My beautiful blue-point Birman, Shelley, will be 18 next month - if he makes it. This picture was taken a year or two ago, when he was still doing well.
Shelley has been taking tablets for his kidneys for six years or more. For a while now he has spent his days in my bedroom with Jaspa (just visible at the back of the cat bed) for company, as befits his senior status.
Shelley's health has been deteriorating for some weeks. I've still been taking him down to the kitchen at night, but it's been cold there in during the bad weather, so he has a nice fleecy blanket, and a warming pad. He is so thin, he needs the extra warmth.
For a few days he has scarcely eaten anything, and he was snuffly, so I took him to the vet's to see if anything could buck him up. He had an antibiotic injection and a steroid one. His back legs have hardly any muscle tone and his organs are failing. But he's not yet ready to go. I'm hoping he just falls asleep one day and doesn't wake up, so that I don't have to take the final decision.
I've been desperate to make sure he finishes off the food or cat milk that contains his medication, and last night I decided he could stay in my bedroom all night. He got up for food, drink, the litter tray - and with my slippery bedclothes and without his open-weave throws, he couldn't get back up. Mum to the rescue.
Then he decided he wanted to sleep on my pillow. You have to understand that Shelley cannot wash himself at present, and even if he could, his teeth are so coated and his breath so rank, it wouldn't help matters. All I can do is clean him up with pet wipes. So being close to him is not the most pleasant experience on earth. Of course, having his whiskers tickle my face wasn't conducive to sleep either.
I dropped off at about 7.30 am. I got up at about 8.45.
Tonight Shelley will sleep in the kitchen again. I think he probably rests better without me to disturb him...
7 comments:
Aw Val, I'm so sorry for you. It must be extremely hard to watch your beloved Shelley go thru this. I, too, hope for a peaceful end. :`(
((hugs))
I'm so sorry Val. This is exactly what happened to my parents cat (the beautiful Topaz) One morning my dad found her a the bottom of the stairs, she was gone, but I think she was trying to get upstairs to see my dad one last time...
Hugs to you and Shelley.
Val
I'm SO sorry to hear about Shelley. It's like losing a close member of the family. After my kitty died at 14 (I had him since he was less then a week old) I said I'd never have another one, I can't take that again!!! We called him The General because he ran the household and always kept us on our toes. I hope things are peaceful for both you and Shelley.
He sounds like a little fighter, Val. Reminds me of my orange Tabby, Wilbur. Wilbur was the runt of the litter, but I had to put him down just shy of his 18th birthday. At the vet's, after the injection, I held him until he passed. Yes, it was a difficult decision to make, but I know it was the right one. He went peacefully, in my arms. At that point, he had stopped eating. His kidneys had shut down. Yes, I hope you don't have to go through this, but if you do, know that it will be the RIGHT choice, for HIM. My heart is with you, Val. To go a night without sleep shows just how much you love him.
Val,
I wish you a good nights sleep, although I know it won't be easy, it never is when a pet you love is ill.
For Shelley I wish a peaceful night and peaceful days too, secure in the knowledge that he's well loved and cared for.
hugs to both of you
warmth is good! have you tried to feed him by a baby bottle? sometimes it helps.
He sounds like a little fighter
___________________
Vince
UR choice movie at your place
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