My kitty is dying

[Mz Pip]

Sigh. I took him to the vet last week. He was getting fat around his tummy but was otherwise just fine. It was time for his check-up anyway. The vet was pretty concerned and took x-rays and did some blood work and took a sample of the fluid in his tummy.

The x-rays were inconclusive since the fluid blocked a clear view of his organs but all the rest of the lab work was normal. So the vet referred me to a internal medicine vet. She was terrific and pretty much told me that whatever it was, it wasn't good. They did an ultrasound and found a mass on his pancreas and some spreading into his abdominal cavity. Pancreatic cancer.

Nothing we can do but give him lots of treats and pets. The vet said we will know when it's time to end it for him. He'll stop eating and will isolate himself. Right now he's happily sunning himself on our deck and gobbled down his tasty lunch.
He's got about 2 months left, max. This really sucks.

His name is Kirk. He's a big beautiful tabby we adopted from the humane society 13 years ago. Today I bought him lots of treats and new catnip. We plan to spoil him, sort of like we have been for the past 13 years anyway.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[flamingyouth]

1. I'm so sorry

I feel for you. It's really hard to hear that kind of news. :hug:

[Avalux]

2. I am SO sorry -

your family and Kirk will be in my thoughts. :hug:

[bertha katzenengel]

Mz Pip

I'm sorry. Here's wishing Kirk lots of freshly cooked fish, sunny spots, and catnip for the rest of his days, and for you: :hug:

[chickenscratching]

3. im sorry mz pip

i think pets understand us more than people sometimes.
my best to kirk!
:hug:

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

4. Oh, gosh, I am SO sorry!!

What terrible news for you. You have lots of friends here at DU to support you during this agonizing time. Kirk is very lucky to have a loving human caring for him.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

5. Aw, that's heartbreaking

I am sorry..
You hardly EVER say or post many personal things, but I've always appreciated your posts. I am sorry that when you finally come back to the lounge it is for sad news :hug:

[MissHoneychurch]

6. that sucks

:hug:

I am so sorry that you will lose him. Spoiling sounds great.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. ~hugs~

I'm so sorry. I'm glad he's happy for now at least. He's such a lucky kitty to have you there for him...

[DeepModem Mom]

8. We lost our big tabby guy at 13 a few months ago...

from kidney disease. He was also a shelter adoptee. He was a beautiful "gentle giant," so sweet. My heart goes out to you.

[Cannikin]

9. I'm so sorry

[Pool Hall Ace]

10. I am so sorry.

Hugs for you and Kirk. :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

[WI_DEM]

11. That is very sad, but thank you for giving him 13 years of love

and also the love he gave you.

[Shell Beau]

12. Awww

:cry: :grouphug: :hug:

[enigmatic]

13. I'm so sorry about this

Losing a companion is gut-wrenching; we lost our 17 year old kitty that was originally my wife's a couple of years ago, and we're still not over it.

Give Kirk a kiss and a scratch behind the ears for me, and good vibes are on their way from us:)

[Gloria]

14. My heart goes out to you....but at least Kirk will get lots of love

until his time comes. I'm sure he knows he has great parents....

[Mutley]

15. i'm sorry

:hug: make it the bestest two months ever!

[LiberalinNC]

16. Sorry to hear about Kirk!

I lost 2 cats last year and still miss them, yet I know they are both out of pain. Keep spoiling him and enjoy what time he was left here.

[bigwillq]

17. I'm sorry.

He's lived a long life. Enjoy these last few months with him.:hug:

[Kathy in Cambridge]

18. I'm so sorry, Mz Pip

:hug:

That is such sad news. Give him lots of love and treats. Poor little guy. :-(

[Parche]

19. kitty

My thoughts go out to you

over 2years ago my "Woos" was diagnosed with mouth cancer in November
2003, and I had to put her to sleep 12December 2003, the hardest
thing I ever had to do

The best thing to do like I did was be with her all the time
for that month, I didnt go out, I didnt have a social life, she
was my life, 16years old.

Just be around them and help them during this hard time.

[MissB]

20. I am so sorry

Enjoy your precious time with him.

[Liberal Veteran]

21. Give him a big hug from me. And one for you as well.

It's a cosmic joke that our fur friends don't live as long as we do, but you gave him a great life and you should be proud.

[iconoclastic cat]

31. Holy crap! When did Logan go?

:cry:

[Liberal Veteran]

34. Alas...poor Logan's kidney's went about a month ago, unexpectedly

I still miss his quirky behavior.

[trof]

22. Just do the right thing, and I know you will.

We had to have ol' Ace put down 2 weeks ago.
Combination of diabetes, congestive heart failure, and old age.
I gave him the insulin shots, morning and evening, for 6 years.
Finally, it was all just too much for him to handle.

He was a hell of a cat.
Loved people and dogs.
Hunted (and bagged!) SQUIRRELS!

Give Kirk a scratch for me and tell him it's OK to leave.
I know how you feel.
:hug:

[tammywammy]

23. I'm so sorry

I know how hard it is to lose a family member.

:hug:

[Mz Pip]

24. One thing I am grateful for

is that my son will be able to see him before he goes. He's coming for a visit next week. He was the one who picked him out at the humane society.

He named him Kirk after Kirk Hammett, the guitar player for Metallica. It was when he was into all that Heavy Metal music that was popular with high school kids in the early 90s. Kind of a weird name for a cat, but I've always called him Captain Kirk.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[legally blonde]

25. I am so sorry

He sounds like a very special kitty. My heart goes out to you. :hug:

[arwalden]

26. That's So Sad...

... I'm sorry to hear the heartbreaking news about Kirk. He's very lucky to have such loving parents as you two. I hope his remaining weeks are happy, safe, cozy, warm, fun, playful, and LAZY. Keep him purring with a tummy full of his favorite treats!
:hug:

-- Allen

Does he like sour cream? My cat would go NUTS over it... that was her favorite treat of all.

[leftchick]

27. I am still mourning my Skylar. We lost her on March 23,2005

She was only 8 and had liver cancer. I can feel your pain. It is the worst. Love him, hug him and tell him how much he means to you. He knows and it will help before it is his time to go. My thoughts are with you. Our animals are truly the best gift of all.

:hug:


peace,
lc

[HeeBGBz]

28. Oh dear, I'm sorry

Cats are so intuitive and receptive. She'll feel the love you bestow upon her like the warmest comfort blanket.

(((Hugs)))

[Skittles]

29. sorry, my sweet

so, so sorry

[bbmykel]

30. I'm so sorry!

Please give Kirk an extra cuddle for me.

[swimmernsecretsea]

32. Just think how happy he's been all these years with someone nice like you.

How many cats never get to have that? You adopted him, he's been loved and given every comfort, and you're going to see to his needs through the end of his life. You get to give him all the attention he wants, and you know his life is ending so you get to say goodbye.

You're a wonderful person to have been caretaker to one of earth's beautiful creations. I better stop now.

[Double T]

33. I'm Really Sorry For You And Your Beloved Cat................

.........He Has Had A Great Family He Has Lived With Throughout His Life, No Pet Could Ask For Anything More.

[KT2000]

35. So sorry for you and Kirk

it sounds like he has had the best of lives. And I am sorry this has happened to him.
Best wishes to you and your family.

[ernstbass]

36. I'm terribly sorry

but I'm glad that your kitty is in the midst of such a loving family

[calico1]

37. I am so sorry.

I have lost two within 3 years and it is tough. Spoil the hell out of him. Give him lots of treats, real tuna if he likes it, lot of kisses, hugs, head butts. I'm sure you are doing all this already. They are so precious. :hug:

[PollyH]

38. Kirk

You are giving Kirk the greatest gift of all -- your love. When it is time stay with him and tell him you love him and when it ends stroke his fur and tell him you love him again. The drive home will be really hard.

[jobycom]

39. Condolences, you. It's one of the harder parts of life, isn't it?

Losing a pet. I've cried harder over pets than friends. It sounds sad, but it's true. Hang in there.

[ahem]

40. I'm so sorry. Spoil him good!

I know this is such a painful time. I'm glad you at least have time to say goodbye, and prepare yourself as best as possible.

You have my deepest condolences. :hug:

[prozacnation]

41. I'm sorry

I hope that over the next two months you and Kirk can have many wonderful moments together. I wish you both well. Kirk is lucky to have you during this time.

[demnan]

42. It sounds contrite, but I'm so sorry

It is so painful that our pets live shorter lives than we do. But just think of how so many don't get loving homes, like you've shown your cat. Your cat is very fortunate to have someone to love him.

[ronnykmarshall]

43. Give him some kitty love for me.

[Samurai_Writer]

44. I just went through the same thing....

I'm so sorry to hear about your kitty. It is so hard to deal with our beloved pets' fatal illnesses. I had to put my cat, Nightmare, to sleep the end of March. She was hyperthyroid, and had been on the meds for that for 1 1/2 years. She was 15, and end of January she started declining. Started giving her IV fluids, but finally stopped that mid March. She suddenly took a turn for the worse, and I knew it was time. Her kidneys were shutting down. It was one of the hardest things I had to do. I'm just glad she had 15 years of being loved. I still have her son, Smoke, who is 14. He's doing well physically right now. Still misses his Mommy though.

Hugs,
Bella

[samplegirl]

45. I hate reading these posts

but I know how i would feel if it were my Sugbear....we send our
love. Hope for the best. Very very sorry

[shesemsmom]

46. I'm sorry

love and enjoy him while you can:hug:

[DawgHouse]

47. I am so sorry

[valis]

48. I was thinking... Remember the recent study showing that processed meat

Substantially increases the risk of pancreatic cancer in humans? It's probably the same in other mammals...

[chookie]

49. :-(

I am so sad.

Spoil him rotten. Treats and massages.

When my kitty was dying of leukemia (he was kitten I rescued from an alley who lived over a year with the disease) -- I bought him fried chicken every day. Those little meals were precious between us.

[GreenPartyVoter]

50. Aw.... I am so sorry *hugs*

[latebloomer]

51. I'm sad for you

I know how it feels to lose a beloved animal. Their time with us is far too short.

Treasure every minute until it's time for her to go.

:hug:

[NV Whino]

52. So sorry.

It's so tough to loose beloved critters. I lost my pal of 16 years a couple of weeks ago. Two sessions with anesthesia in close proximity was too much for his aging system. There is a very large gap in my household at the moment.

[yellowdogintexas]

53. that is so sad, I am sorry to read this.

Enjoy your spoiling time, and take some pictures.

I have always been glad I got some good photos of the last one we lost (she was 17).. before she left us. They are really nice to see now.

[Mz Pip]

54. Thank you all

for your kind words.

Kirk is sleeping on our bed. He had his treats and was happy about them.

I do not want him to suffer. But I do not want to put him in a cage and take him to the vet to be put down. I do not want the last half hour of his life to be spent in a cage, in a car, on a metal table. Of all the things about this, this is what bothers me the most. :-(

Mz Pip
:dem:

[newsguyatl]

55. oh, i'm so sorry for you mz pip

i honestly don't know what to say, but i'm so incredibly sorry for what you, your family, and especially kirk are having to go through.

i'm sure his final days will be peaceful, fun, and memorable.

take lots of pictures, and enjoy every minute of it.

kirk is most definitely in my thoughts.

[sparky_in_ma]

56. I'm very sorry.

It sounds like Kirk has known a lot of love, with a nice family.:hug:

[poodleofmud]

57. So Sorry to hear that Mz Pip.

I as a cat lover understand. My thoughts and prayers are with you.