Ingrid has been growing noticeably weaker and skinnier and wobblier every day. Now she has trouble jumping on the bed, her favorite place; when she tried last night, she fell backward onto the floor and landed on her back with a bony thump. It was so sad. When I pick her up, she feels like a Raggedy Ann doll. Yesterday, her bladder leaked a little on our living room chair (ugh - how do you get that smell out?), which is a sign of advanced kidney disease. I am afraid she may not have much time left with us, although cats can surprise you. I am waiting for a call back from the vet so we can find out what comfort measures we can give her at this stage in her life. She spends a lot of time just sitting — under the bed covers or just next to one of us. She's even OK hanging out with Daniel, who pulls and grabs her like a toy. She still loves to go outside when I open the door, but I don't leave her out there alone. The neighborhood cats would whoop her in a heartbeat.
She's also been gazing at me a lot, and I feel like she's trying to tell me something, though I'm not sure what - "I'll be OK." "I may not be with you much longer." "Please take extra good care of me." "I am barely hanging on here ... help me." (Obviously, I'm projecting onto her all my own sadness about losing her - but I like to think that maybe she's communicating with me, too!)
8 comments:
Oh, Emi, I'm going to write an email to you....
Love, your other Greenville cat person, Elizabeth
Goodness - I'm crying here at my desk! Poor little kitty. (I have turned into SUCH a cat person!)
I know you'll take good care of Ingrid no matter how much time she has left. I'm thinking of you all!
Oh Em, I'm so sorry. The fall sounds especially heartbreaking. What an adorable picture of her and Daniel. It's almost as if Ingrid is a comfort to Daniel.
Olivia has been suddenly drinking very large amounts of water daily, and I'm finding several large clumps of urine in her litter box daily. She's having a blood test Saturday. I'm worried.
Yeah, you got me crying, too. I know how it is to have your animals get old. My mom's dog was just put down about a month ago. It's so hard. I will be thinking of you and your dearest kitty.
Oh Emilie, I'm so sorry! I know how hard it can be to approach this point with a beloved kitty. I know that you are doing all you can for her, and I'm sure she knows it too. *Hugs*
Oh poor Ingrid. I hope she won't be leaving you soon. It's so hard to lose our pets. I hope she will be well.
Oh, sweet kitty! I'm sorry too. It could be a matter or days, or she could hang on for several more months, like Winken did when these things started happening to her. But our parents were also injecting her twice a week at home with water because she couldn't consume enough water on her own to live. Eventually after doing this for less than a year, these treatments weren't enough because she was getting more frail, so the vet put her down.
Katie, a year before Winken died, went through the same process, except the 'rents didn't know hydrating was an option to extend her life. When they started the treatment with Winken, they said they would have done the same earlier with Katie. I don't remember how long she suffered, but both kitties received lots of love, affection and prayers when we knew it was just a matter of time.
Unless you prefer Ingrid to die at home, it might be physically and emotionally cleaner to have the vet put her down and then cremate her, once she gets to the point where she cannot stand and keep her eyes open. You will know when she gets to the point where death will happen in the next 24 hours. Sometimes they hit a second wind, but it doesn't last.
I am sorry again, writing this is helping me cope with the process and the grief I never let myself go through when our kitties died. She and George will have a wonderful reunion in kitty heaven!
"simple solution" at pet stores gets out the stain and the odor.
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