My cat is dying. I’m watching him fade away, lose coordination, and stop playing. Six weeks ago I took him to the vet because he just wasn’t right and they diagnosed kidney failure. We weren’t sure if it was an acute issue, like an infection, or a chronic issue that would kill him. We did dialysis to the tune of $2000. He’s a young cat at 8 years old and if he was only halfway through his life it seemed worth it to try. He came home feeling better, and then he started sliding downhill again. The vet gave me a list of things to try: special food, anti-nausea drugs, fish oil supplements, subcutaneous fluids delivered at home or at the vet. He won’t eat the food. I don’t know how much Pepcid to give him to help with the nausea. He hates the fish oil, and and I can’t imagine giving him subcutaneous fluids (and I gave my last cat two insulin shots a day for her diabetes). So he’s dying.
Hazel at the vet when we first adopted him almost four years ago.We haven’t had him for long. He came into our life July 2, 2011. We adopted him from the shelter and the top of his head was shaved from the removal of something. My husband nicknamed him “Head-wound Harry” but his shelter name was “Hazel.” We kept it because he looked like the bunny from Watership Down, which is one of my husband’s favorite book. He quickly stole our hearts.
Nothing to see here….He’s a weirdly social cat. If you are a cat person or have had cats you know that cats kind of tolerate each other. Not Hazel. He has loved our other cats: both Neko, the diabetic, and Katie our kitten. We find Hazel and Katie in all kinds of compromising positions. They fight, slow fight, bathe each other, sleep together, and eat together.
Cat bathNow he’s dying. I’ve come to terms with it. I don’t know how much longer he’ll have, but I’ve decided that his last days will be filled with walks in the garden (he’s too slow and fragile to run away) and tuna. I don’t want to torture him with the vet anymore. I don’t want him to have to eat yucky kidney diet food. I don’t want to try filling the area under his skin with fluids. I want him to enjoy the time he has left with us.
Thanks for your note Amie. He is a great cat and seems to really enjoy our tuna/outside regimen. I’m thankful for however many days we have left with him.
Aw thanks for the comment. Poor Hazel died a month ago. It was hard to say goodbye, but we did the best we could for him up until the end. I’ve got a blog post in progress about his last days, but I can’t finish it. It’s still too fresh of a wound. Thanks for your kind words, from one cat lady to another.
Thanks Clare. In the end we decided to euthanize Hazel. He was just so sick and in so much pain. I’ve got 75% of a blog post about that experience, but I can’t finish it. Sobbing makes it hard to see the screen. He was a really phenomenal cat. We were so lucky to have him in our family.
Afthead 
I’m so sorry to hear about Hazel. He sounds like a sweet kitty. I’m sure he will feel much love in the time he has remaining.
LikeLike
Thanks for your note Amie. He is a great cat and seems to really enjoy our tuna/outside regimen. I’m thankful for however many days we have left with him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: The Liebster Award | Afthead
Hopefully you don’t mind a very late response to this.
You are a good human to Hazel. I deciding not to put a sick kitty through the stress of vets and medical interventions is hard, but often kind.
I had to do that with my last cat, it was hard, but it was best.
You touched my cat-lady heart with this post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw thanks for the comment. Poor Hazel died a month ago. It was hard to say goodbye, but we did the best we could for him up until the end. I’ve got a blog post in progress about his last days, but I can’t finish it. It’s still too fresh of a wound. Thanks for your kind words, from one cat lady to another.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Pingback: Hard Knock Cats | Afthead
Good decision. One we also have made with a few of our beloved cats who all died with us here at home.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Clare. In the end we decided to euthanize Hazel. He was just so sick and in so much pain. I’ve got 75% of a blog post about that experience, but I can’t finish it. Sobbing makes it hard to see the screen. He was a really phenomenal cat. We were so lucky to have him in our family.
LikeLike