My Angel Child cat is very ill

[Kipawa]

Well, I just got a phone call from our vet with the results for Barney. My husband is out shopping, my sis didn't answer the phone, but I always know you guys are around.

The news is not good. Barney has squamous cell carcinoma. It's what we thought. Dr. M put in an emergency request to Canada West Veterinary Specialists, and we are working on getting Barney in there before next weekend. This place is an ultimate veterinarian hospital that only takes referrals. There are vets there specializing in everything for cats and dogs.

The plan is to get Barney in for a CT Scan or MRI to determine if the tumour is at all removable without doing too much damage to the upper jaw, eye area and nasal cavity. There is also the consideration of anti-cancer drugs. But of course, the first consideration is his quality of life. If surgery and/or drugs can only prolong his life for a short time, I think I will decide to pass on the heroics and just love him like crazy for the time he is here.

Barney is doing very well right now. He is being spoiled like crazy. I am sleeping with him at night in another bedroom where he only has HIS smells on the bed, not of Wallace, our other male he is not fond of. He is eating very well. He is pooping and peeing at night in a nice new litter box I keep in the bedroom, and I am keeping favourite food in there as well as my water mug from my bathroom which he loves to drink from.

I'll keep you posted on when we get into Canada West and the results from the MRI and/or CT Scan. My sister and her hubby are coming over in the next few days to video and take pictures of Barney shaking a paw for a treat, a trick that I taught him in about a half hour.

[thunderbird8588]

Fran,
i'm sorry the news wasn't better for Barney.
I hope there is something that can be done so that he can have longer with you.
I'm sure he couldn't wish for better care, you must take care of yourself too. It's a bit like your life is on hold when our beloved Pets are ill.

[Kipawa]

Thanks so much to you Shelley, and everyone, for the good thoughts.

Wow, things can work fast around here. Our vet Dr. M must have been incredible with her referral, because we have an appointment at 10:30 a.m. on Monday. I have to make some notes on Barney and his life long health because they want very detailed history - the consult will run around a hour.

Please keep Barney in your thoughts.

[MacPack]

Oh dear, Fran, I'm sorry you have bad news. Hopefully the tests will show a positive course of action, but I completely agree with love and quality of life. A major surgery or chemo, in exchange for only a few months, not sure I would do it either. You are giving him the best there is to give right now, yourself, and all his special things.
Good luck! You & Barney will be in my thoughts.

[DebraDownSouth]

I am so sorry the news wasn't better but very happy getting him in fast. (((hugs)))

[thunderbird8588]

Will keep Barney in my thoughts

[Patty]

Barney is in my thoughts and I do hope that they'll be able to operate and that he can have a little more quality time with you. I know how hard it is to come to terms with thses terrible things.

November is always a bad month for me and mine too and each year I say that it should be cancelled!

[Kipawa]

Well, we will be leaving to see the cancer specialist shortly. The drive will be about an hour, so I know I will hear lots of meows and unhappy sounds, because Barney hates moving vehicles. My wonderful sister is driving, thank goodness, as my mind would not be on the road.

Yesterday my brother-in-law took a couple of videos of Barney shaking a paw for a snack. He also took a few lovely pictures. I'm going to upload the videos to youTube and then post them here. Will also post the pictures here, though I am rusty at that, but will figure it out.

I spent this morning, starting at 5 a.m. going through all of Barney's vet visit documents. He has been so healthy other than a thyroid problem that we took care of with radioactive isotopes. That was one treatment, and it meant we didn't have to give him thyroid meds daily.

I am not overly optimistic, but I guess there are always miracles.

[thunderbird8588]

Here's hoping for a miracle for Barney. Whatever happens you will know you have explored all avenues.

[Kipawa]

Dear friends,

Yesterday was a very tough day. How our animals are special. Usually during a car ride, Barney would let out a manly yowl to let me know he didn't like the sounds of traffic or the car we were driving in. But he was very calm and silent yesterday. Only upon returning and being about 5 blocks from home did he actually say anything. He let out a happy meow, glad to be going back to his home.

We spoke with a cancer specialist, and unfortunately there is nothing that can be done with this type of cancer and the location it is in. It is in a place it often grows - in the cheek and jaw below the eye. As it progresses it can get into the nasal cavity and also grow big enough to limit the vision in the eye. This is almost a cancer that can never be caught in time, unless it is found on the ear. Surgery is not an option due to the disfigurement and potential breathing problems. It does not respond to chemo, radiation or any pill form of chemotherapy, and it grows extremely fast.

The specialist was wonderful with Barney, and being a woman, Barney purred during the entire examination. She mentioned that she had never had a cat that was so relaxed through an examination. I wanted to tell her it that it must be her that was making him so calm, but the truth of the matter is he has always loved female vets. Such a charmer.

We have been given a timeline of anywhere from 1 - 3 weeks. Right now he is still eating as usual, and bathroom habits are consistent. He's been a little nature boy and has always done 'business' outside, but the specialist advised us to not let him out anymore as often animals will run off and hide to live out what is left of their lives. That would just kill me, not knowing where he was or what may have happened.

I spoke with our regular vet today, and she says she can come to our home when he is ready to pass over the Rainbow Bridge and into the light. She just needs a couple of days notice. We'll have him cremated so he will always be with us in some way, and in the future I will find a sunny beach that he would have loved and sprinkle a little of him on the warm sand.

Thank you for all of your wishes and kind thoughts. They do comfort me.

[thunderbird8588]

Fran,
i am very sorry that nothing can be done for Barney except love and care for the time he has left. I was thinking about you yesterday. I hope you all manage to have some lovely time whilst he's with you.

[Buana]

Dear Fran, I'm very sorry to hear about your little guy
We keep you into our mind and please enjoy the time she has left, hugs to you both

[DebraDownSouth]

Fran I am so sorry. (((hugs)))

[Kipawa]

Here is a video done last Sunday of Barney shaking a paw for a treat. I would always make sure he was paying attention first, and then would show him the snack and get a paw shake for it. We do five of those and then Barney gets what are called "free snacks". I'm in the blue shirt, my sis is in the purple sweater and you can just see my darling hubby Darrel in his wheelchair behind me. My sis's husband Lyle was doing the video. I like how my sis called Barney "Naomi Campbell" when he didn't start setting himself up promptly for the video shoot. I hope you guys enjoy it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvHuZDQKN6k

[Kipawa]

I hope you can see the video. If you do a hunt on something like "orange and white cat shaking a paw" on YouTube, it won't come up. You have to use the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvHuZDQKN6k

[listeme]

He's lovely – you guys are lovely. It's a very nice glimpse into his world. Thanks for sharing it!

[sharronhurlbut]

Fran, this was wonderful….how is your dear kitty doing??

[thunderbird8588]

Brilliant, i have never seen a Cat shaking a paw and sitting on command before. Barney is one clever Cat.
I belong to a cat forum and another online cat club would it be ok to share your video with them.

[DebraDownSouth]

LOL love the video.

I had a maine coon cat I taught quickly to play fetch. I swear he was more like a dog than a cat. So what do I have now? Dogs who are cat like. Yeah, I know that says something about me … just not sure what.

[Kipawa]

@thunderbird8588:

Brilliant, i have never seen a Cat shaking a paw and sitting on command before. Barney is one clever Cat.
I belong to a cat forum and another online cat club would it be ok to share your video with them.

Yes, please go ahead and share the video with your cat club. Barney would be happy.