pain.

Today, I told him, whenever you are ready to let go, its ok. Always know, I love you as much as life itself.

[Muffins]

jackjackbojack Posted: Oct 2 2007, 11:12 AM

Group: Pet Lovers
Posts: 5
Member No.: 3,649
Joined: 30-September 07


Hi Toonie

Time is drawing near to the end for my baby. My husband is out of town until Thursday night. Rassy cat has started loosing weight. Last night I got so scared I rushed him into the vet. His stomach was ok. We went to the vet this morning for his SubQ fluids. He just looks at me like why are you doing this too me. The vet said as long as he isn't in pain, not to do anything. I have cried to the point, I wonder how I am able to continue to shed more tears.

Our animals are so sweet. They bring us so much joy. Perhaps, I am being selfish because I just continue to hang on. The first time I went through this I didn't get to prepare. My kitty had fiv plus kidney failure. The fluid treatment extended her life by 1.5 years. But, when it was time, it just happened so fast. We rushed her to the vet. The vet said it was time. After it was over, I got so sick I developed ulcers and stopped eating. I blamed myself. Now here I find myself again blaming myself. I had taken Rassy into the vet for a host of other problems. He would come up to me and cry and want to sick in my lap. Little did I know what was happening. Then as I was sitting at my computer, I looked down at him. I thought he was having a seizure. We rushed him to the animal emergency. I just cried. No one wants to be told or believe the worst. However, I think if I had been taking him for fluids more often prior to all of this, he may not have gone down so fast.

I know the CRF is terminal for the majority of cats. There are the lucky ones who's masters can afford transplants and dialysis. I checked into the cost. It is just so out of our reach. I told my husband when we will the lottery, I would buy cat dialysis machines, train the staff and make sure for those who couldn't afford it, they could get treatment. I would do for others so that maybe they wouldn't have to go through this pain of saying good-bye.

I just wondering how I am going to get through each day after he is gone. I have had him since he was three months old. Now, he is 18.5. How am I going to get through a day without Mommy's cat.

Joanne

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jackjackbojack Posted: Oct 3 2007, 09:12 AM


Group: Pet Lovers
Posts: 5
Member No.: 3,649
Joined: 30-September 07


hi 5catsmom

I am so new to forums. I guess I should have started a new topic. I wasn't sure of myself with this computer. I am not real literate with computers.

Anyway, i do thank you so much for your kind words and compassion. I looked up on the internet about cats and reincarnation. There were some interesting stories and accounts of how the cats and their loved ones united.

It was before Rassy Cat got so sick, that I told my husband out of the clear blue there would be a very special cat enter our lives. I told him I didn't know when. I just knew it.

Yesterday was hard on me. I really thought it might be the end. I had called the vet to make some kind of arrangement. Then I realized something. Rassy Cat I sense wants to die at home with his other friends. It seemed like after I got this message, he perked up.

I am trying not to be sad around my baby. I think this makes him sad too. You are so right about these memories now. My husband is out of town. He should be home tomorrow. When he calls, I put the phone on speaker so he can talk to Rassy Cat. My husband has come to adore him. When Jim comes home, Rassy Cat seems to just perk up.

I found a site on talk radio about animal communicators. It was interesting how these women seem to know so much. From what I understand, some cats reincarnate into new bodies, because their work isn't done. And somehow, they do unite with their previous masters. Others just go on and cross over on to a new journey, new home, etc.

Thank you for taking time to respond to me. Its so hard to hold back the tears. For anyone going through this, its very hard. This is the second cat I have lost to Kidney failure. Its been seven years since the first one. You know there are times, I wonder if it is worth getting so close to go through such grief. But, then, I realize, grief is just an expression of love and letting go. This is what is so hard is just knowing its almost time. I have resigned myself to live from moment to moment with my baby.

Its very hard on the other cats too.



k9pal Posted: Oct 2 2007, 01:47 PM


Group: Pet Lovers
Posts: 111
Member No.: 3,079
Joined: 4-June 07

jackjackbojack -- I've noticed you on this site lately and it sounds to me as if you are going through a hard time right now. I'm very sorry that Rassy is not doing well. May I suggest that maybe you should post a new topic of your own. That way people will be able to respond to you on a more personal level. I hope all is well with Rassy. Take care k9pal

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5catsmom Posted: Oct 2 2007, 09:28 PM


Group: Pet Lovers
Posts: 452
Member No.: 1,278
Joined: 13-December 05


Jackjackbojack, I know what it's like to see your cat with CRF, one of my oldest friends, a cat named Heidi, passed away from it, and it was one of the most traumatic times of my life. She was 18, and the fluids prolonged her life by maybe 9 months. I didn't think I'd make it through, I wish I'd have known about this site then because I really feel it would make a difference. The loss of a pet is so unspeakably painful. Spend as much time as you can with Rassy - the memories you make now, although they will hurt terribly after he leaves, will one day be priceless and never to be lost to you. Do take care and let us know what happens - Barb



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toonie Posted: Oct 3 2007, 11:30 AM


Group: Pet Lovers
Posts: 271
Member No.: 2,632
Joined: 25-February 07


Hi Joanne, you seem to have the right att*itude, taking it one day at a time and trying to know what your kitty wants. Hang in there, we are all here with you. One day at a time, and try to savour each moment. Take care.