Poor FABCat. What am I going to do now?

[JustFabulous]

She is almost 18.
She has hyperestesia, arthritis and kidney failure.
She was diagnosed 7 years ago with the first illness and 17 months with the latter ones. She is doing really well though. Still plays, has seen off a fox and fronted up at some dogs - one who was much bigger than her .

Last night I felt a lump and so took her the vet this morning. It is either a cyst or breast cancer .

She has had antibiotics and will be seen again next week. Best case it is a cyst and she will be fine. Worse case is it is cancer and then there is nothing we can do and I will lose her . Because of the problems with her kidneys she wouldn't cope with a GA so wouldn't be able to have the operation.

I am worried sick, really upset and would like some advice please if anyone has gone through this.

Oh Fab

I've followedd FabCats story for a while now (am usually 5inthebed) and I'm aways amazed at how she pulls through everything.

Fingers crossed it is just a cyst.

She really is amazing but it has got me in denial where I think she will go on forever. DH said the other night she woudn't make 50, or 40 but 30 is more realistic . Then this .

no advice but just a massive big hug for you and fabcat x

I'm so sorry to hear about Fabcats troubles - you clearly love her very much.

However, this bit in your last point jumped out at me:
"DH said the other night she woudn't make 50, or 40 but 30 is more realistic"

I couldn't tell from your post if you were just kidding, but 30 is almost unheard of for a cat - the lifespan of the average domestic cat is about 15 - 18 years. The exception to this rule are Burmese cats who are well known for their longevity, frequently reaching their early twenties. We had one when I was a kid who got to 24 - he was a pedigree so he had a birth certificate, so we knew exactly how old he was.

My other cats have reached 17 and 19 before kidney failure took them - this is a very common cause of death in old cats.

Fabcat is a very elderly lady now...bless her!

I know she won't make 30 but there is a bit of me, okay a lot, that wonders if she might as she is so spoilt and has come through so much already. I am in denial and need to get out of it!

I think DH was basically saying she is more likely to make 30 than 50 but he doesn't really think she will.

He thinks it is probably cancer.

DD was saying the other day she hopes she makes her 18th birthday.

I know what time she was born as well as the day so am sure of her age but as she sits next to me having a wash and looking so well, it is hard to believe she really is 17.11.

Bless her!

She has been loved and adored and spoilt rotten I am sure, and sadly that is much more than many cats get in this world.

I do hope the news isn't as bad as you hope but I think you are right about being in denial - I suspect old Fab is slowly winding down now and you need to do the mental adjustments necessary to let her go peacefully at the end, when it comes.

I say this as someone who sobbed her heart out when her last cat (17) was put to sleep - also due to kidney failure / cancer - fortunately I knew the veterinary nurse from my school days but it was all most embarrassing, a grown woman of 31 blubbing everywhere like a little kid!

Wishing you and Fab the best,

C

x

I sobbed when my hamster ws put down....

My lovely fur ball is asleep on the floor. I just had a look and a stroke as it looked like she had a big bit of fluff that wasn't there before. The lump is massive and even feels bigger than last night . She has been laying in some funny positions and I wonder if that is related.

DH said I have to prepare myseld for losing her. How the heck do I do that?

:(

DH thinks a lot of the "lump" is fur. She is like her mummy and has a spare tyre .

She hasn't done much but sleep today, hasn't eaten all her breakfast though she is Miss Fussy and would rather leave it than eat something she has decided she doesn't like this week.

I can't imagine life without her. It dawned on my last night for the sake of less than 2 years I have had her for half my life .

We have told the kids today. They took it much better than I thought. They are excited about going on holiday tomorrow. I have promised them she will be here on Friday when they get home.

If it is cancer, does anyone know how long she has?

Oh Fab.

OopsCat is 17 and we've had him since he was 7 weeks old. I know he won't last forever but I can't imagine the house without him and his incessant yowling comments on EVERYTHING

Fingers crossed for 'just' a cyst.

It could also be a benign tumour, of course, not necessarily a malignant one.

If it is a malignant one, even then there are many different sorts - from slow growing ones to more aggressive kinds. The only way to know is to see what the vet thinks it is...

She has breast cancer.

Oh, Fab. I'm so sorry.

((((( Fab )))))

Oh no.

Dh and DS1 day have her operated on. PIL and DD say not. I have to think about DD if it sets off FABCat's kidney failure as she says no and wouldn't forgive me. I want to stamp my feet and say my cat, my decision but I don't know what my decision is.

Oh Fab :(

What does the vet say r.e. operation?

Poor FabCat :(

Has the vet said how long if she doesn't get operated on?

Last week he said the op wasn't an option but now he's saying her weight and kidney function is stable that it can be done.

I don't think he knows how long As it could be slow growing. I. Think he said a year but I'm not sure.

I didn't think I would have a decision to make tbh. We came on holiday on monday and I went home yesterday to check on her and I'm going home again tmw. Spoilt cat? No......