Today,
Raleigh went to the doctor again, as he was not improving. My Peach has FIP.
There is no cure, and almost as little treatment. The veterinary said that
expecting Raleigh to live without great discomfort for another month is “optimistic”.
I
knew the anti-biotic he was taking was not helping, and I saw Raleigh’s sides
become bloated. I feared the accumulation of fluid that came with FIP. X-rays
were taken; a tap of his abdomen produced a quantity of yellowish liquid.
Though much was drained, it will simply build up again. Raleigh’s breathing is
fast, a symptom of the pressure on his diaphragm; his loss of appetite is
another characteristic of FIP.
Though
he could outlast the prediction, FIP is not cancer. It is less unpredictable;
Parker strode confidently past the date given for his demise, and kept going
for four months. Raleigh will probably not survive long. Given his apathy
toward food, I suspect it will be that that will determine the number of his
remaining days. Sometimes, he will eat a sustaining amount; sometimes,
especially in the mornings, he will want nothing. I won’t force-feed him
anything. His inappetence isn’t temporary, and won’t be shocked into starting
again, or resume after he has been carried over by nutrition delivered in a
syringe. I will still give him his Prednisolone, as failure to ingest that will
cause difficulties swiftly, possibly more swiftly than the FIP will claim him.
He
has not been with me for two years, this ugly little spaniel whom I thought was
ancient when I first observed him. It has been a short time, far too short a
time. But hopefully he will feel that it has been a good time. I know I will always
be grateful to have the Peach as a member of my family.
Oh, John, my heart hurts to hear this. I want to cry. From the beginning, there was something about Raleigh that particularly touched me. However, I’m so thankful you were able to rescue him from what undoubtedly would have been a horrible end on the streets. He will at least leave this world knowing a period of love and comfort.
ReplyDeleteSometimes you get a kitten that stays for 18 years. Sometimes you take in a elder cat to give it peace and comfort for a short time, perhaps for the first time in their lives. Either way, they are loved.
ReplyDeleteI think they do not sense time like we do. A year or two of kindness can become a "forever" of kindness.
My Latvian grandmother had a favorite expression, which translates into “small bundle of bad luck.” Raleigh always reminded me of that saying, but I didn’t think it would come true that literally.
ReplyDeleteBless!x
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry, John. You are such a wonderful guardian to all your cats and each one has touched my heart. Raleigh has done the same and I read your sad news with tears in my eyes. You have given him love and comfort and a much better life than he would have had if he hadn't come to you.
ReplyDeleteI know there is no cure but hope his remaining time is longer than predicted. I send my best wishes to you both.
Raleigh has touched us all in his time with you. I'm so terribly sorry that his remaining time is very short, but I know you won't let him suffer. And I'm certainly glad he found his way to you, to have your love and care. I'm keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers. ♥
ReplyDeleteHard to bear here at my house. Very hard.
ReplyDeleteAwww. Please give him a pat from us and tell him that we are thinking of him.
ReplyDeleteJulie and Poppyq
I’m so sorry to hear this. In 2012 right after the death of a beloved cat, Woody, I was in a Petsmart and was looking at their adoptable cats. One named Scraggs had an ear tip. He came from an outdoor colony but was very sweet. Card said about 7-9 years old. I took him home that day. He integrated into my cat menagerie very easily and I renamed him Possum. Took him to my vet after I noticed his breathing was fast about a month later. My vet, who is normally a pretty optimistic guy, called me with the blood and other results. His exact words were “he is a hot mess” tumors in his lungs, tumor on his thyroid and liver values really bad. Plus, my vet estimated he was at least 14 years old. So I started hospice care and eventually put him down in January having him a little over six months. I loved my Possum man and wouldn’t have changed a thing if I had to do it over again...Prayers for you and Mr. Peach.
ReplyDeleteI'm very glad Possum was able to live his last months in security and with love. I think that's important for animals, as much as, and perhaps even more than for, humans.
DeleteThank you for your kind words. Another thing I wanted to say is that while you never know how long any cat will be with us, those of us that rescue cats off the street are dealing with cats who probably have never received any necessary shots early in their lives and living on the streets play havoc with their immune systems. Raleigh won the stray cat jackpot when he was trapped and came to live with you.
DeleteI am sure you will enjoy Peachy's company as long as he is with you.
ReplyDeleteI hope he is comfortable as he looks in the photo.
dood...we iz knot cryin...coz we iz big catz....we think itz alurgeez... we iz beyond sorree buddy; but we iz all sew buzzed happee that ewe finded dad N de crew....coz even if it waz onlee fora bit, ya had.. N have... de best best best ....ever...we asked R pal St Francis two stay rite bye yur side N knot leeve ewe fora minit; him said he will; he noez what we meen ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
ReplyDeleteOh Raleigh!
ReplyDeleteI am sad and mad at the same time.
Sending all of the purrs we can create to you.
That is so very sad and we're so very sorry to hear that news. Mega hugs from all of us.
ReplyDeleteOh John, I am so sorry to hear this news. To paraphrase a saying: Saving one cat may not change the world, but the world will change for that one cat. I think that's what happened the day you saved Raleigh. You showed him kindness and love that he probably never had before. Both of you are in our thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteOh John, I'm so very sorry. I'm tearing up as I write this because although we knew Raleigh had health issues, it seems so damned unfair. He found a safe place with you and the thought of him leaving so soon is just devastating. I know he'll let you know when the time has come and I wish you strength in letting go.
ReplyDeleteEileen
I am so sorry your sweet boy has this awful diagnosis. XO
ReplyDeleteDear Raleigh you are one of the furs we want to see when we visit but it is what it is and we know that you dear Dad will take care of you until you say it is time. Oh my we are sad
ReplyDelete