Another kick in the teeth - cat in hospital

[Porsche-O-Phile]

As some of you may remember, we lost one of our cats (Charlie) last year - in January. As some of you may also know, I'm very attached to our pets and consider them as nothing less than part of our family.

Well, his surviving "step-sister" (Bonnie) has become very ill over the last 2-3 days and is currently in the hospital with chronic renal failure (and a few complications from it). They are doing what they can to stabilize her and to get her eating normally and comfortable but we're also told that due to the degraded kidney function (her kidneys are small relative to her body size and have been damaged due to previous infections, stones, etc.) she has only a 40% chance of surviving the coming month. Needless to say, this can't come at a worse time and we're devastated by the prospect of possibly losing her. She's been a great pal and a great friend with nothing but unconditional love and affection for my wife and I.

I hope to have her home Saturday and we'll see what happens after that - hopefully a long period of continued happiness and companionship while we do what we can to prop up her kidney function with at-home treatments and such. But it doesn't look good, and frankly I don't know how many more "kicks when I'm down" like this I have to take.

The good news is she looked a lot better this AM when I went to visit her. I'm hopeful, but it sounds like things are going to be very rough going over the next few weeks and I'm preparing for the worst. Any encouraging or positive thoughts/prayers/good wishes/whatever right now would be appreciated. Thanks.

Here's a few pictures of my princess:

[ruf-porsche]

Sorry to hear about your cat's problems. I lost my sheepdog to renal failure and had to put him down. Probably one of the sadess day in my life. Pets offer unconditional love. Again sorry to hear about your cat.

[Amail]

As a confirmed cat lover, and having been repeatedly kicked in the teeth also, I know how hard this is. Next time you swing by the hospital, give her a scratch behind the ears and wish her good luck for me.

[futuresoptions]

Best wishes Jeff, I love my pets as well and know how hard it is to loose them.... Hope all goes well....

[dhoward]

Really sorry to hear this. Good luck to all of you.

[Rot 911]

Good luck to you and the cat!

[rammstein]

Sucks. Hope you get some more time.

[Zeke]

Nice looking cat. How old? Cats and kidneys seem to be a problem. At least that's what the vet tells me. However, I've not lost a cat to kidney failure. I've had several. To bad cats and dogs don't live as long as parrots and turtles. Even a lobster can live as long as a human, just to name one.

[ruf-porsche]

Originally Posted by milt

Nice looking cat. How old? Cats and kidneys seem to be a problem. At least that's what the vet tells me. However, I've not lost a cat to kidney failure. I've had several. To bad cats and dogs don't live as long as parrots and turtles. Even a lobster can live as long as a human, just to name one.

But you can't play with a Lobster like you can with a cat or dog. Nothing like having Larry the lobster in Sponge Bob curling up next to you.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

She's kind of young to be having this kind of trouble so the suspicion is that a lot of it is simple genetic predisposition. She's 7-1/2 now - certainly not "old". When we brought her in for a checkup last year (after Charlie died, we were hyper-paranoid then) they discovered that the mass of her kidneys relative to her weight was low (i.e. she's got small kidneys) and subsequently there have been a couple of intermittent bouts with infections which we've always gotten cleared up with antibiotics and she's been on a regimen of special food (k/d diet) and at-home subcutaneous fluid injections.

Don't let the cute looks fool ya' - she's a fighter when she wants to be, so I hope she's got it in her to fight on for a good while more. I miss having her sitting here in my lap as I type this. She's awesome.

[fxeditor]

Jeff I'm so sorry to hear about Bonnie's condition. My thoughts go out to you and your family.
Michael

[jyl]

Very pretty cat. I have lost dogs and cats over the years so I know how difficult it is.

[911Rob]

Sorry to hear your news, she's a beauty!!!

[Sonic dB]

She is a cute cat. I hope she comes out of it ok.

I lost one last year and it hurt badly. My other one is now 16, and has small signs of the kidney issues so we have had him on fluids for the past year. Im due to take him in for another check up in a couple weeks. It is an issue with older cats.

Anyway my best to you and her.

[slodave]

Best wishes! Skyler, my bird, was given an optimistic 3 months to live after his seizure this past July. He's still alive and as energetic as ever these days.

[pwd72s]

Just love 'em as long as you can... Best wishes for you and your cat. I really believe they know they are loved. Hang on to that...

[Hebrewhomeboy]

I've had cats in my family since the day I was born. I feel for you Jeff. If the worst happens, at least you know you gave her a good, happy life. One thing I do sometimes is drive over to a local cat shelter and play with all the cats for an hour or so, and donate some cat food and litter to the place. Always makes me feel good. Maybe something like that would make you feel better. If you can't save your cat, at least you'd know you helped a bunch of other cats.

[Chocaholic]

Keep the faith man...things will improve. Maybe not as soon as you like, but they will improve. I promise.

Nothing worse than a sick loved one when the chips are down (or up). Here's to a speedy recovery.

[livi]

Sorry to hear this, Jeff. Feline thoughts sent.

[126coupe]

Sorry to hear that, from one cat over to another