It was very early Monday morning. One or so when Richard woke me up. I had gone to bed as I had an early start at work… He was sobbing, and told me he was going to take Chanel to the vet. He said he had to take him, even though he thought it was too late, or something like that. He was difficult to understand as he rushed out of the room. I called work and left a voicemail that I’d probably be late or missing that day and tried to go back to sleep. I woke again at 6:30 and found Richard sleeping on the couch. He was a mess and clearly hadn’t slept at all. I tried to call work again to confirm that I would not be in. There was no answer. Oh well. I had already left a message. I got Richard to come up to bed and stayed there with him as he sobbed for a while. I had no idea at this point whether the cat had made it or not. After a while Richard slept a bit. But not for long. He was up again at 8. He was checking on Chanel, who was very sick but more stable. There were expensive tests to be done to figure out what was wrong. Each one was a major decision. He cried. A lot.

I finally got a hold of a real person at 8:15 to be sure work was not expecting me. I stayed with Richard all day. Sometimes holding him. Sometimes just sitting there with him as he stared at the wall. Chanel has been with Richard longer than me! The little cat was 13 years old and has been through a lot. He has always had health issues but we managed them. He was leading a pretty normal life, and was in great shape before this latest illness set in. In fact he behaved like a big kitten the last few years, since he could run and jump and play when for many years he couldn’t.

Anyway, he was to have an ultrasound in the afternoon. After that we were told we could visit, which we did. The doctor spoke to us first to discuss more tests beyond the ultrasound to find out what was going on. The ultrasound had been pretty inconclusive. After more tears (from both of us now) Richard agreed. After a bit we were able to see him. He was very sleepy from the sedatives but definitely feeling and looking more like himself. He had been severely dehydrated and after some time on the IV he appeared more normal. He recognized us and purred and head-butted Richard as best he could. He even wanted to jump off the table! We were hopeful as we left the hospital.

At about 11 last night Richard’s phone rang. My heart sunk. I heard only half of the conversation, but knew it was time to go. I gathered my wallet and keys. Richard was already waiting at the car. Saying goodbye was the hardest thing. First, I was surprised at how emotional I was. Then to see the man I love in so much pain… He hugged his cat and sobbed as they helped him along. His body was shutting down, and it was best that he be allowed to ‘go to sleep’. Richard’s cries tore my heart out.

When it was done they gave us a few minutes with him. I could plainly see that Chanel was gone. As I held onto my crushed man I reached over and covered Chanel with the blanket they had brought in. Richard cried out louder.

After a bit Richard was ready to go. I had to get him home. I went out to see what if anything they needed from us. They said we were clear to leave. As we passed through the waiting room there was an older couple. I will never forget the sympathetic pained look on the old woman as she watched Richard and clutched her husband. It was like she felt his pain.

Once at home we both cried on and off until we were able to sleep. 

tagged: sick cat pets death chanel loved companion

daniel · late morning · 8 comments · ping it

It started just over a week ago. He was throwing up. Not entirely unusual, as he has had a lot of problems over the years. We don’t get too alarmed at a little cat barf. It’s par for the course. We assumed he had overeaten or something. But it kept going. He wasn’t keeping down any food at all. He stopped asking for food. So, Richard decided it was time for a trip to the doctor. We couldn’t just have a barfing cat the entire time my folks were here… Tests were done, hydration injections were administered. The bill added up. We were sent home. Diagnosis so far: Feline Pancreatitis. We were to not feed him for a few days, just give him medications. We tried. Most of the time he couldn’t keep those down. We just started giving him the tiniest amount of food. Tuna actually, since it is “easy to digest”. He had trouble with that. Sadly anything that finally stays down causes problems on the other end. Severe diarrhea. Ew, right?

The poor guy has no energy. No motivation. He’s losing weight. He doesn’t even *want* food! Worse, I have only seen him drink water twice in the last 4 days. It’s scary and sad.

Mostly sad. 

tagged: richard sick cat home chanel

daniel · mid-afternoon · 6 comments · ping it

I was working on the fish tank when I heard something fall. I stopped what I was doing. One of the cats, Chanel, looked startled. I thought in that second that maybe the cats were playing. They do that. But the sound continued and Chanel was in front of me. I went up the stairs. What could they have knocked down? I turned the corner and there was Coco. I thought he was dying. He was at the foot of the stairs. His legs were all akimbo. He was rolling his head oddly and kept pressing his forehead into the bottom step. I was freaking out. I spoke his name calmly and put my hand out. He let me pet him and slowly steadied himself.

He wasn’t dying. He was dizzy. He had fallen down the stairs.

Now that I know he’s alright, nothing broken or anything, it’s kinda funny. What the hell? How did a cat fall down the stairs??? Should I worry? He is getting older…

tagged: cats pets chanel stairs coco dizzy

daniel · at some point · 1 comment · ping it

I could see our cat doing this. Well, not Chanel, he’s to skittish. Coco definitely.
Mystery cat takes bus via Freakgirl. 

tagged: links cat pets chanel coco bus cat takes bus

daniel · late morning · say it · ping it

So since Richard had decided that his cat was not going to wear one of those lampshade thingies Chanel has been not only in danger of picking his stitches, but he has been running around totally nude. Yes, nude. Like some feral animal. We are not running some gay kitty whorehouse over here! (Side note, there has been a very large ‘bear’ cat prowling around the back yard and even howling at the window.) Tonight I decided it was time for Chanel to get back into his everyday silver glimmer pleather rhinestone collar with the heart shaped sterling rhinestone encrusted ID tag. I mean really. For decency’s sake…

tagged: cats pets chanel nudity bear collar

daniel · the wee hours · 2 comments · ping it

Erm. Yeah. They say one shouldn’t blog about one’s cats. I have broken that rule numerous times. In fact I am about to right now. You see, the cat (yes Chanel again) had to go to the doctor. It was almost another emergency room visit. He had a little bump that would bleed sometimes on his paw. We had it looked at a few months ago. It turned out to be like a vein coming through the skin or something. We were given some medicine to shrink it. Well that didn’t work out and yesterday his paw started bleeding and pretty much wouldn’t stop. Yup, just like you are thinking. Little red paw prints all over the house. Plus we were a bit concerned that he may eventually run out of blood! Kidding… It stopped and started kinda. It wasn’t like a constant fount of blood.

Anyway, so when one cat goes to the doctor the other goes. Richard packed them up early this morning and off they went. Chanel ended up having surgery! Poor guy! So now he is very grouchy from having been ‘put under’. Plus while he was out they cleaned his teeth. So while the 2 cats remember each other, Chanel is not feeling social. Thus the title. Hiss!

Oh, and he has to wear one of those lamp shade thingies. Humiliating. 

tagged: richard cats sick pets chanel lampshade collar surgery

daniel · early evening · 3 comments · ping it

Well, the trip to the ER was exactly what I had thought. Re-hydrate, and clean him out. He had a kitty enema! Ew! Richard didn’t get home till around 4:30 and then stayed up to monitor the cat. Chanel has been eating canned pumpkin. He’s not in pain but hasn’t meowed or visited the box. Richard will be on cat box vigil all day.

At least the 2 cats are getting along. That trick of bringing them both is amazing! The doctor visits used to be worse because when Chanel got home all the new smells on him terrified Coco, who’d attack and hiss. Oi. It was bad!

Anyway. I need to start getting ready for work. I am closing again. Yay me!

tagged: pets chanel constipation sick cat vet

daniel · late morning · say it · ping it

Well, this is an update on the cat. If you are not interested in our cats you don’t need to read on. I’ll understand.

Chanel has a bit more than a sneeze. He was showing signs of severe constipation. Tonight after his daily medicine and feeding he threw up all of his food. He made repeated trips to the litter box, followed by hiding. He threw up some more. 6 times in four hours actually, kept visiting the box, and hiding the rest of the time. Richard called the 24 hour emergency vet. They were sympathetic, but less than helpful. The outcome of the call was to administer his medicine and try feeding again. Weird. You see I had just done my duty and Googled ‘cat constipation’ and of course became an instant expert. From what I could tell the hiding, trips to the box, and licking (yes he was cleaning himself too) were signs of advanced constipation. Meaning he may not have ‘number 2’d’ in days. Ouch!! Poor thing!

Richard was at first in denial. Then distressed. You see, we have been through this before. Chanel almost died from constipation some years back. He has been fine for 3 years… Although there has been a change in his medication, and Richard has been playing hone tag with the veterinarian for a week because of changes in Chanel. The cat had seemed to put on a lot of weight in a short time, but in hindsight maybe he has been bloated?

Anyway, no success with the more feeding idea. I wasn’t surprised, I mean you can’t stuff anything into a plugged hole. It just backs up. Why they suggested that..... So now Richard has packed up the cats and gone to the ER. You have to take them both even though only one is sick (trust me on this one). I think (because I am an instant expert) they will re-hydrate with an IV and ex-ray to determine the severity. He may need to be ‘cleaned out’ again. I offered to tag along, but that was greeted by sarcasm/bitchiness. I think it’s a cat owner thing. They were his first you know.

So please send some positive kitty vibes! Before they left Chanel was hiding behind the plant near the computer here and he was crying! Just about tore my heart out…

tagged: pets chanel constipation sick cat vet

daniel · the wee hours · 2 comments · ping it