The circle of life

[JeffL0]

Our boy Jinx has been extra lovey/clingy lately. The first pic was yesterday at my desk.

We noticed a few weeks ago that his appetite seemed to be waning, he'd occasionally leave some food in his dish, very atypical. At 13, we just figured the Old Man was starting to creep in.

But for the past few days, he's not really been eating or drinking at all (and he's always been a big drinker). No solid presents in the box since Sunday. He'd come running when the bell rang, but then take a couple bites and walk away. We tried giving him a few different things, including his favorite, dad's Bumble Bee salmon. Same thing, couple bites, walk away. This boy never walked away from salmon in his life.

So today we called our vet, who told us they didn't have any openings for a few days, but when we told them he hadn't gone #2 in a few days, she told us not to wait, to take him to an emergency vet ASAP.

After a bunch of poking and prodding, vet said he wanted to do an ultrasound. Jinx has a 3cm lymphoma in his intestine. Doc described COAs including chemo, but at 13 we don't want to put him through that. He wouldn't commit to how long he has, could be weeks, could be months, but said when cats over about 10 develop lymphomas, they generally grow very fast.

We're going to do everything we can to make him comfortable, protocol is oral steroid and anti-nausea med. Doc said meds will make him thirsty, and DW just saw him drinking at the fountain for a while, which is good. He's only had the first doses in him for about 90 minutes and already drinking, so that's good.

We lost his sister, Minx, a year and a half ago, she was only 11. DW cried for days straight. Now Boy

The second pic was Minx and Jinx at 4 years old. People ask "how did you get them to pose like that?" ... two words: Reddi Whip

Hug your fur babies extra long tonight.

[Esteban]

Very sad to hear. Both of those pictured are beautiful cats. Sorry about Minx. Make your sick one as comfortable as you can.

Hits close to home for me. My previous cat had lymphoma. Was 14 years old. This was 10 years ago. Diagnosed in Feb and passed in July. We did every thing we could to make him comfortable. Cried like a baby when I took him to the vet to be euthanized. Next time we are considering having it done at home.

Will be thinking of you and your boy Jinx. Best wishes to both of you.

[wizardofOz]

Sad to hear this JeffL0, I'm sure Jinx is in your great care as always, prayers with you.

[UncleWede]

I read this to my little white bitch every couple of nights, she's over 15 at this point. I can't claim credit or know the author.

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
Where the friends of man and woman do run,
When their time on earth is over and done.


For here, between this world and the next,
Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.
On this golden land, they wait and they play,
Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.


No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,
Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.


They romp through the grass, without even a care,
Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.
All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,
Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.


For just at that instant, their eyes have met;
Together again, both person and pet.
So they run to each other, these friends from long past,
The time of their parting is over at last.


The sadness they felt while they were apart,
Has turned into joy once more in each heart.
They embrace with a love that will last forever,
And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by JeffL0

Our boy Jinx has been extra lovey/clingy lately. The first pic was yesterday at my desk.

We noticed a few weeks ago that his appetite seemed to be waning, he'd occasionally leave some food in his dish, very atypical. At 13, we just figured the Old Man was starting to creep in.

But for the past few days, he's not really been eating or drinking at all (and he's always been a big drinker). No solid presents in the box since Sunday. He'd come running when the bell rang, but then take a couple bites and walk away. We tried giving him a few different things, including his favorite, dad's Bumble Bee salmon. Same thing, couple bites, walk away. This boy never walked away from salmon in his life.

So today we called our vet, who told us they didn't have any openings for a few days, but when we told them he hadn't gone #2 in a few days, she told us not to wait, to take him to an emergency vet ASAP.

After a bunch of poking and prodding, vet said he wanted to do an ultrasound. Jinx has a 3cm lymphoma in his intestine. Doc described COAs including chemo, but at 13 we don't want to put him through that. He wouldn't commit to how long he has, could be weeks, could be months, but said when cats over about 10 develop lymphomas, they generally grow very fast.

We're going to do everything we can to make him comfortable, protocol is oral steroid and anti-nausea med. Doc said meds will make him thirsty, and DW just saw him drinking at the fountain for a while, which is good. He's only had the first doses in him for about 90 minutes and already drinking, so [...]

Best of luck with this. Cats are special in so many ways.

Did your vet prescribe Prednisolone? If so you may want to research the best time to give it to them. I had an elderly cat with IBD who was on this and there was a best.time (morning or evening) to give it for best results in terms of working with the cats hormonal cycle. I just don't remember which time.

[JeffL0]

Yes, we've had him on Prednisolone for 5 days now. Took him to our regular vet today to get a longer-term scrip, and they didn't have the same strength, what they sent us home with is weaker, thus a larger "squirt in the mouth". I suspect that's not going to go as easily as what we've been giving him, which he's tolerated surprisingly well.

He's eating and drinking some, but not much. His third eyelid on one eye is drawing up some and the pupil is a little constricted. It was worse the day we took him to the emergency vet, doc there said he thought that might be dehydration. Vet today said there are a myriad of things that can cause that, was not overly concerned about it, rather more concerned with eating and litter activity. Based on everything we know at this point, he likely has somewhere between a few weeks and a few months

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by JeffL0

Yes, we've had him on Prednisolone for 5 days now. Took him to our regular vet today to get a longer-term scrip, and they didn't have the same strength, what they sent us home with is weaker, thus a larger "squirt in the mouth". I suspect that's not going to go as easily as what we've been giving him, which he's tolerated surprisingly well.

He's eating and drinking some, but not much. His third eyelid on one eye is drawing up some and the pupil is a little constricted. It was worse the day we took him to the emergency vet, doc there said he thought that might be dehydration. Vet today said there are a myriad of things that can cause that, was not overly concerned about it, rather more concerned with eating and litter activity. Based on everything we know at this point, he likely has somewhere between a few weeks and a few months

Gotcha. Enjoy the time you have. We suddenly lost an 11 yr old cat to a freak circumstances and it has been difficult.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by F32Fleet

Gotcha. Enjoy the time you have. We suddenly lost an 11 yr old car to a freak circumstances and it has been difficult.

Sorry to hear about your loss...

[jessejericho]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

I read this to my little white bitch every couple of nights, she's over 15 at this point. I can't claim credit or know the author.

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
Where the friends of man and woman do run,
When their time on earth is over and done....

Jesus you must drink a lot of water to replenish all the tears... if I read that to my pups or cats every few nights I would die of dehydration. We have two very lovely rescue dogs, but they replaced our last dog (RIP Nacho) who died very suddenly just after New Years 2019. I can't read stuff like this without blubbering uncontrollably.

Sorry to hear about Jinx, OP. It will never be easy, but I'm sure you wouldn't trade the time you've had with him for anything <3

[Roadcrew]

Sorry for your loss. We lost our Leo 2 yrs ago and it's time to get another feline friend. I will always miss Leo. He was a really great cat!

[JeffL0]

Originally Posted by jessejericho

Jesus you must drink a lot of water to replenish all the tears...

Yea, that one tore me up too

Originally Posted by jessejericho

Sorry to hear about Jinx, OP. It will never be easy, but I'm sure you wouldn't trade the time you've had with him for anything <3

Right on, thank you.

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by jessejericho

Jesus you must drink a lot of water to replenish all the tears...

Whisk(e)y, so don't light a match around me if I'm reading