It's taken me a few days to bring myself to write this blog post. I promised myself I wouldn't cry as I write it.
Somewhere along the line I've earned the reputation as the crazy cat lady. Maybe it's because at any one given time, we've had as few as 3 and as many as 6 resident felines. To say WE have cats is not quite true - they have US!
Every once in awhile, a very, very special kitty comes along. That was April. She was a rescue who came into our lives shortly after we lost Christy (our 3 year old grey tabby) to cancer. We found a foster Mom who had a litter of kittens. Danielle (daughter) and I went to visit. April would NOT leave Danielle alone - she was climbing up her back, sitting on her shoulder and nibbling her ear. Headbonks seemed to be on the menu - not only that day, but every day!
Her sister on the other hand, came over to me and barfed at my feet. The foster Mom's daughter immediately yelled "Mom, the black cat threw up again". Great - she's going to make a lovely pet.
Needless to say when it came time to place the kittens for adoption - April came home with us to join big sister Tessa. When Mary (the foster Mom) called me to see how April was doing, she told me the black cat couldn't be placed. The lady that said she wanted her backed out. Seems like black cats are hard to place. Yep - we got Sootz (aka Puke-a-hontas). She still pukes regularly.
April and Sootz have been part of the family for 15 years now!
April was Danielle's study buddy - through junior high, high school and into university. When Danielle moved to Japan in 2010, April moped for weeks. When Danielle came home to visit, April ignored her for several days. She would sit in front of her and turn her back to Danielle (we called it getting the butt). However April soon made up with Danielle and would spend the rest of the time kneading biscuits on her arm and mashing her head into Danielle's.
When Danielle returned from Japan and moved back into the house to work on her Master's degree, April was in heaven! Her human was HOME again! Danielle could NOT study unless April was perched on the couch behind her looking over her shoulder. Every student needs a tutor!
Starting in January, April began losing weight. Took her to the vet for a check up. She was about 10 pounds, down from her normal 12 pounds. Blood was drawn. "Oh, it's just her thyroid. Many older cats suffer from hyperthyroid disease". Since we lost Tessa in 2012 when she had a bad reaction to the thyroid meds, I was reluctant to put April on them. "No worries", the vet said, "we now have food for hyperthyroid disease". In March, blood tests showed the food was working. April's bloodwork was completely normal. Her weight was now 8.3 pounds. So why was she still losing weight? She began to cry when using the litter box and after eating.
This time we took an x-ray. The vet said her bowels were enlarged, but not to worry - it was just constipation. Many older cats suffer from that as well as Inflammatory Bowel Disease. We were sent home with Laxanip (catnip flavored laxative) and prednisone for inflammation.
The crying continued.
Back to the vet the following week. This time April was given an enema. She passed quite a bit of stool. She got a shot for pain and inflammation.
The crying continued.
Back to the vet the following week. Her weight was now 7.3 pounds.
Alarmed, the vet called in a diagnostic specialist. He showed up one sunny morning, ultrasound in tow. April was quite docile, almost calm. They shaved her belly and the test began.
I work in healthcare, but I'm not clinical. I know just enough to be dangerous. I knew what I saw on the screen. The diagnostic vet used words like neoplasia and lymphoma, but they both mean the same thing.
CANCER. It was everywhere.
April did not last much longer. She couldn't swallow! That's why she was crying at the food dish. She became weaker and weaker. Couldn't walk or lift her head. I called the vet, who came to our house. We decided to let April go rather than see her continue to suffer.
To say our lives a bit emptier now is an understatement. Sootz, who we swore couldn't stand her sister, has been walking April's favorite places calling to her. I am unable to comfort my daughter (or myself) so I am lost as to how to comfort Sootz.
Please if you have a fur baby who begins to lose weight and cry, and the vet suggests it is thyroid disease, PLEASE make sure you check EVERYTHING out. If you cannot afford the ultrasound - see if there is a vet school or an organization that will get one for you at low or no cost. I hope that maybe someone will be spared our pain by reading this.
Here is our beautiful April when she was healthy:
And here is Sootz, after spending over an hour looking for her sister last night:
Fly free, April! At least you won't be in pain anymore!! WE LOVE YOU!
