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Original poster

Just found out my cat has cancer and only has weeks at best

52 replies

Bakersbum · 16/05/2014 21:10

Gutted! I posted the other week about how my 14 year old cat, had suddenly lost lots of weight and it seemed it may just be a thyroid problem.

Confirmed today it's cancer, kidneys, intestines and probably stomach too Sad, rapid heart and very anaemic. I was given two options, palliative injections or pts there and then.

Totally wasn't prepared for that, so went with the first option, on the understanding that we would be seen immediately if he deteriorates at all to be pts. The vet said to be very careful not to extend things too much, otherwise he may have an unpleasant death.

So now I'm thinking maybe book him in for next Friday, it just feels so cold and calculated. Worrying I should have let them do it today, but he had a lovely morning sunbathing and even chased a fly, eating lots (although I understand to feed the tumours), it felt wrong to cut his life off today.

I don't want him to suffer, but for today anyway he doesn't seem to be.

Can't even begin to imagine the hell of taking him in and leaving without him, he really has been through thick and thin with me.

Sorry for the waffling.

OP posts:
crazynanna · 18/05/2014 18:33

So sorry for your loss Thanks
Just remember how much he was loved and what a lucky little fellow he was to have you and how lucky you were to have him xxx

Gileswithachainsaw · 18/05/2014 20:41

Swet dreams bakercat
Run free

:(

LaurieFairyCake · 18/05/2014 20:46

So awfully sorry Sad

Lots of {{{hugs}}} for you, it's terrible

spudmasher · 18/05/2014 20:48

Ahh so sorry Bakers. Sounds like your cat had a wonderful life with you. So sad. Be kind to yourself- its a big thing.

Original poster
Bakersbum · 18/05/2014 20:55

Thanks all, I keep thinking I can see him in the corner of my eye...

OP posts:
LoofahVanDross · 18/05/2014 21:01

So very sorry to read this. I know how hard it is. I also kept seeing my cat out of the corner of my eye when I came home. He used to sit at the top of the stairs to see who came and went through the front door, and many times afterwards I would see him sitting there.

Thoughts are with you xxx

BigSpottyCupofTea · 18/05/2014 21:03

So sad to hear that about your boy. You did the right thing.

Be gentle and kind to yourself x

timtam23 · 18/05/2014 21:41

So sorry Bakers but you did the kindest thing for him Thanks

For a while after my old girl died I used to think I'd seen her sitting in her favourite chair (my armchair) and I used to look for her as I went upstairs as she always lay on the landing surveying her territory Smile

I still shed a few tears 8 months on when I think about her even though she was very old & tired and it was definitely her time to go

Take care of yourself

foofooyeah · 20/05/2014 01:04

I am so sorry.
I lost my lovely cat to cancer this evening and its heartbreaking

LaurieFairyCake · 20/05/2014 08:12

Thanks for foofoo too, so sorry to hear about your cat

Gileswithachainsaw · 20/05/2014 09:02

Oh foo I'm so sorry :(

Sweet dreams kitten.

Original poster
Bakersbum · 20/05/2014 12:16

Thanks so sorry to hear that foo

I have ordered a lovely sleeping stone cat ornament for the spot we buried him, which says 'You may have left our lives, but will never leave our hearts'.

I just can't stop crying, I know it will lessen in time but I miss him so much. My 3 year old keeps asking if we can get a rocket to fly up to the sky to see him, as he was his best friend Sad.

Does anyone have any tips on helping my other cat, she is a lot younger so has always had my other one around. She is currently refusing all food (even ham, tuna etc.) and is refusing to come in the house, she is usually very much one for staying in and having lots of cuddles.

OP posts:
Gileswithachainsaw · 20/05/2014 12:24

:( have you got the other cats bed still? Perhaps swap the blanket/cushion over so she can smell him?

Feliway plug in might help. Poor little thing :(

SecretWitch · 20/05/2014 12:28

Love and hugs to you...so hard on the heart to lose a beloved kitty..

When one of my sweet babies dies I always whisper this prayer..

Fly your soul to the arms of the Goddess, and know that those that love you, remember you..xx

Itsfab · 21/05/2014 20:13

I am so sorry for your loss Sad. You did the kindest and selfless thing you could. I am so sorry. It really hurts.

FABCat had cancer and lived with it for 9 months before I had to have her PTS. I will never forgive myself for not holding her while it happened. She was on the vet table and I didn't realise I could have held her. I happened to be in the same room with my two new cats on the same table today and feel awful I was fine with it. I did talk about her with the vet though and I miss her all the time. I thought I was seeing her for ages afterwards and the house felt cold and horrible.

We were told on the Tuesday, Wednesday night she toiletted in the downstairs loo which had never happened before and on Thursday she was PTS. I think we did it exactly right though maybe Wed would have been better. Would have been too little notice for us and we would have missed the day of spoiling her rotten. I had her for nearly 19 years.

Now we have 2 new cats who have been with us almost a year and we love them but nothing will compare to FABCat.

Original poster
Bakersbum · 21/05/2014 20:29

Sorry for your loss to itsfab they really are part of the family. It all feels very strange.

We got a lovely condolences card through the post today, from our usual vets, really lovely surprise. The emergency vets who put him to sleep must have told them.

My other cat seems a bit more settled today thankfully.

OP posts:
Itsfab · 21/05/2014 20:55

Thank you. I am sorry my post was so much about me. I was trying to convey that I understand how heartbroken you are.

Original poster
Bakersbum · 21/05/2014 21:18

It does help to read others experiences. Thanks

OP posts:
Itsfab · 22/05/2014 17:09

How are you all doing today, Bakersbum?

Original poster
Bakersbum · 23/05/2014 20:25

Not great, first day at home without him today, missing him lots and just feel so sad.

OP posts:
Itsfab · 23/05/2014 20:34

I am so sorry.

TBH we had our two new cats within a month of FABCat passing away as we were all so heart broken and hated the house without fur balls that we needed another pet to love. I was too embarrassed to post on here and didn't tell many people in case they thought it meant I hadn't loved her. And I did, so much.

Original poster
Bakersbum · 23/05/2014 20:39

I know what you mean. Dp wants to get another asap to cheer the house up and fill the gap. I do want to but feel it's a bit soon and guilty for thinking about a replacement. He was there for me through some dreadful times, nothing would ever replace him.

OP posts:
Itsfab · 24/05/2014 09:05

I totally understand as I felt the same but it has been nearly a year and what if BoyCat and GirlCat were still in the rescue place as we had people telling us it was too soon? Who would that have benefitted, no one.

Tues - told it was time.

Thurs - FABCat passed away.

Sat - Picked up her ashes. 12 year old told me it was time to move on. Later that discussed whether everyone even wanted another cat. 12 year old implied it was like we were saying we didn't care about FABCat. I told him he was the one saying to move on when I cried over the fact that FABCat's ashes had her name on the box.

Mon - DH and I went to the rescue place so I could get seeing another cat out of the way when I knew I would see them. Chosen by BoyCat and GirlCat. About 2 weeks after we picked up FABCat's ashes BC and GC came to live with us.

They have helped us all so much. I miss FABCat and always will and feel guilty I love another cat but it doesn't mean I won't miss her forever and only last week there were tears about her. I got her when she was 5 weeks old and living with my ex. She died at 18 years 9 months. He hit me but it was only when he kicked her that I left. She has got me through so much, and there are tonnes of threads about her, but I know I gave her an incredible life and the vet said she lived a lot longer than she should have with her issues and that was down to the care I gave her. I feel I can do that for other cats and here we are.

Will be thinking of you.

Photo is FABCat aged about 7 weeks.

Just found out my cat has cancer and only has weeks at best
Original poster
Bakersbum · 24/05/2014 13:56

Gorgeous picture. Thanks, that makes me feel a bit better. We're going to a fun day at a rescue centre on Monday, so will see how I feel then. You're right, he won't ever be forgotten, been through too many major events with me.

The house just feels so sad and empty at the moment.

OP posts:
Itsfab · 24/05/2014 14:04

It will for a while. I used to think I saw her sometimes and that was hard.

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